Hello, my name is Joy and I am 65 years of age. I had a stroke on 2nd January 2025 whilst on holiday in Tunisia. Following a violent headache and vomiting excessively I knew something was very wrong. A doctor was called who gave me an injection for the vomiiting and sent my partner off with a prescription for various medications. I told him I think I have had a stroke but he said no it was a virus. Skip forward 3 days and I still felt dreadful. I told my partner I needed to go to hospital, where I was given an MRI and 3 aneurysms were discovered one of which had burst. I was admitted to ICU. Consultant said I would need treatment which would be best done in UK, however I really should not fly. Eventually 6 days later I flew back to UK accompanied by a paramedic. I was taken to our local hospital and placed on the stroke ward. MRI was given again and I was then transferred to the Neurology Hospital where I underwent treatment for coiling of DACA aneurysm via femoral artery and spent 6 days in ICU. Not sure as yet what is going to happen about the other two aneurysms. I feel dreadful and do not know what to do with myself. I rang 111 last weekend as had terrible pain behind my eye and pain in my shoulder. I was checked out and sent home but have since rang 111 again as thought I was dying. Again was sent home and now I feel like a timewaster, which I guess I am. Have been started on Sertraline which I hope will calm me down. Never in my life have I felt so ill. Can I add my mobility is not too bad so after reading some of your stories, I guess I should feel lucky. I am really trying to stop feeling sorry for myself and get up each day if only to make a drink but just want to lay in bed. I cannot explain exactly why I feel so ill, it is just a general feeling of unease. Is it normal to feel this unwell? Thank you for reading this.
Welcome, I know nothing of your condition but I’m sure others,will be along soon who do.
What i do know about is thinking you are a time waster, YOU ARE NOT!! It is never a waste to be checked out as that provides you with a degree of reassurance which makes you feel better.
The other bit is that this is new and very scary!
Symptoms and feelings can be divided into 2 sections. First you have the pain and illness you are going through today, this minute. Your brain has had an assault it’s going to take time to be less bruised
But in addition the things that you fear in the future,the uncertainty as you don’t yet have a clear plan all magnify the things affecting you today.
It’s to do with what you think is the reason for feeling poorly and for your symptoms.
Be patient as sertraline takes a while to kick in.
Not sure any of that makes sense.
I would be inclined to ring surgery or get someone to do it for you to see if your discharge letter from the hospital has arrived ( hopefully you should be sent a copy too.
If letter has arrived than request an appt to discuss it with your GP.
Thank you for your quick response. I have already seen my GP, however did not find it very helpful. I think I will make another appointment however. I seem to fixate on any ache, pain or feeling and magnify it in my mind to something huge. I am not helping myself I know. I suffered from health anxiety prior to the stroke so this is the worst thing that could happen to me.
Hi Joy @Joy666
Welcome to the community, I’m sorry to hear about what you’ve been through. It must have been awful to go through that whilst in a different country.
You definitely aren’t wasting time when you have some symptoms that are worrying. It’s perfectly normal at this stage in your recovery to worry about things, if you’re ever concerned it’s always best to get yourself checked out. Everything is still pretty new at the moment so it will take some time for it all to settle.
Anxiety and a feeling of unease are often spoken about after having a stroke and we have some information on anxiety on our webpage that might be helpful for you.
Wishing you well, and if you need anything whilst you’re using the Online Community, please don’t hesitate to tag me using the @ symbol and my username.
Anna
@Joy666 I have had health anxiety for a long while, but my stroke made it worse and starting to affecting any activity not in my daily routine.
I have self referred for nhs talking therapies
I think the wait times can be quite long, up to 12 weeks but I had an phone assessment within 2 weeks then a cancellation for face to face within 3 weeks!!
I also use breathing exercises and mindfulness, lots on YouTube.
Feel for you anxiety can make you feel so poorly.
Thanks again. I have made a referral too. On a positive note, I have dragged my butt out of bed too, I need to get a grip and stop fixating on negatives. I will try mindfulness later too. Thank you
@Joy666 just wanted to say hi & welcome to the community. I’m sorry to hear of your stroke & can only imagine how difficult it must have been for you being in Tunisia when it happened.
I would echo what others have aaid re time wasting. You are not and you should always get checked out if you are worried. 111 are a great place to start & they will advise what you should do but always go to A&E if you need to.
The first few weeks /months after my stroke I felt dreadful so i’m guessing that is what you are experiencing at the minute. Try not to worry as stress will make your symptoms worse. In the very early days I found even just speaking 1 sentence to someone was so exhausting I thought I was going to collapse. Fear of the unknown doesn’t help either & I think if someone had explained to me that I was likely to experience these sorts of things I would have bothered the medical professionals less.
You really do need plenty of rest at this stage. Your brain is trying to heal. Remember that even things likecwatching TV, reading, screen time are all stimulants for the brain & mean you aren’t resting. Even 3 years on I still sit in silence with my eyes shut so I can rest up properly.
I hope you start to feel a little better soon. Be kind to yourself it will take time. You’ve had a major event happen.
Best wishes
Ann
Thank you Ann, I feel reassured to know that someone else also felt dreadful (in the nicest possible way) as beginning to think I am either over reacting or there is something very wrong with the way I am feeling. I feel the same as you and wish someone had told me what to expect although I guess everyone is different. Anyway, you have reassured me so thank you for that
Hello Joy - Welcome to this community. Nice to have you albeit in not so nice circumstances.
I see there has been an excellent response to your post and note you are already taking follow-up actions. Please carry on doing that and do take care of yourself.
Please do not think of yourself as a time waster - what you are feeling is real and you are right to seek help.
Takes care.
Namaste|
Hi Joy,
I 100% concur that you are definitely not a time waster. You had a brain bleed and have another 2 aneurysm’s. These are serious and not a minor injury.
I wish you all the best in getting the help you need, good luck, as the NHS in my experience is on its ass.
Regards,
Daniel
Thank you everyone for taking the time to reply. It means so much to me. I am grateful to have found such a warm, caring group who understand my distress
I am so sorry to hear of your troubles. You are Not a time waster and deserve better. I have no idea where you live, but , I have always had excellent treatment for both my haemoragic stroke’cant spell that’ and resulting neurology problems. Ido hopyou get help snd reassuranc e soon. You must feel very frightened.