Lee Chandler
A Stroke of Luck

I remember quite a bit about my stroke and if I told you my story I think you might learn something from it. Who would have thought a simple headache could turn into a nightmare? Before my stroke I felt really depressed, I was in a job I hated, I was suffering from OCD (ob comp dis,), I felt as though I had nothing to look forward to and I was suffering from a kidney disease called Neopathy, which put paid to my University Degree as I was having too much time off due to illness. Then came the headache, it wasn't powerful at first but the pain was increasing day by day. I tried taking paracetamol but the headache didn't go away, even when I'd finished the packet!! I put it down to a migraine so I got a prescription for migraine, but that didn't work. So I decided to ignore the headache, hoping to sleep it off at some point, I'm used to ignoring pain being a martial artist.

One evening I just felt so tired all I wanted to do was sleep, I didn't care where, the garden, the gutter, just so long as I wasn't disturbed. I went up to my bedroom and lay on the floor and went to sleep. Then in walked my father who told me to get up, he tried pulling me up by my right hand, but it flopped down again, he left me on the floor, then my mother walked in saying that my father was on the phone to the Doctor. The Doctor arrived and was doing some tests on me, one was to ask me to walk to the door, and I just flopped to the floor. He told me I was a "medical mystery" and medical mysteries go to hospital. I was going for a brain scan. I thought "not again"; I had only just come home from recovering from septicaemia and renal failure, "what's wrong this time?" I must have pretty bad health to keep falling ill!!

After some time the ambulance arrived and took me to Southampton General Hospital. The ambulance ride was somewhat squeaky but I was too tired to complain. I was handed over to someone who must have signed for me, as one of the ambulance crew introduced me as Mr Chandler, I wanted to complain about the drafty doorway, but I was too tired. Now I'm in safe hands. I can go to sleep now and never have to wake up, it's all over now, if this is death, I want it.

Apparently I was asleep for one month but it seemed like the next day when I woke up in Queen Alexandra Hospital. My memories were short and sudden but they were firm and real. I remember being wheeled round a lot, then fighting off medical staff for injecting me in the bum. Then I remembered a special machine, I was enclosed with camera lenses revolving around my head making a humming noise, and then I remember nurses shaving my chest.

Then a persistent rushing sound finally waked me, I thought, "what the hell is this?" This is really annoying then I saw the mask on my face so I took it off. I asked what was wrong with me. My mother told me it said "cerebral haemorrhage" above my bed. I had done some first aid and knew what this term meant. I have had a stroke!!! I don't believe it! But this kills people; especially old people die of it. Things had to change. That's the second time I've cheated death, once with septicaemia and now a stroke!!

I started planning for a full recovery, first things first, what caused this? I was told blood pressure. I went to the library to get some books on it, I will turn this around. I found that cardiovascular exercise would lower my blood pressure, so I started jogging. I then went to my GP who expected me, to at least, have a limp. I told him I have some trouble with running as my leg sometimes packs out. He couldn't believe I was jogging and told me to look up at my maker and thank him that I was still here. Today I still think I was meant to survive for something. I have cheated death twice now. What a stroke of luck!!!!

Thanks to Lee for sending in his 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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