A new Jim Ross blog has been posted over at JRsBarBQ.com, and below are some highlights. As always, you can purchase JR's BBQ products by visiting WWEShop.com:
After returning home from a great experience at the annual caulifloweralleyclub.org function in Las Vegas I had another issue of disorientation on Thursday upon landing in OKC and my wife insisted on taking me to the emergency room in Norman.
I was treated for stroke-like symptoms for two days in the hospital in their stroke care unit. I don't remember Tuesday morning whatsoever including driving myself to the OKC airport, my wife as in Vegas already as I had to stay behind and record a podcast, nor do I recall boarding the plane in OKC for Vegas.
I presented Terry Taylor with a much deserved Iron Mike award at the CAC and have no memory of what I said. That's scary. About a month ago I took a fall in our home that had me hitting my head on our wood floor but I no sold it and never mentioned it to my wife. I assumed that the loss of memory and lost days were a result of that.
After enduring multiple MRI's and numerous tests on my brain and heart it was determined that my prolonged use of Ambien as a sleep aid to combat my insomnia was the primary culprit of my issues. Ambien is a 'temporary' solution to insomnia but I have been taking it for years. Not good. The side affects of Ambien are scary, read about them, of which now I know. If you are taking it, I strongly suggest that you consult your physician.
My meds have now been all adjusted and I am back on a healthy path of diet and exercise and, obviously, NO Ambien. The hallucinogenic issues with the drug are scary and I will never use that medication again.
One interesting thing that the MRI showed was that I actually did have a stroke years ago that went undetected. As is said in WWE, one can be sick at work just as easily as one can at work. I took one vacation there in 20+ years so I obviously loved my work. Old school work ethic can be both a blessing and a curse. That's all on me as I could have taken a vacation any time that I had chosen.
Anxious to see how much WWE re-shuffles the deck tonight on RAW as a way to freshen things up and to get folks talking. I wholeheartedly support "re-casting" from time to time and to try new things and provide opportunities for new talents to see what's in their tank. Many talents complain about not getting their ever loving 'PUSH" until they get it and then it's discovered that many can't handle the pressure of being a potential, top tier talent. Nonetheless, one doesn't know until it's tried. Throw 'new' in the game and see how they perform. Give it a few weeks or more and if they don't succeed then…..next.