My Stroke Journey from England to Australia

By Paul Ludden

Having worked in various areas within the finance industry, l retired at 57, and relaxed playing golf two or three times a week.

My wife, Gill and l lived in an apartment at the Marina in Ipswich, England.

Realising I could not just play golf all the time, I acquired a job delivering paint in the East Anglia area.

I also worked on match days at Ipswich Town Football Club.

On the 12th June 2017, I left the apartment and drove to work. A normal day. I loaded my van, and did my first delivery some twenty miles from the depot.

All went well.

On my return journey, I felt dizziness, nausea and a weakness down my left arm and leg. My head felt fuzzy. I realised I was having a stroke. I had to decide quickly. Do I try and pull over or over take? My phone was in the well of the van. If l went for it, I could find myself on the floor, and no one would know anything was amiss. I decided to continue driving, following the lorry in front of me. I was driving a four and a half ton vehicle, anything could have happened. I just hoped for the best, and tried to concentrate.

With great difficulty l got back to the depot, and stopped in front of the loading bay. The manager soon realised there was a problem, and he and two others extracted me from the van. Fortunately, they realised what was happening to me, having been aware of the FAST signs of a stroke, and they quickly called an ambulance. I was 67 years old, a stroke has no respect of age.

At the hospital, although I had no idea what was happening, I had suffered a right ischaemic stroke. I was thrombolised. I experienced worsening left facial drop, vomiting, worsening left arm weakness and third nerve palsy. I was told my eyes were pointing in different directions.

During my stay in hospital I underwent daily physiotherapy, as well as occupational therapy.

I was in hospital for two weeks and when I got home had physios and therapists coming in three times a week for several weeks.

Since my stroke, l use a stick and a Dictus to walk, and can’t walk far before I get tired. My emotions are at both ends of the spectrum. If I laugh I sometimes can’t stop, and I’m in tears over anything emotive. I have no control. I have also lost my sense of smell.

I consider myself to be very positive, and try to do as much as I can. But from time to time frustration does get the better of me, and I get depressed.

I know I will never have my old self back, but this is the new normal and I have learnt to cope with it.

Having suffered my stroke in June 2017, it did not deter me from migrating to Australia in September of that year. It was a huge decision to make so soon after the stroke, but it gave me a goal and the promise of a new life. I figured if I could manage the 23 hour journey to Sydney, I could cope with anything.

All the way through this journey I have had the tremendous support of my wife Gill. Without her beside me this could be a different story.