Life-changing, in a bad way
Dunedin’s Don Ramsay spent months in hospital after a stroke, trying to get back to his normal self.
Ihave had a stroke – a severe stroke. My stroke was caused by a brain bleed. My brain was operated on to stop the bleeding, and then I spent a month in Dunedin Public Hospital in a coma and a further three months in Wakari Hospital trying to get back to my former self. I never made it.
When I had the stroke, I was selfemployed and could drive. After the stroke, I had to close my business down, and although I had a couple of attempts at getting my driver’s licence back, it expired. So far, I haven’t got it back.
At the time, I confused the stroke with a heart attack.
The nurses at Wakari told me a little about the stroke. I could expect to make fast progress in the first year, in the second year progress would be slower, and in the third year I would have got just about as far as I was going to go.
I could not go back to my former job. I had been the programme manager for forestry for the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC). Then ACC decided to move all the programme managers to Wellington. My life was in Dunedin, so I didn’t go, instead starting my own business.
As a consultant I worked for the forest owner, the Department of Labour – later to become Worksafe NZ – and ACC.
I was determined to recover from the stroke as much as possible, and to find out as much as I could.
I tried writing, to try to improve my body and my mind. At first, I made lots of mistakes. Before the stroke I was a touch typist. I could read and type at the same time. After the stroke, I had trouble reading because the operation had left me with double vision.
I also had trouble typing because my fingers just didn’t want to. I used a spellchecker to audit my work, but unfortunately my brain took the first word the spellchecker suggested – right or wrong.
In New Zealand more than 9500 strokes are experienced each year. There are different types of strokes, and the most common ones are caused by a blockage.
A blockage is well documented and there are warning signs. Learning the acronym ‘‘FAST’’ is a good way to remember the symptoms of stroke. This can help a person seek prompt treatment. FAST stands for:
■ Face drooping: If the person tries to smile, does one side of their face droop?
■ Arm weakness: If the person tries to raise both their arms, does one arm drift downward?
■ Speech difficulty: If the person tries to repeat a simple phrase, is their speech slurred or unusual?
■ Take action: If any of these symptoms are occurring, contact emergency services immediately. A brain bleed, which is what I had, does not have any warning signs. One minute you are fine and then suddenly you feel dizzy. This is the blood rushing around your head. The dizziness lasts for a short time – a matter of seconds – then you pass out.
When your brain is operated on to stop the bleeding, a hole is drilled in your skull to release the pressure.
At the time of my stroke, I had trouble distinguishing between the types of strokes. I had not heard of a brain bleed and was mystified as to why I did not display the signs of a brain blockage. Later I learnt about a brain bleed.
A stroke caused by a blockage accounts for about 87% of strokes. I understand why the focus has been put on strokes caused by a blockage, but that is little comfort for a person who has a bleed and dies.
A stroke is so serious you could die. My nephew had a stroke, and although he made it to hospital, he died.
Strokes of both kinds are caused by high blood pressure. You could have high blood pressure and not even know it. You feel fine. (The Stroke Foundation has two vans travelling around New Zealand that can check your blood pressure.)
There are, however, warning signs of the things that lead to high blood pressure.
To avoid a stroke, you need to eat a healthy diet, maintain a moderate weight, exercise regularly, not smoke, and if you must drink, do so in moderation. This is not an exhaustive list, but it is a start.
If any of these things sounds a warning bell, get your blood pressure checked – preferably by your doctor.
I have had a stroke and believe me you do not want to have one. It will change your life and not for the better.