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My brain stem stroke happened when the left vertebral artery,
which carries blood and oxygen, dissected. This happened when
the inner layer of
the inside of the artery wall partially tore off. The inner
layer acted like a flap, which then blocked the blood flowing to my
brain stem. This was especially important because blood
carries oxygen with it. The
lack of oxygen to my brain stem is what ultimately caused my stroke.
The lack of oxygen also caused damage to my Central Nervous
System. This
caused a very serious problem called
central pain syndrome.
Below, I have provided information about the functions of the
brain stem. I included this information so it can be better
understood why the deficits from my stroke caused so much damage.
Brain stem
The brain stem is the stem-like part of
the base of the brain that is connected to the spinal cord.
The brain stem controls the flow of
messages between the brain and the rest of the body, and it also
controls basic body functions such as breathing, swallowing, heart
rate, blood pressure, consciousness, and whether one is awake or
sleepy.
Brain stem Structure
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Midbrain |
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Pons |
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Medulla Oblongata
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In my case, the area of the brain stem
that was damaged was the Pons. The pons is a major structure
in the upper part of the brain stem. The pons has two
over-arching roles.
The first role is the regulation of breathing. In the pons, there is a structure called the pneumotaxic center. It
controls the amount of air breathed and breaths per minute, which is
known as the breathing rate. The second role is the transmission of signals to and from other structures in the
brain, such as the cerebrum or the cerebellum.
The pons is also involved in sensations such as hearing, taste,
and balance. Furthermore, it is involved in the regulation of deep sleep.
Below is a list of involuntary functions that were
affected by my brain stem stroke. It is a very strange feeling to not have
any control over these functions. An example is breathing. I
breathe automatically. I cannot make myself hold my breath.
Furthermore, if asked to take a deep breath, I cannot take one.
Involuntary Functions
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Breathing
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Swallowing
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Reflexes to seeing and hearing
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Startle Response |
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Autonomic Nervous System
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Sweating |
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Blood Pressure |
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Digestion |
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Temperature |
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Ability to sleep
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Vestibular Function
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Sense of balance
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Observed Problems
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Decreased vital capacity in
breathing, important for speech
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Balance
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Movement
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Dizziness
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Vertigo |
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Sleeping difficulties
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Insomnia |
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My stroke happened in the upper brain stem. It was so
severe that it severed the connections
between the brain and the body. I retained consciousness and intelligent thought but
had become entirely
paralyzed except for eye movements. I could not move anything below
my nose. This is called locked-in
syndrome.
I was locked-in for about three weeks. These three weeks were
the worst nightmare of my life. I was scared to death!
Communication
Since I was locked-in and lost my speech, communication was initially possible by
eye gazing (to letters or words on a
Communication Board), by code using blinking (once for yes
and twice for no), or movements of the eyes (staring at objects,
people, etc).
Read my blog article to find out how my
communication has progressed.
Cranial Nerves
The
cranial nerves are scattered in various locations along the
length of the brain stem. The function of the cranial nerves,
for the most part similar is to the spinal nerves, the nerves that
are associated with the spinal cord. There are twelve pairs of nerves that
emanate from the nervous tissue of the brain. Nine of mine
were damaged by my stroke.
Certain Pain Syndrome
My brain stem stroke also caused damage to my Central Nervous
System. This
caused a very serious and neuropathic pain problem called
central pain syndrome.
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Favorite Scriptures
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
So we fix our eyes not on
what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is
temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2Cor 4:18
For we are God's
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God
prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12
People who
want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish
and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
1 Timothy 6:9
28 “Come to me,
all you who are
weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle
and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is
light.” Matthew 11:28-30
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