Linda Leaning

I feel a bit of a fraud actually sending my experience of a stroke, which seems so minor after reading the other survivor stories but here goes. Perhaps there are other people who have had similar experiences to my own.

My minor stroke happened on Monday, 28th June 2004, just under a month before my 51st birthday. I'd had a very busy weekend and gone to bed quite late on the Sunday evening, about 2 am. I remember that evening I had been on the Internet and remember being very thirsty. I was so engrossed with researching my family tree that I kept having a sip of water now and then but not a proper long drink. I woke up at my usual time the day after about 7.30am (I only work afternoons, I have to be there for 12.30), and decided to have a lie in as my daughters were away and my husband at work. I remember waking up (not sure of the time and didn't think to check) and hearing the phone ringing downstairs. I remember thinking that I would just ignore it.

The next thing I know my husband was waking me up and it was 4.30pm. I sat up in bed and started to worry about work and what excuse I was going to give them for not turning up. I went downstairs and this was when I realised I couldn't see properly. My vision was distorted, and at times I could see double. I went and sat down and realised I could not read because of the distortion, however, if I looked through each eye individually I could read. My speech was also slurred I knew this myself it just didn't sound right. I can remember looking through a mirror and one side of my face (my left side) just didn't seem, as it should be. My husband kept bringing me tea and coffee and some toast and I kept trying to read my new catalogue if necessary with one eye. My daughter came home about 7pm and was really shocked and said I looked terrible.

My husband then took me to the Accident and Emergency Unit at the local hospital. By this time 8pm my vision had returned to normal and my speech was more or less back to normal. A doctor eventually saw me and various tests were done. I had an ECG, blood pressure, blood tests, x ray, all of which came back negative. The doctor who examined me said that because all of the tests were negative he was unable to keep me in overnight. He said he would arrange for the local TIA clinic to see that they and me would contact me with an appointment. He said if I hadn't heard anything within a week I should contact them. I got the impression from him that he was quite concerned about me. He gave me a prescription for aspirin and said I should take one every day. I went home that evening about midnight. I was so tired. The following few days I was absolutely exhausted. I slept a good 12+ hours every night, and during the day fell asleep for about an hour as well. I seemed to have a permanent light headed feeling to go with the tiredness. My speech was also not quite right and I couldn't always remember the names of simple everyday objects, or remember how to spell them.

I went to my GP on the Friday following that fateful Monday, he immediately said I hadn't had a stroke or a TIA and that it was probably just a migraine. He said I should have a cholesterol test which he arranged for the following Monday. He also said I shouldn't be taking the aspirin. He then backtracked and said well it won't do any harm anyway.

I rang the TIA clinic to see when my appointment would be and I was told the 4th August. It seemed that I was a non-priority patient as all the tests were negative.

I had the cholesterol test, which came back at 4.2, which apparently is very good. I went the following Friday to see the other GP in the practice, who sent me off to the Medical Assessment Unit at the local hospital. A nice young doctor carried out various tests both physical and verbal. I still had this tired light headed feeling and had absolutely no energy at all and was falling asleep during the day, as well as having the mandatory 12+ hours at night. This young doctor told the consultant when he came to do the rounds. The consultant said that it was nothing neurological and that I should think about going back to work, if necessary on reduced hours. It was probably just a viral infection! I then asked what I should do about the appointment at the TIA clinic in August; he said I should still go to that anyway.

The following week I had booked off work as a holiday anyway, so I took this and at the end of that week rang work and asked if I could return to work on reduced hours, instead of 12.30 to 5.30 I would do 12.30 - 3.00. My employers a well-known Mail Order Company were absolutely brilliant and were concerned that I was returning to work too soon. I didn't have any option - I was unable to obtain a sick note from my doctor as they thought there was nothing wrong.

I started to improve slowly although still light headed but certainly not as tired as I had been originally.

I attended the TIA clinic at the beginning of August and for the first time since I first went to Accident & Emergency I felt I was being taken seriously. They arranged for me to have a heart scan, a head scan and a neck scan and said that these would take about 3 months to complete and get the results. I was then given another appointment for the end of November, when I would get the results.

I was feeling really unwell at the beginning of November, the light-headedness was really bad and I was continually tired, so I went back to my GP. He decided this time I was suffering from severe depression and prescribed anti depressants. I didn't feel depressed at all. When I came home I typed in the name of the anti-depressant onto the Internet and was absolutely flabbergasted when I read all about them. They were for people who suffered from severe anxiety, panic attacks and with obsessive-compulsive disorder. I simply did not cash in the prescription. I have tried to change my doctor but have had no luck whatsoever. I had in total a week off work and returned the following week. In total I have had 3 weeks off work. Luckily my employer pays the first week on self-certification before they need a doctor's note. I have only ever had 1 Dr's note.

I went to the TIA clinic at the end of November, convinced at this point that indeed there was nothing wrong. The results on all the tests except the head scan were negative. The head scan confirmed that I had had a minor stroke in June. I was sent for intensive blood tests in January to see if they could ascertain why I had had a stroke. I am still awaiting the results of these, I have also been told to keep on taking the aspirin that will probably be for life.

I am not able to do one quarter of what I used to do without becoming extremely tired and very light headed. The more tired I am the more lightheaded I become. I used to go swimming and keep fit classes on a regular basis. I am certainly not up to the classes but in summer I will go swimming again. The TIA doctor advised me to walk when I can for about 30 minutes. I do this when walking to work, which is exactly 30 minutes, but some days I am too tired so either drive or catch the bus. My housework has to be done on a very slow basis. I used to be able to clean two rooms in about an hour. It can take the best part of a day to do the same, and I have to keep stopping for a rest. I seem to need more sleep than I used to. I am still on reduced hours at work, although now I work from 12.30 - 4.00, but quite honestly that is enough.

After reading other survivor stories I realise how lucky I am. Has anyone else had a similar experience to mine?

Linda Leaning

Thanks to Linda 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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