2nd stroke and 999 call giot me to hospital. Accident and Emergency dept put me into holding room set up in the plaster room in a reclining chair with a pillow and blanket for the night. Head scan to check for “bleeds” with negative results. No beds available anywhere in hospital gave me a prescription next morning and told me to collect it from hospital pharmacy and told me to go home under my own steam as no transport available.
I was in nightware and slippers and could only walk with difficulty. Managed to get a taxi for the 30 mile trip home (£60). Letter to GP outlining meds needed and since then have had to collect these monthly at my closest pharmacy 6 miles away so had to rely on neighbours to get me there due to driving ban for 6 weeks.
No follow up or any help offered and as I live in a rural location have severe difficulty shopping etc.
Health seems to be getting worse as now I can hardly get upstairs to bed each night and can no longer do housework to help my wife who is severely disabled.
No help groups here and Dr Surgery manned by locums as permanent staff cannot be recruited.
Appointments are impossible to obtain as the usual “Berlin Wall” has been erected by receptionists.
Have now just about given up and feel as though I will soon suffer something fatal and am powerless to do anything about it…
Complaints to health board and hospital getting nowhere.
@douglassewell that must be so difficult for you. I know its very difficult but keep pushinv for a GP appointment. You can insist on seeing one despite the receptionists protests.
I agree with @Mahoney re getting a care assessment for you & your wife. See if you can get an OT to assess you for any kit / equipment you may need too.
Hope you at least haveca follow up with tye stroke team. Ask the Stroke Association if they haveca support coordinator in your area. I have one & they’ve been great for getting answers from ny consultant & GP.
I had a bad stroke 5 months ago. I feel it’s hard to keep positive… like you I also wonder if i’m getting better or worse. Anyway I feel your frustration, and despite the odds I sincerely hope you and your wife pull through. When you said you would not wish this on your worst enemy, well, that’s the exact phrase I said not so long ago. Best wishes and good luck, Roland
Thanks folks for all your suggestions and understanding. Now obtained walking aids and other bits and pieces to help around the home although GP fails to understand the effect a stoke has had. Now sending me to get measured for pressure stockings in case blood flow causing dizziness? Missed appointment to see local authority nurse to get measured as I could not drive the 12 miles to see her. She got cross with me when I rang to explain circumstances and demanded I give more notice next time? ow when I found I could not drive there only when I got into the car 30 mins before appointment was due. Lack of understanding or care here with no appointment available until Feb. next year. Will not go as I fail to see at this stage how these stockings can help. View now is to just keep going as long as I can and to pot with an NHS that seems not to care up here in my area of Scotland. Anyway thanks all for your help and enjoy Christmas and the New Year whatever life brings.
Update - Doctor now putting it down to Heart Failure? and booked for a scan sometime in the future (again ??). Meantime sent me to Speech Therapist as I am not able to eat chewy foods so what a Speech Therapist has to do with this alludes me. Speech Therapist told me to take up cornet or trumpet to help with breathing - perhaps trying to kill me off! Meantime trying to get to dentist to check fit of dentures but again a 6 week wait for appointment. Going downhill fast and no longer fighting system here in Scotland. What a mess.
Speech & language therapists are the people that deal with these sort of issues. Seems strange but I think it must be around tue techniques rather than the actual speaking part although i am sure it is all linked.
I used to play the cornet many years ago & it definitely takes some puff… i’m sure there’s easier ways of doing breathing exercises.