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Aphasia - Phase 1


It was one morning of May 2021. I woke up and I couldn’t speak. I didn’t know I had a stroke. I carried on as though I was okay. I even tried to negotiate with my guest when she was leaving. I tried to talk but only mumbles came out of my mouth. She left me with a big hug.

I knew something was wrong. I tried to call my cousin, Michelle. With a few grunts, I convinced her to come round to my place. In the end she came round and she was very worried. She stayed with and we had lunch together.

After she left, I called my friend in Sheffield, Bev. I tried to say what was wrong with me. I couldn’t speak. She rang my neighbour, Kathy.

Kathy was out with Nelson, her fabulous dog. Bev rang her so she came round. When she came to my house I was sitting in the dark. Bev said she should call an ambulance. I took the phone from her and shook my head. Before long my neighbours Lizz and Leo came to see how I was. Kathy told Leo to ring the ambulance because I took her phone. She did not know what was wrong with me.  Lizz stayed with me in my living room. I was glad she was there.

About ten minutes later an ambulance appeared with two female paramedics. The paramedics tried to figure out what was wrong with me. They keep asking my neighbour if I took drugs. They put a pulse oximetry on my finger. In the end they took me the hospital.

I went in the ER and I was alone. There was nobody else there. They put a cannula in my arm and then left me. I was all alone and I was getting hungry. So when they didn’t come back, I took out the cannula they put in and I left for home. I left because they weren’t telling me what was wrong. I wasn’t really worried. I came home and I was relaxed. I ate some food, watched some television and went to bed as normal. I thought I might try to ring my homeopath in the morning.

The next morning I found I was in trouble because the hospital sent an ambulance to my house at about 9am.  I was thinking, “Oh dear!”

I was in the kitchen and I was thinking there are many people outside my door. There was even a policeman. I came to the door and let them in. I was confused. I couldn’t speak. I tried to tell them to go away. They insisted I had to come with them. They still didn’t tell me what was wrong with me. In the end, I eventually went with them.

I went to the hospital and I waited for the nurses to come and see me. They put a cannula in my arm. I waited and waited. I was very confused because they weren’t telling me anything. I only thought that I had lost my voice. I was waiting for them to tell me what had happened to me.




Aphasia is when a person has difficulty using their speech. It is when the left side of the brain doesn’t work. People with Aphasia have trouble communicating in language. 

They have problems communicating in

reading

writing

speaking

and listening. 

I have the most problems when speaking. I can’t bring my words out correctly. When it first happened I couldn’t speak, I couldn’t write, I couldn’t spell. I could only think what I was going to say, but it wouldn’t come out of my mouth.




Comments

  1. Oh, Rae, I am so sorry you've had this awful experience. I have to say I'm horrified that the paramedics didn't realise you'd had / were having a stroke. As you know I was a speech and language therapist and know about aphasia. Do contact via Facebook if I can help with any queries. Reading your experience made me so sad that you weren't given better support at your admission.

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  2. Dear Rae - I’m so so sorry to hear what you’ve been through. It sounds very traumatic and difficult. I hope you’re recovering and that you have srrong support around you. Emma Cuthbert xxx

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  3. Wow, Rae. What a horrifying experience. I’m glad you’re in a strong place. You are strong! Keep improving. Lots of love.

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  4. If you have time to read these are some of my recent favs.
    A man called Ove - Fredrik Blackman
    The midnight library - Matt Haig
    Lessons in Chemistry - Bonnie Garmin
    They both die in the end - Adam Silvera
    Invisible Girl - Lisa Jewell
    A gentleman in Moscow - Amor Towles

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  5. Dear Rae,
    What an awful experience that must have been. Frightening and confusing. I hope you have a full recovery and can continue to send out,in every way, your Rae’s of light.
    Anne Wheeldon

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    Replies
    1. Thank you very much Anne. I often think of you.

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  6. Thank you for sharing your experience and ongoing challenge. Personally and as a nurse I am touched by your experience when you were in A&E and not recognising speech affected by stroke. Learning on how we need to be more alert and recognise needs of patient. I am Praying for your full recovery for your speech. Thank you Rae

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  7. Dear Ray, I am so sorry this happened to you. What an ordeal you have been through. I hope that with time, your condition has improved. You have such a love affair with words and all that passion and experience will surely help you recover. I will touch base in the next few days. Stay positive. Love, Colleen

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  8. Hi Rae, so sorry to hear. Really hope you are feeling better. We are thinking of you and praying for your recovery. Tobi, Bimpe & Folu x

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  9. Oh Rae, I'm so sorry to hear this! I've been wondering why you've been so quiet lately and haven't been answering correspondence. I hope that the fact you are writing about your experience - well over a year later (!!) - means that you are on the mend. I miss you and am always happy to talk. So much love and healing energy to you!

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  10. Hello Rae, I enjoyed reading your account of what happened to you last year and will strive to beat you at scrabble. After your last three wins I'm wondering if I'm not trying hard enough! With very best wishes to you.

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  11. Hey Rae, I only just read this - sorry to be so behind the times. This must have been a very distressing experience for you. I do hope you are fully recovered now and life is going well for you. Hope our paths cross again sometime soon, Judith x

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  12. And I'm ridiculously behind the times - because I've been having my own difficulties with Long Covid. But I'm sorrier than I can say that you have been struggling with this - not being able to speak must have been terrifying and I'm shocked at the poor response to your crisis. It's lovely seeing you now posting and I hope that denotes your progress and general recovery! Take care.

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