"Recent Stroke"

I felt unwell - my right arm and leg weren’t working so I telephoned my Drs and was offered a phone appointment 

The dr telephoned me I gave my symptoms and he suggested I attend Stranraer and E which I did up there I was told to wait I was eventually sent for CT scan and bloods were taken an A&E dr came to me after, and I can remember my blood pressure was high 197/123, snd they leaned back on wall and said I was fine and could go home.

I went to my daughter's house and my husband came after his work and returned to our house 

The next morning still dragging my leg and arm I said to him I didn’t feel well and he took me to my daughters by lunch time she strongly suggested I telephoned Drs again and again I waited and got called by someone from Loch Ree Practice at Waverley medical centre 

The dr listened to me but said they couldn’t understand me being released with such high blood pressure and asked to speak to my daughter as my speech was incoherent. 

He was contacting Stroke unit Dumfries hospital 

They telephoned and asked me to attend the following afternoon.

By the evening I could still manage to toilet and got into bed 

The next morning I was unable to do anything this was torture 

My husband along with help from friends got me into car we drove 75 miles to Dumfries hospital on arrival my husband parked in emergency bay got a wheelchair to put me in he was struggling to get me from car when an ambulance turned up the staff were amazing they got me into chair and told him to leave car where it was and get me into the hospital 

We proceeded to appointment where I was taken through to see the doctor who said I’d had a full stroke and that from my records they couldn’t understand why I wasn’t sent to them at my first hospital visit.

The treatment I received in Dumfries was amazing

I had the chance to be transferred 5 days later to Stranraer Galloway hospital where staff and Drs on Dalrymple ward were again fantastic 

I was discharged on Tuesday 23rd June to home 

I had Stars attend every day am and pm but they stopped after three weeks I was unsure but the OT said I needed to have confidence in my self still to this day I won’t use shower on my own. It was suggested that I telephone someone and got them to call me back 30 mins later to check I was ok.

Physio came once a week but not been in last two weeks, OH the same I haven’t seen them in two weeks.

I feel abandoned to get on myself even when I telephoned Drs they say well you've had a stroke ...I know but I feel I should get supported.

I’m only 57, my mum passed aged 61 from stroke.

I've had high blood pressure for years but was made to feel I exaggerated it the aches and pains I have fibromyalgia so it was always put down to that. I’ve had other incidents at A&E Stranraer compartment syndrome which nurses told me dr was being too cautious sending me down blue lighted turned out I did have it and delay could of cost me my leg. On another occasion I attended after slipping on the ferry from Ireland and went up X-ray but told me legs not broke just sprained. Kept returning to Drs in agony one time I was told to report back to A&E but the nurse said I didn’t need re X-rayed I just had to cope, two weeks later my dr sent me to X-ray dept and turned out I had a broken leg.

I feel so frustrated I’m now unable to walk unaided my speech is slow I have some movement back but upper right arms agony my mouth is full of ulcers I find it hard to swallow everything tastes of cardboard but I’m struggling with the anger, hurt, shame of having to ask for help my husband is fantastic and luckily I have friends who are able to check on me food wise etc

I feel so let down surely this shouldn’t have happened and now need answers. I know COVID 19 isn’t helping but surely I should be getting support from NHS.