My unexpected start to my retirement
November 19, 2020
By Kay Macklin
My retirement had finally arrived. I’d moved from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast and was ready to start the most relaxing years of my life. But, things didn't quite go to plan. About a month after my big move, I fell ill. Nothing serious, I just felt a bit under the weather. My daughter Melanie took me to see a doctor. After checking me over, the doctor found I had contracted a chest infection and referred me to a chest specialist immediately. The specialist was unable to treat me at the clinic and recommended I go to hospital for treatment.
At the hospital, I was given a bed and had to wait to be seen. Whilst I waited, Melanie left to fetch me some clothes from home as I knew I’d be in hospital for a few days at least. Whilst I waited alone, I began to feel strange - a little disorientated and tired. I didn’t think too much of it in the moment so just tried to rest. It wasn’t long before Melanie returned with my clothes. She immediately asked if I was ok. Melanie was concerned because my demeanor had changed, and I wasn’t my usual self.
“Have they given you sleeping tablets or something?”, Melanie asked. I managed to mumble a “no” in response. Melanie knew something wasn’t right, she went to go fetch the doctors on duty.
The next thing I knew, five doctors came bursting in and swarmed around me. One of them grabbed my foot and began asking me to kick them to test my reflexes. I tried to kick but could barely gather the strength to do so. By this point the doctors were drawing a confident conclusion that I’d experienced a stroke. I was immediately given a CT scan to determine what type of stroke I'd experienced, before being bundled up into an ambulance to be transferred to a larger hospital. During the ambulance trip, I felt disorientated. It felt as though everyone was rushing around me, even though I knew they were all seated calmly.
The cause of my stroke was atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat. I didn’t even know I had the condition at the time, but I may have been living with it for years.
I spent the next two weeks in hospital. I am incredibly lucky because I regained movement in my hands and fingers within two to three days and was walking, albeit with some limitations, in a week, but recovery is ongoing. My stroke changed me for the better. I discovered that writing helped me regain my focus and I’ve since gone on to write my book ‘Lifted Up By Angels’. My book reflects on the many challenges I have faced throughout my life.
I’m incredibly lucky I was in hospital already when I had my stroke. Since I didn’t display the typical F.A.S.T. signs of stroke, my outcome could have been very different. Thanks to the quick actions of my daughter Melanie I can look forward to enjoying my retirement for years to come with those I love most.
My retirement had finally arrived. I’d moved from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast and was ready to start the most relaxing years of my life. But, things didn't quite go to plan. About a month after my big move, I fell ill. Nothing serious, I just felt a bit under the weather. My daughter Melanie took me to see a doctor. After checking me over, the doctor found I had contracted a chest infection and referred me to a chest specialist immediately. The specialist was unable to treat me at the clinic and recommended I go to hospital for treatment.
At the hospital, I was given a bed and had to wait to be seen. Whilst I waited, Melanie left to fetch me some clothes from home as I knew I’d be in hospital for a few days at least. Whilst I waited alone, I began to feel strange - a little disorientated and tired. I didn’t think too much of it in the moment so just tried to rest. It wasn’t long before Melanie returned with my clothes. She immediately asked if I was ok. Melanie was concerned because my demeanor had changed, and I wasn’t my usual self.
“Have they given you sleeping tablets or something?”, Melanie asked. I managed to mumble a “no” in response. Melanie knew something wasn’t right, she went to go fetch the doctors on duty.
The next thing I knew, five doctors came bursting in and swarmed around me. One of them grabbed my foot and began asking me to kick them to test my reflexes. I tried to kick but could barely gather the strength to do so. By this point the doctors were drawing a confident conclusion that I’d experienced a stroke. I was immediately given a CT scan to determine what type of stroke I'd experienced, before being bundled up into an ambulance to be transferred to a larger hospital. During the ambulance trip, I felt disorientated. It felt as though everyone was rushing around me, even though I knew they were all seated calmly.
The cause of my stroke was atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat. I didn’t even know I had the condition at the time, but I may have been living with it for years.
I spent the next two weeks in hospital. I am incredibly lucky because I regained movement in my hands and fingers within two to three days and was walking, albeit with some limitations, in a week, but recovery is ongoing. My stroke changed me for the better. I discovered that writing helped me regain my focus and I’ve since gone on to write my book ‘Lifted Up By Angels’. My book reflects on the many challenges I have faced throughout my life.
I’m incredibly lucky I was in hospital already when I had my stroke. Since I didn’t display the typical F.A.S.T. signs of stroke, my outcome could have been very different. Thanks to the quick actions of my daughter Melanie I can look forward to enjoying my retirement for years to come with those I love most.
