Lucky Me !
My stroke occurred on the 18/5/2015. Early Monday morning .. I got up feeling not too good like I was coming down with a bug. I decided to get up and have a cuppa and some breakfast and shower then I'll feel better - I went in the kitchen and the room started spinning I thought I'm pretty crook I'll go back to bed. Two steps later I collapsed on the floor with no feeling in my right had side -leg or arm.
I tried to call my son but all of a sudden I had an old gym sock for a tongue. But he heard the noise and he come to find out what was up , he is only 15 but did a great job getting an ambulance,
They were at my place in under 10 minutes and the person on the 000 number terrific with my son. The ambos arrived and were fabulous - at this time I thought what the F&8k is going on ? Have I had a heart attack, a stroke or onset of a brain tumor .... The female paramedic kept talking to me and had made the decision to go to the Sunshine hospital as they have a stroke emergency centre. Was I dying?? Was I going to be a paraplegic? I can't speak I'm scared I'm vomiting I'm Panicking. I'm 54 - I don't smoke or drink ....hell will I see my boy again..
Once we got to the hospital I'm the centre of attention and getting my head scanned - it shows I have a clot in the left hemisphere ..and a nurse or doctor comes in to ascertain my weight - and a voice tells me to relax while the thremobolitic solution is injected. "you will feel a warm sensation" - as the clot buster does its work - well my balls were on fire!! 10 mins later Im having another scan - the clot had gone and the wheeled me in intensive care.
Soon my family had arrived -good to see familiar faces- they too were stunned. After about an hour or so I had feeling back in the arm and right leg. And speaking although like I had a big night out. I'm not so scared now.. The emergency staff were excellent and made me feel more comfortable. Questions Questions from them and in my head.
To cut a long story short - I was walking in the ward at 4 pm and being assessed all the time - I had an "aftershock" at 10 pm and again at 9 am the next day - a momentary feeling like it was happening again but soon passed. Anyway is took about 48 hours for my swallow reflex to come right. And I had some spacial awareness difficulties but they were happy to discharge me. Being divorced I live 60% of the time on my own - but I went lived with my very caring sister for a while ..who treated me like royalty .. before I got the courage to go it alone.
Anyway, I have some more tests in early August ... I have been on aspirin and statins to help with the blood figures - working to get my cholesterol down - it was nearly 8.
My real issue was how the event made me feel - how much I love my son and family. Even my ex wife showed a lot of concern. It was made me take life a little less seriously and ponder what if?? What if it happened another day or while I was driving??
Well Lucky me.. I'm back at work and doing the things I like (except Pizza and KFC- lol) but losing some weight and more exercise.
But at night when I'm alone ...I still sometime relive that morning and start imaging the worst thoughts...it is not so bad now...I'll be better as time goes on and I have the follow up tests...
Meanwhile life goes on and I want to live at least for another 20 years or so....I have worked hard and I want my twilight years...