You don't know you're having a stroke, but you know that something is wrong. You're not sure what it is, but you feel nauseous. All night you've felt it and you don't feel comfortable. You collapse into a heap on the floor. Your 21 year-old son puts you into the recovery position and you hear him tell his mum you're going to be alright. He doesn't know for sure, but he tells her, anyway. He calls for an ambulance. It's a long drive to Leicester. Another five minutes and you'd have been on your own. You're still awake when you get to Leicester, but it's not long before you pass out.
Then they call all the people that matter to you and tell them they will know more about your condition in the morning. If you survive, that is. Come the morning and does Mandy want to turn off the life support?No...she doesn't. We have some agonizing moments together. So bad was the stroke that i have to stay in hospital for the next nine months. I saw Mandy (now, the wife) once a week from then on In hospital, i busied myself at gardening. More often than not i attended music class. We couldn't play any instruments, but we could watch youtube.
Having a stroke was painless for me, but i was out of it. I don't remember much about anything really. It's all a big dream to me. Now, i'm conscious. I've got a brain injury to go with the fact that i've lost my ability to walk. Not all stroke sufferers are so badly off, but i am. I wouldn't wish this injury on anyone. Others will follow me and realise the enormous task i had to face. They wouldn't look look fo the (4.5 years now) challenges that await them. It has been tough. There's no doubting that. But it has made me a better person, i think, and more prepared to deal with the situations that happen.
So, if you see someone in danger of the symptoms of having a stroke. Please act fast. You could potentially save a life. You could make a difference to their life if they don't die. The worst that can happen is if a stroke victim is left alone which nearly happened to me. Nobody knows what's going to happen in the future, but you improve your chances of avoiding a stroke if you ;
a) stop smoking.
b) give up salt.
c) see your doctor about getting a blood pressure test.
Man, that is quite a story. Thank you for sharing that. My grandfather died of a stroke and I've always wondered if that's going to be my fate, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting a comment. It was quite a day.
ReplyDeleteAgain, so much like my dad's story. You've given good advice as well. Those are things we can all do to reduce our chance of stroke, or of a second or third stroke.
ReplyDeleteYour comment that another five minutes and you would have been alone is chilling, isn't it? One of my aunts had a stroke and wasn't found for several days. She was still able to walk, although badly, and she had walked around and around her apartment in her confusion, falling and bumping into things. She was a terrible mess, all bruises. My uncle happened to be passing through her city (he was a long-haul trucker) and stopped in to visit, and found her like that. Who knows how much longer she would have lasted if he hadn't. I'm glad you got help when you did - your story could have had a different ending.
Thanks for your comments, Jenny.
DeleteIf Jonny hadn't found me when he did, who knows what would've happened?
Thank you for sharing that. My sister in law had a stroke a few years ago. My grandma had a brain aneurysm back in 1979 and it took her years to learn how to walk, talk and read again but she lost partial sight in her right eye. I looked for your blog a while back and couldn't find it. Glad to see I found you again.
ReplyDeleteHey Mary. It's good to see you again after all this time.
DeleteSo true. It, and other changes, can happen to anyone.
ReplyDeleteMy mother WAS alone when she had her stroke. And like you, she spent nine months in hospital.
EC, thanks for posting. It was the worst time of my life., but it could have have been so much worse.
DeleteA post everyone should read
ReplyDeleteThanks. If ever there was a good reason to stop smoking, this is it
ReplyDeleteEvery second counts! Thank you for sharing this very important message.
ReplyDeleteOk
DeleteI'm very pleased that you got help when you did and Mandy had faith in your recovery. I always wonder if I would make the right call if was asked to decide for another person.
ReplyDeleteIt depended how much you loved him.
DeleteI'm sure you would, though.
Well I've never smoked, but I do love my salt. My sister has horrible high blood pressure which she finds very hard to control and she is constantly nagging me about my salt intake. So far my BP is good but there really is no need to take chances so I will cut back. Thanks for sharing your story.
ReplyDeleteIt's so important these days. If your sister has high blood pressure she should see a doctor about it.
DeleteThanks for sharing this Terry. As you say - good job your son was there. I haven't had my blood pressure checked in years. Maybe I should go to the doctor's and request this. Though I admire you for battling through, I would not want to follow in your footsteps. I gave up smoking twenty nine years ago - just before my daughter was born.
ReplyDeleteBetter to request a blood pressure test.
DeleteFor your peace of mind, if nothing else.