Helen Sivyer

Hi I am so glad I found your website. Please can I tell you my story.

My name is Helen Sivyer and I am 31 years old. I am married with 3 children (one aged 7 and two aged 4.5).

In 2005 when I was 28 I had a stroke. I was on the pill and at the time was under a great deal of stress. One weekend I noticed that my vision wasn't as clear as it should be. I made an appointment with the opticians thinking nothing of it. He said I had double vision and referred me to my gp. Anyway I got an appointment straight away and saw my gp who immediately referred me to the local hospital. I went there the next day and after numerous eye tests they said I would need a MRI. That would have been June sometime. They fitted a corrective prism to my glasses and sent me on my way.

In October 2005 I had my mri. This showed a swelling to my brain. After echos, blood tests, neck scans etc they decided that I had had s small stoke. My neurosurgeon actually wrote to me telling me this - he later apologised! Anyway, I was immediately put on aspirin and told I had to have another mri to confirm that it was a stroke but that they had no idea as to why I had had a stroke. I had the other mri and they all agreed that it had been a stroke.

Anyway, three years on.....I STILL have no idea as to why I have had a stroke. I feel incredibly lucky that I am around to see my children grow up and that my only problem is my sight. I still have double vision and the consultants don't think it will ever return to normal. But I now have a 6-8degree prism whereas in 2005 it was a 22degree. I know I am lucky but I would just like to know why. I am healthy with no reason why I had the stroke. Many people have said it was probably stress which caused it but the consultants don't think stress can cause a stroke. I won't go into the details but suffice it to say it was completely out of the ordinary and involved a friend of mine who was killed. My gp says it is 99.9% likely I will never have another so that is one good thing.

To all those who have had a stroke, congratulate yourself. We are all survivors and we deserve to be proud of ourselves. Keep strong.xx

Thanks for reading my story. It really helps to get it off my chest to someone who understands.

Thanks to Helen 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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