Real Life Stories: “Electrical stimulation helped me to swallow, eat, talk and move properly again after my Brain Haemorrhage.”
It all happened completely out the blue. I was always a pretty fit and healthy, I loved running regularly and running around after my then 7 year old.
But when I had a brain haemorrhage (in the pons area (a part of your brainstem, a structure that links your brain to your spinal cord)) in December 2021 I was left completely paralysed with locked in syndrome, communicating only with eye movements.
I’ve had to relearn to breathe properly, to swallow, to eat, to talk and to move my body.
“ I had some very typical signs when it happened but because of my age my husband didn’t even think of a stroke. Even later when doctors told him I’d had a haemorrhage, he didn’t realise that was a type of stroke. There’s not enough awareness of brain haemorrhage. ”
I spent 5 months in hospital, then 6 in a neuro rehab facility and I’ve had extensive physio, occupational therapy and speech therapy input. Whilst in rehab I got the opportunity to use electrical stimulation which I think has probably been a huge factor in my recovery. I’ve used it for everything and still do... It’s helped my arms, legs and swallow! It’s really helped get me moving. I now wear an FES (Functional electrical stimulation (FES) device for drop foot to help me walk which was a game changer for me. I’ve had to pay privately for a lot of this, I don’t know why this isn’t more available on the NHS given there is so much evidence for it.
It’s been an incredibly difficult journey, which is no where near over. I’ve had to grieve my old life and accept that this completely awful, unfair thing has happened to me.
“I’ve found social media community a life line! I wasn’t aware that strokes happen as much as they do in younger age but a lot of information seems geared towards the elderly, I found peer support through social media really helped in coming to terms with everything.”
As I found acceptance that gave me the head space to move forward. I’ve been determined to keep a positive mindset by setting goals and celebrating all the little wins, and I try to look for positives in all situations and challenges. It’s not easy, there are really hard days, but taking each day at a time and building a good support network really helps.
By Kate Green - Brain Haemorrhage Hero
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