Update and this is really for the information if anyone else has to deal with a stroke. Remember that the odds are 1 in 4, the numbers for TIA (corrected TLA
) light strokes are 46,000 p.a. in the UK.. It does not care about fitness or age, and young fit people get these without warning. Things which will make it worse are the obvious. Weight, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and restricted arteries in your neck. I don't have any of those.
So it happened on Monday 19th May and I was in hospital for two nights, and came home early evening on the Wednesday.
On 11th June I had a home visit from the rehabilitaion nurse to test my cognitive function, which I passed, and a letter followed on 14th June to myself and my GP surgery.
The letter told me that I was fit to drive but had to get medical clearance, which could be a GP. I made an appointment on 23rd June to see a GP to get this done. He had the letter, he accepted that I was fit to drive, but didn't feel appropriately qualified to put his name to it, and had never been asked in 15 years.
I contacted the rehabilitation nurse by e-mail, and asked her what the plan was now. We had a conversation today and she would related this to the Consultant at the hospital. Just now, the Consultant's secretary rang me and confirmed that I am cleared to drive and a letter is on the way.
So what are the lessons? Well treatment was excellent. No complaints. Getting discharged and prescription in hospital was a pain in the arse. I know hospital pharmacies are stretched, but it takes literally hours of waiting. Then what complicated matters is that I was taken to Doncaster Hospital which is "over the border". With a stroke, you will only be admitted to a hospital which can do brain surgery. The Stoke rehabilitation unit is at Rotherham, which is my side of the boundary but they don't do brain surgery, but do have a stroke ward. My follow up appointment remains "over the border" in three weeks. and I really expected having to wait that long for clearance. But anyway, after poking around a bit, it's worked out. So it took 37 days.
Today I had the back wheels off the Plus 4 to get cleaning..................................
