Worse range trip ever

Shakyshoot

Worse trip ever? I think I have it with this. I shot Okay for 50 rd with the Range Officer then started in with the 22. I shot some and felt a little dizzy, so I stood and rested a bit, then shot a little more. Then I thought, "Wow I really don't feel very good. I'd better quit early" Next thing I know I'm being loaded into an ambulance. I dropped and hit the side of my head on the asphalt resulting in significant brain damage. The local ER sent me 80 miles in another ambulance to the place in Tuscon with neurological experts. Just got back after 52 hours at the 2 hospitals. I have to sit up very slowly, stand up very slowy, and I've forgotten a lot of words. Right now guns worth over 3K are in the security at the first hospital, and my car is at the range. Not sure if I'll have to give up shooting, or maybe shoot offhand pistol from a chair. No broken skull, but bleeding in the brain. Might be A-OK in a month to 3 months, might not.

Dennis H

My dad went thru somethin similar awhile back shaky. He'd taken a pretty good wack from a gate latch that made him see stars for a bit. He shook it off but would have occasional dizzy spells over the next couple months. Then one day he was a horseback and started feelin dizzy so he got off and walked it off. He got back on and went about three steps and just fell off. The folks he was with loaded him in the bed of a pickup and hauled him to the hospital. One side of his brain was full of blood. Apparently the gate latch incident broke a blood vessel and it had been bleeding for a couple months. Drilled a hole in his skull, drained the blood, fixed the vessel, hes been fine ever since. Been a couple years now. The kicker was about 10yrs ago at 60 he decided on his own to take a baby aspirin everyday. His blood was too thin and the vessel wouldn't clot on it's own. Hope yers turns out as well!

RidgeRunner

God bless you Shaky. I'm praying for you to have a quick recovery. I wonder if the initial problem was low blood pressure or blood sugar, and then the fall caused a more serious issue. Take it a day at a time and stay close to the Lord.

44s Rock

Hope you heal ok! Praying for you! My brother has been having spells and has landed in the hospitol 3 times. Turns out with him it is a version of Parkinson's, or so the Docs think.

bearcatter

I just don't know what to say about our sudden rash of walking wounded. Maybe it's just the time of year? The holidays do tend to get us off our routine, in activities and food.

May God bless you all with a quick and total recovery.

Shakyshoot

Slept for 9 1/2 hours and feeling about 30 percent better. Not too much trouble sitting up or standing. Same ripping headache but it was much worse the whole first day even with Percocet. Sure enjoyed that cup of coffee--first one in 3 days. My DGF is taking me to the pharmacy to get the stuff that's supposed to help clear out the blood and then to the first hospital to see if my 4 guns are still there. Would not want to lose those guns--VQ scorpion, Range Officer 45, S&W 629, and pocket carry Smith 638. I freaked the EMT's out by saying "wait, I have another one," then yanking it out and clearing it.

gunjunkie

I hope you feel a little better every day, Shaky.

Sightngrl

Shaky I'm so sorry for your health issuses. Prayers for a complete recovery from this incident. Always get second opinions from the docs if possible. Bless you!

north country gal

Shaky, there aren't words to say how sorry I am to hear this, but know that it really breaks my heart, all the same. Don't worry about the guns or anything else but getting better, for now. Guns can always be replaced. You can't. Please keep us posted on your recovery.

Shakyshoot

Thanks all for your thoughts and prayers. I made the trip to town with my DGF doing the driving, and it all went fine. Made it through the pharmacy and a big grocery buy, then headed toward the emergency room in search of my range bag. The guy at security recognized me right away and said "We sold em all" as soon as I walked up. Of course they didn't, and everything was there. Now I have only my car to worry about. The range gave a note to the EMT's to give, me that they put the car in a lock-up gate at the range. Not sure how they did that unless they towed it, but it should be OK. I' m looking at maybe trying to drive it home on Tuesday. The hospital said don't drive for week or two, and that will be a week, so i'll see how I feel. I feel like I could drive now. It's more stressful driving with my girlfriend, because she is a terrible driver.

SPsix

Sounds like you are making a good recovery, glad to hear you are coming along. Scary !

Terry_P

Take it slow Shaky and allow yourself to heal. Find out what put you down to begin with.

Cuyler

My thoughts and prayers are with you Shaky. Hopefully your recovery will go well and you can resume your trips to the range in the very near future.

KimberLover

As Terry_P posted: "Try to find out what put you down to start with."
So, Shakey is it possible that the collapse was actually caused by an anurisum that was leaking blood into the brain area? Did any doctor indicate that?

Shakyshoot

Apparently the type of bleed makes it more likely the result of the fall rather than the cause.
Its a small subdural hematoma, between the skull and the edge of the brain, not nearer an artery that might have popped an aneurysm. Don't know the cause of the fall. I know my blood pressure was very high at times in the hospital. When I had my last physical 10 months ago it was around 124/82. When the took it in the hospital and I was laying down it was around 130/85, but when I sat up it spiked as high as 169/90. When I stood up for a bit it dropped to about 140/85.
I do know I'm feeling better this morning. Much less dizziness on sudden movement. (The physical therapy guy who tested my fitness to leave the hospital said not to call it "dizziness.") They say dizziness means vertigo, i.e, when the room is spinning. What I have they call lightheadedness. Also thinking better. When I first started this thread I couldn't tell that "worse range trip" was wrong. Now it's obvious that it should be "worst range trip." Notice I also corrected the spelling of "aneurysm," so I should be getting back to the pompous blowhard we all know.
Got my 350 rd of 44 magnum from LAX ammo yesterday, so here's hoping I get a chance to shoot it.

44s Rock

+1

Dennis H

I'm taken the fact you remember you're a pompous blowhard aa a good sign! Glad yer on the mend!

Sightngrl

Continued prayers & well wishes!

RetiredSeabee

Yep Shaky, you definitely win the worst range trip honors. I sure as hell don’t plan to challenge you for the title. Take care of yourself and we will wait as long as it takes for a better range report.