It was really weird, people, just didn’t understand me.
My then partner and my manager had broken open the door at 2pm, at which time I had woken up (again) I had, had a Stroke at about 6 am, just after I put down the phone to my partner (he spent the night in Leeds) All through the morning I had drifted in and out of consciousness, tried to get up, I didn’t think that my right leg was affecting thing’s, I went round the bed, in a fashion, my iPhone wasn’t working, or so I thought (when you type in your passcode and get it wrong 10 times, it erases data !!) I remember just giving up and thinking someone will come round and so i might as well go to sleep.
I remember going to hospital and I remember staying there for 2 weeks. My family and friends were so good. The nurses, they were amazing, I had a shower (of sorts ) every other day. I remember going to the shower, sitting on the chair, to have a shower and then when I was done, sliding off on to another chair and wheeling me back round to my bed. It was weird, things like, I could only brush my hair with my left hand, I could only do up my trousers with my left hand, I am right handed (or at least i was).
Everyday I went for scans and to do loads of tests. I stayed in there until the 31st January 16. I remember thinking just let me get out of here and get back to what i was doing (at work) There was no indication that I would be this way for a couple of years, no way. Somehow my life would get back together and my right arm/leg would start working again. There was a couple of visits from the Consultant and a few Doctors on their rounds. It really frustrated me because they talked around me ( I found that i couldn’t get the words out properly but i really tried ) I lay in bed, not really sure of what i was doing, I remember thinking over and over again, I was planning my 50th birthday, i was getting excited about going away with my friends (to different places) I had my parents anniversary the year before and now it was my turn !!!
And I was moving offices, back from Ashford to Medway, something that i had always wanted. But again, I could speak really easily but nothing would come out of my mouth, it just didn’t make sense ! Everyone had done the research (my family and friends) and they knew a lot more things than I could of possible done.
Basically, I have had a Major Stroke, I can’t argue with that
Quote from my consultants diagnosis.
“Major stroke – total anterior circulation stroke (TACS) affecting left MCA territory resulting in dense right sided weakness and aphasia thought to be due to internal coronary artery dissection at its origin “
“Major pulmonary embolism and right leg DVT a few days following her stroke “
Looking back, I don’t think i realised how ill I was and I don’t think that my brain had taken in the fact that my right hand side was temporarily paralysed.
Starting Again Life after 50 