Nicki Jeffery

I woke up one morning in October and realised that something was not right. I got up and decided to make myself some breakfast. When I got to the kitchen I decided to make myself some cereals. When I got the milk out I tried to pour it into my bowl, but managed to pour it into a glass (for apple juice). Eventually I managed to get my cereals ready and took them into my bedroom with my apple juice and yoghurt. However, I managed to smash my apple juice on my radiator. I decided to leave it there (strange I know, but when you have a stroke your mind makes strange decisions!) Then I went back to my bed and tried to eat my yoghurt but I couldn't co-ordinate my hands so I ended up pouring my yoghurt all down me. I decided to give up on any food and instead went back to sleep. I managed to sleep right through until 3.30pm! I thought I should phone work at this point, but when I tried speaking I couldn't say what I meant. I wanted to say that I was like a baby, because my co-ordination had gone, but all I could say was "I'm like a baby!" Obviously they couldn't understand what I was saying, so they sent my housemate home to find out.

When Jo arrived I agreed to go to the Doctor's. I couldn't understand what was wrong with me, but I knew that something was wrong. The Nurse and the Doctor decided that I should go to the hospital. When I came out of the Doctor's I tried to text my friend to tell her that I couldn't meet her that evening, but I couldn't type. I tried to write that text for about twenty minutes before I had to give up, but I was still able to give my friend directions to get to the hospital!

Once at the hospital I had many tests, most of which I can't remember because of the state I was in. Later that evening a Doctor came past and told me that I'd had a stroke and that I would need to stay in hospital at least overnight. Jo went home at this point, to collect my things for staying. Jo also decided to phone my parents (I was adamant that she shouldn't phone my parents because I would be going home soon and they didn't need to be worried!), who phoned me at the hospital to say that they would come up. I was then moved to a side ward on my own. My friends Dave and Simon visited to bring me my things, and then my parents arrived. I had to stay in hospital for 2 more days and then I was allowed to my parent's home for the weekend. I just slept for that whole weekend, although my friend Simon came down with me and sat with me. On Monday I had to go back to hospital and I stayed there for another couple of days. I had to have an Occupational Therapy assessment (where I was given the all clear) and lots of other tests including one where they put a camera down my throat to see my heart. Then I went back to Newbury to my home. My parents were not happy about leaving me but I insisted that I was fine and I had things to do. The Doctors were not happy about me going but they agreed that I was fine. So I went back to the house on the Friday, I had that weekend at the house and then I went to work for some training on the Monday and Tuesday. Then I went back to my parents and stayed there for 3 weeks.

When I eventually came back to work I had to be introduced slowly back starting with two days half time (10am until 1 pm) and then working up to 5 days half time, and then back to full time.

I had a heart operation when I was younger, and I still have a small hole in my heart now, which is one possibility of the cause of the stroke. The other possibilities are that the contraceptive pill I was on caused my stroke, or maybe the stress involved at work. Either way, the Doctors are not sure what caused my stroke, but they say that as long as I'm on Warfarin I'll be fine. It really did scare me, but I'm fine now and living my life to the full.

Thanks to Nicki 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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