mary... please give jim a very gentle hug from Teddi ... and you need to find someone who will hug you too!

from your post (thank you for feeling free enough to post!) well there's no doubt this situation sucks... BUT mini strokes are a whole lot better than the big ones and the prognosis is usually good.

don't be shy about asking the ICU doc to do a phone consultation with his rheumy! they do it all the time and if nothing else, you and jim will feel better knowing the ICU doc has the advantage of your rheumy's opinion.

just some thoughts.

very warm thoughts are pumping your direction... please keep us updated.

mega hugs,
teddi

keep smiling... it matters! FYI-Because of its literal definition ("fear of the marketplace"), agoraphobia is often misunderstood as a fear of crowds or a fear of open spaces. The clinical definition of agoraphobia is a fear of situations or places "from which escape might be difficult (or embarrassing) or in which help may not be available in the event" of a panic attack.