Anneke Howie
August 3rd, 2001 is a date I am not likely to forget in a hurry! This is the day the tailgate of my car
fell on the back of my head. Following this I had a TIA on the 5th and a full-blown
Brainstem/Cerebellar stroke on Wednesday 8th of August.
I had a fantastic headache and I could hardly move. My balance was completely gone. I felt out of
control and my system seemed to close down during the time I had in A&E and except for the pain I can't
remember much more.
I spent 1½ weeks in hospital, was put on Heparin and then Warfirin for 3 months, and now just take
Aspirin. I had 4 MRI scans altogether but they could not find anything and to this day I don't know
what really happened inside my brain. I was sent home, told to get on with my life and that I could
expect to make a good recovery. I went to outpatient Physiotherapy for 5 weeks, spend some time at
Occupational Therapy and I got on with it.
I really still expected to make a complete recovery when I got home, as I had done after the TIA.
And although I was still unable to walk on my own, I was determent that I should be able to on my
birthday at the beginning of September. I did even if it was only in the house! Our dog Maggie always
needs lots of exercise and we soon began to walk her again together. If I don't get too tired before
hand I can now walk about 5 Kms. I need to take a stick for balance if we go over rough terrain and
because we live in a hilly area I have to watch my footing carefully but I can do it again.
ONGOING SYMPTOMS: My stroke affected my left side, made the right side of my face numb and often very
tingly. It gave me double vision while in hospital and my right eyelid still droops when I get tired.
My head spins nearly all the time but it is always worse when I have had a busy time beforehand.
Serious nerve pain in my left leg gives me lots of trouble and when I do too much I become fairly chair
bound. I take Panadol for the pain if I really can't cope. My left leg gets burning hot sometimes as
well as very, very cold and then gets burning hot again. When I put my left leg in the bath, the water
always feel cold. I have little temperature control and often wear the wrong clothes for the weather we
are having. If it looks cloudy I feel cold even if the temperature is quite hot. I have had to buy
lots of socks to keep my feet warm. My balance is still pretty poor and I have to wear flat shoes and
need orthotics in them for proper balance. I find it hard to read a book and for an avid reader this
has been a great shock.
I was 58 years old when the stroke happened and my hobbies were hiking, my Lions Club, gardening,
reading, boating and my family (I have 6 grandchildren with another on the way). I was physically fit,
very busy and enjoying it! My health was good, I had no high blood pressure or cholesterol and I was
not overweight.
I worked as a Fundraising Manager for a Not for Profit organisation and really loved the work but have
had to retire since as the stress was too much.
I was heavily involved with my Lions Club and was going to be President in 2002. I have had to resign
from the Club because I felt so guilty about my inability to help with the projects. I also had to
drive a long way to go to the meetings.
Thank goodness my friends of the Hiking club are very caring and make some special provisions for my
inability to go on long trips and carry packs.
I had just redesigned the upper part of my garden and had done most of the replanting before all this
happened so I have enjoyed the fruits of my labours this year. My daughter in law came over many times
during the Spring and pulled out the weeds.
Our boat, which is moored 4 hours away, has not had the same amount of time spent on it as previous
years. A long holiday at Christmas has made me a little weary, as the movement of the water did not
help my balance one little bit. We will hire a house for a land base from now on!
However it is becoming a great retreat for John, who is not so worried any more. He can now go for a
fishing trip with his sons and/or friends and have time out. I really like the fresh fish they bring
home too and it gives me time to spent time on my own things. I must say that friends and family find
it difficult to understand what is going on for me because I now look more relaxed and far less stressed
than I did before the stroke.
The VAD club has been a godsend to me because I have felt very alone since the stroke and that is much
better now. It is great to hear that so many of the members are getting better all the time and that
you are all enjoying life again. For me it is still a little difficult to come to grips with everything
that happened and I forget to take it easy! I still have a habit of overdoing things when I am feeling
OK. Today I am paying for a very busy weekend and am housebound with a very, very wobbly body and head!
Thank goodness for a comfy chair by the computer!
Thank you Ram for all your hard work on the Website and for keeping in touch, I do really appreciate
it.
Warmest regards from Anneke Howie in Lyttelton, NZ.
