I was behind the wheel of my car when I had a stroke

By Neil

In 2021 my doctor gave me a warning about my health as he diagnosed me with type two diabetes.

I was carrying a bit of extra weight and I had a few habits that needed changing or I was headed for a heart attack or a stroke.

By the time that 2022 rolled around, I had already lost 12 kilos by walking my dog every day and changing my diet. I felt like I was on the right track.

But, in May this year I was behind the wheel of my car, when I started to notice that it was pulling to the right. I thought to myself that it must have been the front wheel alignment. It was then that I noticed that my hand wasn’t working, it was lying in my lap, but I couldn’t lift it.

It started to dawn on me that something may be seriously wrong. However, the first thing I needed to do was regain control of the car. I managed to hook my thumb in the steering wheel to correct it.

I started saying my children's names over and over, to make sure I still could, and realised that my speech was slurred and sounded gibberish - I knew then that I was having a stroke.

I rang my son Simon and told him what was happening, I didn’t want to stop the car because how would people find me? It was bloody terrifying.

By this time the stroke was affecting my leg too. My foot felt like a brick, and I only had a little movement. I was yelling out the street names to Simon, so if I lost consciousness that someone would be able to locate me.

I made it home, and by this time began to feel better. My son organised a three-way call with triple zero (000) who dispatched an ambulance and the Mobile Stroke Unit to my house.

First to arrive was a MICA paramedic (single responder) who assessed me. Then the Mobile Stroke Unit arrived, and the doctor and nurse ran me through some tests. I was taken to the Austin Hospital and waited for the ER doctor and stroke nurse to see me.

My daughter, a paramedic, arrived to keep me company while more tests were done, including an MRI with dye to see if they could find any more blockages. Luckily, there were none. It looks like some plaque came loose in one of my arteries and traveled to my brain, causing a temporary blockage.

I was released in the early evening, with an appointment the following day for an MRI scan, a visit to the stroke clinic for assessment, and ongoing care.

As I reflect on what happened, I know how lucky I am. Other than being in the car when my stroke symptoms began, I knew F.A.S.T signs of stroke, and I live close enough to Melbourne to have had access to the Mobile Stroke Unit. Nothing beats being treated in your own driveway.

My life is back to normal, and I have had no lasting effects from my brush with a (mini)-stroke. I will continue to focus on my health - I don’t need another warning.