Next steps at JR Stroke unit

After 2 weeks at Oxford, where I started on the road to recovery, working with the occupational and physiotherapists, Bev, Fi, Alice, Anna Maria, using various type of hoists to get me out of bed, into wheeelchairs and standing up, and reaching for those lovely cones. 


The staff on the acute stroke unit were fab, Ruth, Sarah, Siebe, Martin the stroke co ordinator, Dr Ian R, who looked very like a friend of ours, the gastro team, the OT & PT team and, we did have a laugh at times, names for different patients, Panda Eyes, who bless her passed away, Mrs Doubtfire, who rang her buzzer and banged her tissue box to get staff attention until I told her off! Martin brought a pole in once and I asked if pole dancing was part of physio/rehab.

The delights of Tena Ladies in the style of tennis frilly pants, and then when Nik and Ed took me out in the wheelchair in the grounds past the cancer stick entrance doors- sorry smoking area, I did my Lou and Andy impression ' Don't like it, want that one', much to Nik's annoyance and embarrassment, whilst making Ed laugh, which I guess helped him to see that Mum hadn't lost her sense of humour!

On the 30th July, our third wedding anniversary! with balloons in tow I was moved to Cheltenham Hospital it should have been Witney however they had a shortage of physio's so back to my own County, easier for friends and family to get to, though our Dave wished it had happened a little closer!

What happened - Background

14th July 2010 I woke up at 2.30am to go to the loo, couldn't tear the loo paper, my head was bumping against the ensuite shower cubicle, my hubbie Nik, got up wondering what was up, and he could see by my face that I'd had a stroke remembering F A S T, he then lifted me off the loo and onto our bed & into recovery position and called 999 I heard him say I think it's a stroke and thought I'm only 48 I can't be having a stroke!


A first responder came out shortly followed by the paramedics. Nik then rang our neighbour Val to see if she could look after our 13 yrs old son Ed.   So after calling round local hospitals including Cheltenham, Gloucester, Worcester and Oxford John Radcliffe to see who does thrombolysis 24/7 (a clot buster)  the paramedics wrapped me up in blankets on a chair brought me downstairs into the ambulance and off to Oxford JR A&E and then on to their Acute Stroke Unit at about 6am.


I was out of it for 3 days apparently! Nik stayed at the hospital in a relatives room, my sister Jenny, came down from Cheshire to help out and look after Ed. I am laughing at the menu!

The rest of this blog is all about my recovery and determination to get better and walk again!