So Glad to have Found You by Sue McB

Hi from beautiful New Zealand,

On 31 July 2008, without any warning - no headache, no ache of any kind, no tightness, nothing, I just collapsed as I was about to open my fridge. I don't remember anything until I woke up in hospital. I was told I had suffered a stroke. I had the usual tests, was poked and prodded and asked the same questions a dozen times.

My eyesight was blurred and I had trouble keeping my focus still, I could not walk unaided, but other than that, felt fine! I stayed in hospital for 3 weeks and had lots of physio for the eyes and the legs. When I left to go home, my eyesight was no longer blurred, but my left eye would flicker when I focussed too hard on something. I could walk unaided taking little steps.

The final diagnosis was a brain stem peremesoncephalic bleed. Caused by high blood pressure because of stress.

I went back to work after 6 months, doing part-time for 6 months, and then full-time.

Now, over 5 years later I feel great when I am sitting or lying down, I can drive, I am still working full-time and enjoy almost everything I did before "my fall down".

My biggest problem is when I am standing. My head feels like a goldfish bowl half full of water. It sloshes around and makes me feel like I am constantly going to fall over. I walk watching the ground immediately in front of me, looking for uneven surfaces, or anything that might cause me to stumble. I have trouble walking down stairs and get tired if I have to walk very far.

I have asked my doctor if things will ever get better, and she shrugs her shoulders and says "the brain is an amazing thing, who knows what could happen?"

So, every day I hope for the best, but as the years have rolled by I have started to believe that this is it, be thankful for what is positive, and try not to dwell on the negative. I know I am so much luckier than some people, but occasionally it does make me feel a bit miserable.

Finding your site has helped me today, as I am in a sad mood, thinking how nice it would be to take my dogs for a long walk along the river bank like I used to.

However, one thing that you may find interesting is that since my incident I have not suffered a single headache, so I do feel for the people who have reported they have lots of them and real bad ones.

Good luck to you all

Sue