To be honest, this one should really be about the incident with the home made sponge cake (the one my wife laboured over for hours), not a story that ends with anyone going “mmmmmm”. Perhaps my sons comment say all that need be said, as he rushed out on to the stairs -“what happened Dad?….shall I get a camera?…”
However as I suspect the lost cake story will pursue me now for all time (certainly whenever a pastry is somewhere near me) I will instead talk about something else.
Two years ago (almost exactly), I had a stroke. A big warning that I needed to rethink my life and make some changes. I’ve been exceptionally fortunate on many counts, having a very complete and relatively rapid recovery, but I’d like to reitterate a precautionary note to all readers.
I’d prefer to think of myself as a smart and intelligent individual, but, when it happened, I did not know I’d had a stroke. My incident took place while I was asleep, after (another) substantial nights drinking.
In my slow morning ritual, I went to make coffee, and found the spoon awkward and my stirring clumsy. When I spoke to Chris my tongue with heavy and speach slightly slurred.
Now – in fairness to myself – I do suffer from an occaisional allergic reaction always after a lot of drink, but never frequent enough to pin down to an exact cause. My hand(s) swell (noticeably) and sometimes my face and breathing have a reaction – a little like a mild athsma attack. Alarming as this can be, experince has taught me that an anti-histanmine, and some coffee and rest will generally restore me quite rapidly.
When I was stumbling over simple words, my wife said, could you have had a stroke? And – although I did not wish it to be so, I did ask that question of myself.
I stuck out my tongue (even), grinned and grimaced (smile even – as far as can be seen through my beard) I ballanced on one leg, then the other (successfully), raised both arms and touched my nose while looking in the full length mirror.
I did not meet any of the more obvious signs, and it was too easy to accept that therefore I had not had a stroke, so it must be the allergy, and it would pass. Truth be told, that is what I wanted to believe. I curled up for a recuperatory snooze, and awoke 8! hours later.
My familly had gone out and left me to sleep (obviously needed), but when I awoke, still clumsy of hand and stumbling of speech, I now knew that all was not well. However making my way alone to the carnage of A&E on a (pre lockdown) Saturday night, held no attraction, and I resolved to give it another night, and attend on Sunday morning.
I cannot place the exact time of the stroke as I was asleep, but still, my actual appearance at hospital was over 24 hours after the event. What a (richly deserved) telling off I got for that delay.
While I have luckilly escaped permenant impairment, many treatments are available which are best, or only valid within hours of the event. Treatments that could alleviate or prevent far more major issues, and reduce potential recovery times. But even beside that – strokes (and their little cousins TIA) do nae come alone. A mild event can be a precursor for a more major incident to follow shortly. A tremor before the earthquake. Had I presented promptly, the risks of a second (more major) stroke could have been vastly reduced, whereas by “attempting to carry on as normal” I was running a giagantic risk.
Some of this, I did not know. Parts, I was seduced to ignore because the attraction of assuming some other cause was so much easier.
It would just go away by itself.
So I write today, to reiterate and share my own salutory lesson, while hoping that none of you ever need this knowledge, perhaps someone will take a moment to reconsider after that “odd dizzy spell” or will insist that their Dad/mum/brother/wife…. actually goes to hospital to get themselves checked when they have to sit down suddenly because “they inexplicably don’t feel quite right.”
This is all very somber – as it should be- however on a lighter note, yesterday was sponsored by the charity Chest Heart and Stroke ** as “Tartan Tea Party day” to say Thankyou to those who have helped with recovery and stood by in time of need.
If I said thanks to all who deserve on my part, it would be longer than a weddding speech with all the congratulatory telegrams. Instead I would just like to thank my wife Chris for everything.
Next week on IaDL: Probably some aftermath about the cake, it could have happened to anyone….
** (Shameless plug) These are the people that I’m raising money for with my firewalk on Oct 9th.
Dalmallyfest the Asylum 