Irma L. Olguin Jr.

Still means very little to me, though. For the last two months, I’ve been on a super low-fat/cholesterol diet.  I also go to the gym six days a week for a minimum of 25 minutes of cardio.  On top of the diet and exercise, I take aspirin and statins on a daily basis.  This regimen is an effort to reduce my already normal level of cholesterol which, itself, is meant to reduce my already high risk of having a stroke.  The goal is to push my levels down far below normal in hopes that my arteries will remain patent (open) for longer, and my brain won’t suffocate. These are the results of those actions in their full medical glory.  I began my new program about 4 days after the blood work in May. And for those of you that need a little refresher course: Cholestoral HDL LDL Triglycerides Cholesterol is … Continue reading →

In April 2008, I learned that I was a high stroke-risk patient. In January 2009, I was told to try to forget about that diagnosis do nothing in the way of preventative measures. In June 2009, I learned that October was a mistake. Continue reading →

  Last night my sister and I were sitting in the den and I said to her, ‘I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle to keep me alive. That would be no quality of life at all, If that ever happens, just pull the plug.’   So she got up, unplugged the computer, and threw out my wine.   She’s such a bitch.   My mom sent me this in an email.  Thank God we can make jokes in the face of confusion.

The confusion created by going to see the specialist. Continue reading →

The announcement I made when I was going to go see a Neurology Specialist. Continue reading →

I have a CD that I requested from the hospital which has all of the images from four different tests that were run during my stint in the hospital.  I picked out some of the highlights: embedded by Embedded Video embedded by Embedded Video NOTE:  I’m not a doctor, I don’t even play one on T.V.  Interpret these image as you wish, but I don’t know what I’m doing and that’s for sure.

My commitment to use this blog as a means of communicating the details of my medical journey. Continue reading →

For those of you keeping up:  I am insured as of today. I can’t tell you what a huge relief this is, but if you can do simple math, imaging no longer having a $15,000 bill every four months.

I didn’t plan on writing another posting because it seemed like all I was doing was writing about more bad news, and who wants to read that?  But, because you asked, I’ll give you the facts as they are right this second: The last time I saw a doctor was just about two weeks ago and that was my neurologist.  She’s pretty great by the way.  She’s blunt about the situation and doesn’t try to give me hope like everyone else really wants to do.  She’s also surprised that I haven’t sunk into a deep depression and that amuses me quite a bit.  In spite of the reasons for going, I look forward to seeing her. Just about three weeks ago, I was hired by a company called Band of Neighbors.   These guys are really going out of their way … Continue reading →

Update 4 So, the good news is, my neurologist is a really sweet woman who recently got a new perspective on the outer-workings of the medical process when dealing with a hospital issue of her own.  She was sympathetic, helpful and sincere.   A combination that’s hard to find in anybody, let alone in a doctor.   Here is what went down this morning (after an excessive wait at the hospital clinic): The Verdict Before I say anything else, I should just go ahead and admit that the findings are a bit of a downer.  On one hand, I am fortunate to know what I know, and on the other (frustrated as hell but) lucky to be able to walk about upright like a regular person whose brain breathes properly. After sending my case out to a number of specialists, … Continue reading →