A Second Chance At Life
Patricia’s misdiagnosis led to years of misery
I was barely able to move and had become a prisoner in my own body
Ihad always been a social butterfly, I loved to chat and laugh, and led an active life. But in my late 40s, everything changed.
I lost interest in talking to my friends and hated being the centre of attention. My weight ballooned, I started having difficulty walking, and I developed severe incontinence.
I felt horrendous and my love for shopping, high heels and glamorous outfits went right out the window.
I had no idea why I’d changed and lost my lust for life, and nor did my husband Graham. But my children, Jackie, Mark, David and Lisa just thought I was getting old.
I had numerous failed operations to try to stop the incontinence, which doctors simply put down to me being overweight and having had four kids.
Life was miserable, and it felt as though a dark cloud was hanging over me. I could no longer drive or take my dogs out for a walk – all the things I used to love were now gone.
Years passed and by my mid-60s, I was depressed. I had type 2 diabetes and was a shell of my former self. I was put on various medications and after many hospital appointments, I was diagnosed with vascular dementia. Doctors told me there was nothing that could be done for me. I stopped going out, never joined in when family came over, and little tasks took me all day – or wouldn’t get done at all. I reverted to a childlike state, wetting the bed, falling over and sometimes falling out of bed, and I was often barely able to move.
Although I wasn’t eating much, my weight was out of control and my mental health was suffering too. Often when Graham or my children spoke to me, I had no idea what they were talking about. I had no memory of previous conversations or things I had done that day. I became confined to my home and and had become a prisoner in my own body.
Soon after, I started having seizures as well.
My family didn’t want to leave me alone in case I fell or left something on the hob, and they started talking about converting the house, so I had an adapted room downstairs.
It made sense. I couldn’t walk up and down the stairs any more and had to crawl instead. If I needed to walk somewhere I used a zimmer frame or two sticks, but I couldn’t go far. Instead, I got used to sitting and watching the world go by.
I lost contact with most of my friends, and the ones I did see, I couldn’t have a proper conversation with.
In March 2015, after Graham and I had turned 70, our children took us out for a birthday meal. It was all a bit much for me and, as we left the restaurant, my body froze and I started to cry. Then Lisa cried too.
We were all so desperate for this nightmare to end.
After that, Lisa took me to see my GP and described just how bad things had got. I was referred to see Kevin O’Neill, a Consultant Neurosurgeon at Charing Cross Hospital, who gave us some really shocking news.
“You have hydrocephalus,” he said. “Fluid on the brain.”
It was a relief to finally receive a correct diagnosis. I didn’t have vascular dementia after all, although the symptoms were similar on the surface.
Dr O’Neill told me he would need to insert a shunt into my brain and I agreed immediately. I was willing to do anything to get better.
In July 2015, I had the operation.
Just two days later, I went through something utterly indescribable, and it was as though I had actually come back to life.
As I lay in my hospital bed recovering, I couldn’t stop talking and kept applying my lipstick. My daughter even tells me I was flirting with the doctors!
Dr O’Neill told me I was his little miracle and Graham and my children were as stunned as I was.
I was me again, at last!
Over time, I stopped taking nearly all of my medication, I was no longer depressed, my diabetes was gone, and I was at the gym every other day with a personal trainer. I lost over four stone in weight and I even began enjoying socialising again.
There was simply no stopping me!
Now I am transformed and I live life to the fullest. I’d always wanted to sing, so I joined a rock choir, and I’ve been travelling in India and Japan. My wardrobe has changed too – I’m back in my high heels and stylish outfits.
Graham, 73, is astounded by his new and improved wife, and often he struggles to keep up with me!
It’s hard to remember how I was before the surgery and my family have had to fill in the blanks. But I recall having lucid moments in which I really thought I was dying or even dead.
I’m just so grateful that I got the correct diagnosis. I’ve gone from feeling like a zombie to feeling like Superwoman – I want to take on the world!