StrokeSurvivorBlog

Today Steve was really hurting and experiencing lots of pain. After the doctor appt. he felt dizzy and nauseous. So he skipped lunch and went right to bed right around 1:30 and stayed there. He was making pained noises in his sleep and he looked pale. All of a sudden around 5:00 PM, his blood pressure skyrocketed to 170/100, and he felt a head rush with a severe headache and angina between his shoulder blades. I was concerned it might trigger another stroke or heart attack, so I just slipped him a nitro tablet under his tongue. The nursing home staff would have to wait for the doctor’s orders to do so, and time was of the essence. After a while he said that helped a lot because he didn’t think he was going to make it.

When his BP was taken again 45 min. later, it was still high–164/98. I hated to leave him tonight in that condition, but he was sleeping when I left and I alerted the staff of his condition. Around 9:30 PM I called the nurse’s station to see how he was doing, and they said he had just vomited, his BP was 140/90, and the dizziness and nausea were gone. So I hope he will sleep well tonight.  PLEASE PRAY FOR HIS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE TO COME DOWN TO A SAFE RANGE AND TO STAY THERE, and for God to complete the good healing work He began in Steve.

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6

The orthopedic doctor took numerous x-rays and found nothing that would cause the pain Steve’s been experiencing. Today the pain in his leg was the worse he remembers since the stroke, and it radiated from the top of his foot all the way to his hip. The doctor didn’t think an MRI would show anything so they didn’t do one, but he said the x-rays showed that the bone in the ankle is softening from lack of use. What a vicious circle…the pain prevents Steve from putting weight on that foot, but the lack of weight-bearing is causing the bone to soften, which puts him at risk for another break.

All of this pain is hindering his recovery because he can’t walk like that. So PLEASE PRAY for the power of God to deliver him from pain, to strengthen Steve’s weary, weak body, and renew his strength as he hopes in God, so he can run and not grow weary, and walk and not get tired.

“Surely He has borne our griefs (sicknesses, weaknesses, and distresses) and carried our sorrows and pains…But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole.”   Isaiah 53:4-5

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31

Thank you for your faithfulness to pray, and thank God for His faithfulness in answering your prayers.