DAY OF STROKE
6pm on Friday 1st April 2016 age 44 years.
6 days in hospital.

• Cryptogenic stroke.

• I had been under chronic stress and had experienced significant weight loss due to work and relationship pressures for approximately a year prior to the stroke.

• On Friday 1st April 2016, I was at work when the Vice President requested data for the annual management meeting by Tuesday 5th April, despite this usually being submitted in May.

• As I did not work Mondays, I knew I would have to complete everything very quickly.

• I was unable to access my data on my computer, and a new system was due to be installed on Monday 4th April, meaning the IT staff were already fully occupied and unable to help. I became increasingly stressed and anxious throughout the day and eventually took my laptop home with me.

• On the way home, my husband Michael, who works in IT, and I stopped at Marks & Spencer to buy food because my sister was coming over the following day for her birthday.

• While in the shop, I suddenly felt extremely unwell. I had severe stomach pain and felt sick, although at the time I assumed it was due to the stress and worry from the day.

• When we got home, I went to the toilet. The next thing I remember is Michael asking me questions, although I could not move or see him properly. The Stroke had paralysed me down my left hand side. Shortly afterwards, a paramedic was speaking to me.

• While in hospital, I remember hearing staff say, “It’s probably just migraine — she’s very young.”

• I underwent a CT scan and, I believe, an MRI scan before being thrombolysed.