Stroke can get stuffed by Bonnie

I was exercising with a friend when I suffered my stroke. It occurred when my carotid artery spontaneously dissected due to high blood pressure, but unfortunately other than an almighty headache, I was none the wiser.

I took myself home and the headache went away, so I got on with my jobs for the day. The following morning, I got up to go to the toilet and fell to the floor. Not wanting to disturb anyone, I cleaned myself up and got back into bed. By the time my 25-year-old son came into the room to see what I was doing, I couldn’t move, my face was drooping, and I could barely speak.

I asked my son to call 000 immediately because I thought I was having a stroke and unfortunately, I was right.

I was taken to my local hospital, but there was not much that they could do by that stage, so they put me on blood thinners and medication to dissolve the clots that had formed behind the dissection. Then they sent me down to Rockhampton (Rockie) Hospital.

It took a bit of adjusting to my life after stroke. People tell you that recovery is not easy, but they can’t really explain how hard it will be. It has also been very tough on my son, he has had to work through painful emotions of his own after finding me in the state I was in.

Stroke left me with left sided weakness, emotional lability and fatigue. I cry at the drop of a hat which is a bugger, but I am past feeling awkward – I just tell people what is what.

I am back to working out and go to an exercise physiologist each week plus I push myself to take two long walks between sessions. I get very tired, but I do it because I need to exercise, I am still getting back movement. I'll be damned if I'll let this stroke beat me, I have nine grandchildren and they need their Nan.

Family is what has gotten me through. My son….my son is my hero, he saved my life and I am blubbering writing this, but it is a privilege to say. I am so proud, and bloody thankful.

If you are reading this and you have had a stroke keep going, keep going, keep going. I am rooting for you because it’s hard but stuff the alternative.

Bonnie.