None of us are invincible

None of us are invincible

Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: Never, ever take your health for granted. I had a “funny turn” recently when boarding a train at Ainsdale. I became lightheaded and lost the use of my left arm and, to a lesser extent, my left leg. By the time the train reached Liverpool some strength had returned to both limbs.

That was on a Sunday. I’ll rest on Monday and it will go away by itself, I thought. It didn’t. I still did not have full use of my left arm. So I went to see my GP on Tuesday (many thanks to Saint Marks Medical Centre for giving me an appointment that morning). The doctor sent me to Southport Hospital – I’d had a stroke.

I was lucky, it was a minor stroke so I didn’t have to be admitted to hospital. But over the past eight weeks I’ve been back to the hospital for six or seven different tests, including an MRI.

This afternoon I saw my consultant, the excellent Dr Paddy McDonald. He confirmed I’d had a stroke in the right hand side of my brain, which caused the loss of strength on my left side.

Much to my relief because it’s been on my mind for the past two months, he said the test results were all favourable so I didn’t need to see him again.

But, he stressed, if this ever happens again I should go straight to A&E.

And that’s why I’ve written this post. When we’re young we think we’re invincible and illness is something that other people have (until this incident I used to believe that and I’m 66). Or maybe, like me, you don’t like to cause a fuss by going to A&E.

If your instinct tells you it could be serious, don’t hesitate just go.

So, on with life for me.

I want to thank Southport Hospital for the excellent care and attention I received. Everyone was so friendly, helpful and very patient (I like to be told things at least twice so it sinks in).