Don't be a hero if you're talking about strokes
wilbur
First things first: I'm glad you're on the mend, Russ. I hope you have a speedy recovery.
However, just in case anyone takes this comment to heart:
"Had we known the truth -- that you were suffering the affects of a stroke -- we all would have made the necessary allowances. We would have judged you a hero for pushing on through the pain and would have discounted any shortness of temper you displayed."
If you even think you're having a stroke, this is not a time to be a hero. This is the time to completely wimp out and get to the nearest ER ASAP. Strokes can be events that you can recover from, but in many cases strokes can lead to non-recoverable damage if not taken care of quickly. Brain cells die within minutes of losing their oxygen supply, which is exactly what happens when you have a stroke, which is why strokes need to be assessed and treated quickly. And by quickly I mean that strokes should be worked up by medical personnel within an hour, and treatment given within a few hours, and the sooner, the better.
I really don't mean this to be a criticism of anything anyone here has said. I realize that the above quote was said with nothing but the best of intentions. This is more in the spirit of a public service announcement. Strokes can be taken care of if attended to quickly, but they can be devastating if they aren't, and can bring an end to your woodworking career.
In case anyone is wondering if I am just blabbering, I am a physician. I'm a pediatric hematologist/oncologist, and pediatric patients don't have strokes that frequently, but some of my patients are at higher risk for stroke because of their particular disease, and the principles of taking care of a stroke is one of those things that you learn in medical school, so any doctor would know this.
