Up until the end of March I was happily enjoying my life with low stroke risk.
- I am in my early 60s
- I was never a heavy drinker and gave it up completely 12 years ago as it didn’t go well with medication I am taking for stress
- I have never smoked
- I have low blood pressure, typically around 105/65, but it frequently goes below 100
- I gave up caffeine and chocolate nearly 30 years ago as I found they both gave me a thumping headache
- I had a fairly healthy diet apart from cheese, that I ate as a chocolate substitute
- I had previously been told my carborydrate was normal
- I had been seeing a GP recently about headaches I was having with a sudden spike that decayed quickly to nothing in ten minutes - I told him I thought they were a sinus problem as they were typically around an eye or close to my nose
Then I got up one morning in early April and collapsed in the bathroom. Luckily my wife heard me fall and called 999. I have no memory of a headache.
I got to the hospital, they did a CT scan and told me I had had a brain bleed. I lost my right side and I found I could only say 4 words. I was admitted to the stroke ward
My wife and two children took it in turns to visit, which helped my recovery.
On day two I discovered I could recite the words to a song I knew even though I couldn’t make sentences! I then tried reading a hospital information document that was lying on my table and I read it perfectly. After I read it I couldn’t remember the words and reverted to using a few single words to try to be understood. Did anyone else find this?
I regained use of my right leg after a few days. I also discovered I could lift my right arm slightly, so I would pull it vertical with my left hand, let it go and then try to control it as it gradually fell.
I was discharged at 6 days. My discharge summary highlighted I was slightly above the limit for cholesterol and they suggested I reduced it. My diagnosis was a multilobar ICH stroke. I asked my consultant if multilobar was rare, she said it was not unusual but not typical of someone my age. She said it occurs more frequently in people 10 to 20 years older.
I was put on 6 weeks physio, speech and occupational therapy. I found they were a great help and they were impressed with my progress.
I have regained most of my right side, although there are some limitations that probably only I am aware of. I struggle to write and I had to request a postal vote for both elections with a waiver to not sign the accomanying form. They told me to write an X!
My speech is good for casual conversation but if I get asked a question or have to think about something, I get pauses and eventually stress headaches.
I added my son to my car insurance. This was made dificult as I had various passwords on my PC that I struggled to remember. I tried to tell him my passwords in hospital. He knows I use the first letters of words in a song with a few unusual substitutions. He would go home one day and then come in the next and told me the substitutions didn’t work. I also use an ergonomic (split) keyboard that was challenging both for him and then for me after discharge when I tried to type with just my left hand!
After about 6 weeks I drove to the end of the road, turned round and came home. I did not feel confident as I have problems with concentration. I have now been referred for a driving assessment. I am not worried if I never drive again.
I have a constant headache that varies from something I need to think about to notice through to needing strong painkillers.
I have adjusted my diet and regularly check the saturated fat content. I have drastically cut my cheese consumption.
I quickly decided I could not go back to work, I get stress and headaches if I try anything for more than 2 hours. Writing this post has taken around 2 hours now and I already have a headache.
I do a job that I enjoy, however apparently I told my wife I was the most stressed I had ever been at work on the Thursday before I had the stroke on the following Tuesday. Luckily I am only a few years from retiring and was considering early retirement before the stroke. I now take time to enjoy life, physically I am ok with how I am and if I don’t get any further recovery in my speech then I am ok with that too.
I realise I am lucky with this recovery and that it’s not everyone’s experience. However I decided to share everything in case someone else finds something they can relate to.
