"Got my life back"

I have been housebound for a about 5 years, with successive GP's and two different Cardiology departments all unable to help me. They tried numerous pills, coming from all sorts of angles; Sleep, Diet, Blood, Heart etc. with nothing making any difference at all to my physical condition. Latterly, Cardiology discharged me due to being unable to help me any more. I was out of help and extremely worried that was me facing the rest of my life like this.

Due to my condition/situation, I developed mental issues. Again, I was put on more tablets, which helped to a point.

I was an absolute mess.

The local mental health team told me that all they could do for me was try physiotherapy in the hope that graded exercise would help. This was my last chance.

It's at this stage that I first met Andrew , a Physiotherapist at Dykebar Hospital, local to me. He was able to take me on as a community patient, meaning he'd visit me at home as I couldn't make it to his department under my own steam.

He visited me once every few weeks, giving me small tailored exercises to suit my needs and abilities. He was extremely patient, well mannered, professional and knowledgeable. After a few months of slow but steady progress, I occasionally made it downstairs, working slowly up to doing the stairs on my own. Even just being downstairs sometimes changed my life. I could suddenly sit on the sofa with my boy. I could eat at the table. I could see visitors. Huge when you have none of these things for years.

Andrew would leave me with exercises to do in my own time, which I did. Again, these slowly but surely made me stronger and fitter. After more months I was able to walk unaided in the garden to get fresh air and daylight. Two more underappreciated things in life that are a huge miss when they are taken away from you.

Over the 6 months things really picked up. My diet improved, my head improved, my mood changed completely and I was becoming even more able. Latterly, I have been able to go for walks unaided and my life has completely transformed.

Andrew insists it was all my doing and he only helped me focus but I disagree. I was a total mess. He gave me the confidence to try to push myself, to notice when improvements are there and not to be downhearted when there were wee blips, of which there were many. He was always happy to see me and such a positive influence. I will never forget his dedication and care. I am now back working full time, fully mobile and as fit and strong as I have been since I was in my 20's, and it's all down to Andrew's hard work and knowledge.