Stephen Little

After eating my evening meal on the Saturday night after work, I took the plate into the kitchen. The next thing I remember is falling to the floor. I tried to get up but found I had no strength in my left side (couldn't work out why!), so I thought “if I stay here for a few minutes and try again …”, still no joy, then I started vomiting all over the place - this began to worry me slightly as I live on my own being divorced. I was 49 at the time.

I thought if I can get into the lounge - I live in a groundfloor flat - at least I could use one of my mobiles to call for help (unfortunately due to the position I found myself in I couldn’t manoeuvre myself out of the small kitchen). So time passed by. I was conscious all the time and I remember thinking how will I go to the loo!

The next recollection I have is of the voice of one of my work colleagues “saying what’s wrong?” and me replying “help me up” to which he replied “no – I’ll call for an ambulance!” Then the “fun” began!

The ambulance duly arrived (what they thought of the state of the kitchen, I don’t know!) I remember hearing one of the “attendants” saying “I don’t think we have a collar large enough although I believe the fire brigade have larger ones”, so the next recollection I have is of large boots in the kitchen which by now must have been extremely crowded! Then I heard “we may have to take out the window to remove him!” Fortunately they didn’t have to! I don’t recall much after that until being asked questions in A&E, although I was probably questioned in the ambulance on the way!

So I had been on the floor for almost two days – from 7pm on Sat evening till approx 8am on Tues morning. The ambulance staff were extremely good and I have nothing but praise for them! It was diagnosed that I had had a TIA, later re-diagnosed as a stroke. I also had a DVT.

I was then admitted onto a ward then after to SWICC (Swindon Intermediate Care Centre) where I was looked after very well except for the fact that the nurses would question me (it seemed every 5 mins) “why can’t you use your left arm?” Anyway then the rehab. started - first to a wheelchair, which was great because I could “drive” myself out of the ward and even outside for a change of scenery and fresh air. Then it was on to standing with the aid of two nurses, then one nurse, then when the OT was satisfied - on my own! This was freedom and I thought wrongly that my arm would recover the same way!

So the timetable was:
Stroke 15th august 2004
A&E-17TH august
SWICC-07th September
HOME-19th October with viits from the community stroke team.

Then more fun - diverticulitis/ileostomy/sub total colectomy removal of half the colon. During this operation I had to be resuscitated twice due to the fact that I was taking warfarin as clot prevention medication, consequently I was losing blood faster than they could transfuse into me. If I had known about this at the time I would not have permitted the second resuscitation! Anyway when I awoke after the op and saw this pouch on my stomach, there was more uncertainty until it was explained to me why it was there - then I was visited by the by the stoma nurse who expressed doubt as to whether I would manage to drain the pouch with the use of only one hand. Until I could manage this procedure I would have to stay in hospital - so it was back to SWICC. Well I became quite adept at the procedure and was allowed home with visits from the stoma nurse to ensure I was ok. Before I left the hospital the consultant who performed the op explained that I could be “rejoined” but would have to wait a couple of years - so I had something to look forward to!

Then I went back to work for a couple of months but developed focal epilepsy due to the stroke. I found working very tiring even only doing a couple of hours a day so when they asked me if I could do more hours I declined and it was decided to medically retire me.

Then a “re-plumbing” op. in October 2006, since then I’ve been ok (touch wood). And I have now gained employment with SWINDON COUNCIL as a schools crossing patrol officer or [lolipopman].

SO AS YOU CAN SEE THERE IS HOPE!

The cause of the stroke? Stress /high blood pressure/high cholesterol, I don’t really know - but I was recently divorced, coupled with working up to 70 hours a week which probably wasn’t a good thing!!!!!!!!!!!!

However wishing that I would die - I would have missed my eldest son’s graduation, and then becoming a granddad when my youngest and partner produced a son.

Footnote
The care I received in hospital and at the home visits was exceptional.

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