David - Interview 31
More about me...
David had been out in the garden on the day he had his TIA. His dog had died and he and his wife had been burying him, so were feeling quite stressed and upset at the time. He went inside to sit down and have a cup of tea and recalls that when his wife asked him something he suddenly found he was unable to speak normally, his words were jumbled and incoherent and he felt unable to make sense of things. His wife saw that something was wrong and called for an ambulance. David remembers feeling very frightened about what was happening. He was taken to hospital where he stayed for two days whilst a range of tests were done – ECG, X rays and scans, and was told that he had had a mini stroke or TIA. He was prescribed Aspirin and then discharged from hospital a couple of days later. On returning home David felt vulnerable and somewhat lost as he found it difficult to come to terms with what had happened to him. He was not given any follow up appointments and so eventually made contact with the Stroke Association who provided him with some much needed support. As a result of the TIA he was initially left with some mobility problems, but these have improved over time and with the help of physiotherapy and some mobility aids.
David describes the way in which he knew what he wanted to say but the words would not come out right.
David describes the way in which he knew what he wanted to say but the words would not come out right.
David felt lost when he returned home and didn't know how to cope
David felt lost when he returned home and didn't know how to cope
The co-ordinator in the hospital and the practice nurse admitted that an administrative error had...
The co-ordinator in the hospital and the practice nurse admitted that an administrative error had...
The co-ordinator in the hospital and the practice nurse admitted that an administrative error had left David unsupported after leaving hospital
The co-ordinator in the hospital and the practice nurse admitted that an administrative error had left David unsupported after leaving hospital
I raised it with, with the coordinator that we were talking one day and I said, “Do you know, it’s wonderful since I rang you but before I rang you.” And she said, “Oh well, I’d just been told or I’d been told that you’d slipped through the cracks. They, they forgot to let us know that you were being sent home.” And even one of the nurses saw me at the surgery and she said the same, that they hadn’t been told. It wasn’t until quite some time later that letters got through that it all sort of came to light as it were.
David felt things weren't explained adequately by the hospital staff and when he went home he felt 'lost', not understanding what had happened to him
David felt things weren't explained adequately by the hospital staff and when he went home he felt 'lost', not understanding what had happened to him
David was prescribed anti-depressants but he didn't like the way they made him feel so he stopped taking them
David was prescribed anti-depressants but he didn't like the way they made him feel so he stopped taking them
I worry much more than I used to. I worry more than is good for me, but I don’t know how to stop that. I, they did give me some antidepressants but they sent me into such a spin and enough.
David said it could be confusing using the internet, but when he found the Stroke Association website he was able to arrange to speak to a volunteer who gave him the kind of information and advice he was looking for
David said it could be confusing using the internet, but when he found the Stroke Association website he was able to arrange to speak to a volunteer who gave him the kind of information and advice he was looking for
I think the nurses did sort of say did give some information but even to this day, I mean, I know, I know what a, a mini-stroke is obviously now [laughs] but even to this day I haven’t got, I wasn’t given that much information. I don’t think anybody actually sat down and said, “This is what happens and these are is, these are the results and this is what is likely to happen and this is how you are likely to end up.”
David was told by the consultant that he'd had a TIA. But the term mini-stroke was also used. He thinks he knows now what it means but at the time he had not heard of a TIA
David was told by the consultant that he'd had a TIA. But the term mini-stroke was also used. He thinks he knows now what it means but at the time he had not heard of a TIA
At what point did they mention that it was a TIA? When did you get told what it was?
David was prescribed blood pressure tablets and aspirin but since then has not been called back to be monitored
David was prescribed blood pressure tablets and aspirin but since then has not been called back to be monitored
What was the advice? Did you give, get given medication? What happened?
David remembers how difficult it was to communicate with the paramedics at first, but gradually he was able to speak to them 'It was difficult to find the words'.
David remembers how difficult it was to communicate with the paramedics at first, but gradually he was able to speak to them 'It was difficult to find the words'.
Anyway the next thing that I know is rather noisy paramedic enters the sitting room, and at a volume that seemed 20 times too much asked me what was the matter and I told her. Well I told her, [wife] told her what was the matter. And I tried to tell her what was the matter. And she came to me and said, “Don’t worry, we’ll look after you”, and put an oxygen mask on. Now I have a strange phobia about things over my face because as a child, I was blowing up a balloon and the balloon burst and went onto my face and I couldn’t get it off. So I was sent, ever since then I don’t particularly like balloons that much, nor do I like anything put on my face. But she insisted, rightly so it transpires to put this oxygen mask on my face. And I kept asking her or at least I thought I was asking her to take it off, but of course it was absolute gibberish. She carried on doing various things I suppose, taking my blood pressure and pulse and everything else. And then she put an ECG machine on and started that off. And I suddenly managed to say, “Please”’, because that is one of my favourite words and, “Please could you take this off my face?” I couldn’t get the could you take it off for anything else out but I got the please out. And I quite distinctly remember her turning to [wife] and said, “Oh it’s all right he’s coming back.” And I tried to say, “Oh yeah, you know, it takes more than that to keep me away”. But I just couldn’t again.
David didn't feel ready to go to a support group to begin with, but hopes to try and go to a meeting because he thinks it will benefit both himself and his wife to be able to talk to others about how they cope
David didn't feel ready to go to a support group to begin with, but hopes to try and go to a meeting because he thinks it will benefit both himself and his wife to be able to talk to others about how they cope
So did you get in contact with the local stroke co-ordinator? Was that how you found them?
David feels guilty that he has to rely so much on his wife now but feels that overall it has helped them to develop a stronger bond with each other
David feels guilty that he has to rely so much on his wife now but feels that overall it has helped them to develop a stronger bond with each other
Shirley has helped me out of it. It’s anything developed stronger if that’s possible bonds of love between us. And we, we are together and that’s it, you know. I mean, sometimes I feel bad that Shirley does need to give me this care because I feel it impinges on her life and her lifestyle, but at the same time she says, “Well that’s what I’m here for. I’m your wife. I’m here to care for you and if the same thing happened you would do the same.” And of course I would.
David has had help from a physiotherapist who has provided him with some mobility aids to help him move about more easily
David has had help from a physiotherapist who has provided him with some mobility aids to help him move about more easily
As I say we’ve had the physiotherapist here who’s given me some, because I’d partially lost my balance, when I had the TIA. And I still use two elbow crutches now. So they provided those and she trained me how to use them. They put me a bar up in the bed so that I can heave myself out. I fall in [laughs]. But I can I heave myself out and hold on to it to help myself dress as much as I can because I’m a stubborn so and so. I like to try and do things as, as best I can myself. They provided me with an effort to put socks and pants on, and things, which is extremely useful.
David said he had no problem being told not to drive and even if he'd wanted to ignore the advice his wife would 'police' things
David said he had no problem being told not to drive and even if he'd wanted to ignore the advice his wife would 'police' things
They told me that I was, I couldn’t …I mean they didn’t inform DVLA or anything but they told me not to drive for a month, which I didn’t do.
When David stopped driving he found it more difficult to do everyday things like shopping, and although he can now drive again he feels he's lost his confidence
When David stopped driving he found it more difficult to do everyday things like shopping, and although he can now drive again he feels he's lost his confidence
Did the fact that you weren’t able to drive for a while did that cause any, any issues or problems for you?
David said remember there's light at the end of the tunnel, things do get back to normal
David said remember there's light at the end of the tunnel, things do get back to normal
David feels guilty that his illness has curtailed his wife Shirley's life and he sometimes worries about being too much of a burden.
David feels guilty that his illness has curtailed his wife Shirley's life and he sometimes worries about being too much of a burden.
You’ve got that guilt that you’re carrying around because, as I said, I’m impinging so much on Shirley. She used to go out quite regularly and do various things. I mean, I don’t mean she was out all the time, she wasn’t. But she used to go to various inst, institutions and things and clubs. Yeah, not institutions, sorry, that was a wrong word, [laughs] clubs and, oh, the WI and things like that. And she has thankfully started to go again now we’ve got to the stage where I can be left for a little while. And she’s starting to get back into that.
David feels guilty that his wife has to care for him more since his TIA and he got very depressed, but didn't like taking anti-depressants
David feels guilty that his wife has to care for him more since his TIA and he got very depressed, but didn't like taking anti-depressants
I mean, sometimes I feel bad that Shirley does need to give me this care because I feel it impinges on her life and her lifestyle, but at the same time she says, “Well that what I’m here for. I’m your wife. I’m here to care for you and if the same thing happened… you would do the same.” And of course I would.
The local stroke coordinator put David in touch with a support group and although he has avoided going to meetings so far, he plans to go to one soon because he feels it will help
The local stroke coordinator put David in touch with a support group and although he has avoided going to meetings so far, he plans to go to one soon because he feels it will help
I filled in a contact on the email and they sent me and she phoned me and I think, if I remember rightly, it was within a couple of days she was here to have a chat and see what she could do to help. She also put me in contact with the local stroke club. Unfortunately, as far as that’s concerned, I haven’t been able to bring myself to go yet.