Diane Arter
My name is Diane Arter. I had my stroke 2 years ago 22 September 2003. I was 37.
From November 2002 and September 2003 I had a very emotional time. I lost my mum, my mother-in -law to be, moved house, organised my wedding and had a stroke.
On Monday 22 September I woke up for work feeling as if I was coming down with something. My husband to be (now my husband) phoned work and explained that I wasn't feeling 100%. I made an appointment with my GP for that afternoon.
My husband took me to the GP. My appointment was at 3.30. The GP said I had a chest infection and prescribed some antibiotics. On the way home I asked my husband to be to stop at Homebase I wanted to buy some egg cups. I was really craving a boiled egg. (As we had only just moved into the house we did not have any egg cups). Whilst in Homebase purchasing the egg cups I went really dizzy and said to my husband to be that I needed an ambulance and could he lay me down so that I did not fall. I new I was having a stroke. I don't know how. I was conscious throughout the stroke.
I was taken to hospital where they carried out test e.g. CT Scan, Lumber Punch. They could not find the chest infection that was diagnosed an hour before. However they suspected a stroke or a brain bleed and explained that I may not pull through.
I was kept in hospital for 2 and a 1/2 weeks. My wedding was looming and I was laying in hospital.
For the first 5 days I do not remember who came to the hospital. All I remember is how ill I felt and that the headache was the worst I had ever had. Being young hindered the process of finding out what had caused this because I was not the usual candidate for a stroke.
As time went by in the high dependency unit at the hospital I started to become aware that I could not walk and that I had no feeling down my right side and my left arm was not working. I was also aware that I could not sit up without being violently sick. This continued for weeks after leaving hospital. I still am unstable on my feet but am improving.
I had a few visitors on particular day and my consultant came round and sat on the bed with my visitors present and said he was not sure what was wrong it thought it could be a stroke but the other things it could be was brain cancer, ms, tumour. This really scared me and I burst into tears.
I had an MRI scan whilst in hospital and await the results with baited breath. The MRI showed that I had had a stroke and I was relieved. I felt lucky that it was a stroke. However, the nurse that was looking after me did not think I was lucky.
My goal was to walk on my wedding day. I achieved this but I do think that if I did not have the wedding I would not have recovered as quick. I had a purpose and I was determined not to let the stroke ruin my big day.
I was off work for a year and initially went back part-time a few hours every other day. I gradually increased my hours and now work 32 hours a week which is enough. I still get very tired and need a lot of sleep (is this normal?).
There is a light at the end of the tunnel for those that have survived a stroke.
Thanks to Diane for sending in her profile. Anyone else who would like to share their story can send it along with a photograph (if you're not shy!)
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