Guitarist with stroke symptoms - send positive thoughts

[kesslari]

I stopped my gig early tonight and sent my musical partner and guitarist to the hospital (with his wife driving). His playing deteriorated rapidly and badly and it was clear that he had lost a lot of functioning in his left hand - he did not have the strength to fret cleanly and was not hitting the right notes - he described it as his "fingers weren't doing what his brain was telling them too, and it was disconcerting as hell". There were other things wrong - his hearing was off (he didn't hear that his guitar was in a different tuning than the song we were playing - he NEVER does that) and he was having rhythm trouble (also not typical for him). I told the audience we were taking a break, talked to him and his wife, did a few assessments, and decided that he needed to be checked out medically.

The club owner was totally supportive when I explained things. It was a dinner gig and the crowd was sparse, but I would have done the same thing if it had been packed.

I'm pretty freaked out. I'm sure he'll be OK. Got home and did more research and those are definitely stroke symptoms. It may not be a stroke but there was something neurological going on. He's at the hospital now being assessed.

Send good thoughts for T-Bone Ted.

[bassistjoe93]

Prayers and good thoughts headed his way for sure.

[NOVAX]

You are a good friend. Positive vibes to T-Bone Ted. My Mom had a stroke and a week later she was gone. Definitely not something to hmm and haw about.

[Audiophage]

It's probably a good thing that he got taken care of as soon as he did. You definitely made the right choice.

[TC2112]

My prayers to your friend and our fellow musician

[Chuck_Hill]

That's scary! You absolutely did the right thing in stopping the show and sending him off to get care. I hope and pray he'll be alright!

[frankenjazz]

Prayers headed his and your way man, good job catching it. A+ example of being a good human being man.

[agreatheight]

I don't do prayers, but will keep him in my thoughts!

[kesslari]

Thanks, all, for the support. I just got a text from his wife. It was indeed a stroke, and it's still bleeding - he may need surgery, they're still assessing.
So glad we got him down to the hospital.

[nicoli]

Originally Posted by kesslari

Thanks, all, for the support. I just got a text from his wife. It was indeed a stroke, and it's still bleeding - he may need surgery, they're still assessing.
So glad we got him down to the hospital.

Yikes. Kudos to you for your quick and correct reaction! You may have just saved that man's life. Crazy.

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by nicoli

Yikes. Kudos to you for your quick and correct reaction! You may have just saved that man's life. Crazy.

+infinity

Some FYI info:

The warning signs of a stroke are: (from http://www.snopes.com/medical/disease/stroke.asp)

* Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.

* Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding.

* Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

* Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.

* Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

Stroke Mnemonic: Get help STAT (short for statim, the Latin word for immediately).
Smile: ask the person to smile. Is one side lower than the other? Is one side of the face drooping?
Talk: ask the person to speak a simple sentence. Is it garbled?
Arms: ask person to raise both arms to the same height. Is one lower than the other?
Time: Get the person to the hospital asap even if the symptoms clear up (ministrokes). The sooner the treatment, the better the outcome.

[Munjibunga]

Your friend is lucky you acted fast. Clear thinking and the right priorities on your part. The bleeding indicates to me that its a hemorrhagic stroke rather than an arterial blockage. I hope he makes a full recovery.

[fourstringdrums]

Best of luck to your friend for a full recovery.

[drummer5359]

My thoughts and prayers go out to T-Bone Ted.

January 31st 2008 I was playing drums at a gig here in Pittsburgh, I lived in Baltimore at the time. I came up and subbed for the drummer in my brother's band. I played fine all night. After the last set I tore down my kit and loaded it in cases. When I went to pick up the first case to load it in the car, I had lost the use of my right arm... completely. It just hung at my side, I was also a little dizzy.

I had a series of strokes over the next two days. I lost the use of the whole right side of my body and speech. It took me a great deal of time to learn how to walk, talk and play again.

I had another lesser stroke later that year. Eventually it caused me to retire at age 50.

I was very, very lucky. Give Ted my best from someone who has been there and done that. Keep us in the loop.

[IanMM]

Just prayed for Ted. I hope he gets well. No one deserves a stroke or any other illness for that matter.

[Tat2dHeart]

Thoughts, prayers and a lighted candle for Ted from my family and my network. Kudos to you and your bandmates to for recognizing a problem and getting him to the hospital quickly. You probably saved his life and definitely gave him a better chance for recover.

My mom is a stroke victim. The first left barely noticeable signs - slack muscles, slurred speech, and slightly limited mobility in her right side. The major one that hit the following morning left her entirely paralyzed on the right side, without any speech function, and caused massive brain swelling. She spent 11 days in a drug-induced coma while we waited to see how the tide would turn. She survived, but with a limited recovery. The paralysis of her right side remains and she is unable to walk. Her thinking processes are still clear, but she can only verbalize about 30 words now, which is terribly frustrating for her. She requires round the clock nursing. Depression and anger seem to be the only moods she has left, and it's been like this for 12 years. 90% of the reason that her recovery was limited, based on the doctor's assessments, is because she didn't take the signs of the first stroke seriously enough to get immediate treatment. Getting treatment fast is critical to stroke recovery.

[kesslari]

Thanks, all. A positive update - T-bone did not need surgery, and stabilized enough overnight (and the better part of today) for the hospital to release him with meds and instructions to rest.

I think he dodged a bullet, and as Tat2dHeart said, prompt treatment was a really good thing.

[Downunderwonder]

You did well. Hope the show goes on another day soon.

[Qlanq]

Good job seeing the signs early and acting on them.
All the best to your buddy.
A site with some info


BBC - Health: Treatment for strokes

[rtslinger]

Wishing him a full recovering.