Worms in your eyes?

September 5, 2013 2010

            The Goat Man sat on the couch next to me and asked the one question that dictated our day, “What is it when you see worms in your eyes?”

            Instantly the nurse in me surfaced.  His blood pressure was way too high.  After giving him medicine to help the blood pressure with no avail I settled him to bed and messaged his back.  I was trying relax him.  We have no money for doctor’s appointments, ambulance rides, or medications.

            Once early in our time living together I came home from work and The Goat Man was sitting in my desk chair fighting to hold his eyes open.  When he spoke he spoke loud and forced.  He was acting rude and crude.

            Then he rose to walk to the bathroom down the hall.  He could hardly stand.  His six foot something frame stood unsteady with his back arched too far back.  His right arm dangled like a nuisance.  His right shoulder was dropped and he drug his foot like a zombie.

            Nervously I watched him bounce down the hall like a bowling ball thrown by a six year old at bumper bowl.  I started packing a bag.  We were going to the hospital.  He came back down a few minutes later speaking something in a slur.  To this day I have no idea what he said.

            Two steps into the living room his huge frame slammed to the floor.  He did not brace himself.  He did not moan.  He did not move.  I rushed to his side to find him no longer breathing.

            I rolled his body and started C.P.R.  It seemed like forever before 911 arrived, but I’m guessing it wasn’t really that long.  Thank heavens there were four of them to get him in the bus.  They went to the hospital and I followed behind. (Can you believe he was mad at me for taking him to the hospital?)

            He was awake and confused when I arrived in the ER cubicle.  I watched him hit on the nurse when it was clear he had no idea who I was.  It is very hard to look at a familiar face of a person you love and see no recognition in his eye.

            They checked him for everything.  He had absolutely no alcohol or drugs in his system.  They said he had a small stroke.  He was not himself for about three days.  He spoke later about how scared he was when he woke up and didn’t know where he was or who anybody was.  He said he didn’t even know who he was.  It was a very scary time for us both.

            Yesterday he presented with a high blood pressure and worms in his eyes.  He took two blood pressure meds and awoke today with a blood pressure just as high.  Kat did an online search and found The Good Samaritan Clinic.  We had no choice but to go.

            They were very very very friendly and helpful.  He is now signed up to be a patient there for his high blood pressure and he relaxes on the short couch next to me.  He has not felt good all day, but he is still here.  He was still able to make BBQ pork chops on the grill tonight for all of us.  The Goat Man knows how to grill.