ELIZABETH Ferguson was out having a meal with friends and family when she suffered a stroke.
“It came over me so suddenly - this terrible feeling,” recalls the 63-year-old from east Belfast. “It was like fireworks going off in my head, the pain was so awful. I couldn’t speak and there was numbness down my left-hand side and a cramp in my leg.
“I don’t remember the journey to hospital in the ambulance.”
Elizabeth was taken to the Ulster Hospital and after an MRI scan, which established that there was a clot in her brain, she was given what is called thrombolysis treatment - the difference between life and death for many stroke patients if they make it to hospital within three hours of the onset of symptoms. The latter can include trouble with walking and speech, dizziness, paralysis or numbness - especially on one side of the body, blurred vision and sudden severe headache.
The pensioner was able to walk out of hospital the next day because of the treatment; she was eligible to have this administered because her symptoms were reported and diagnosed so quickly.
“It took about 24 hours for me to properly come back to myself. I had some blurred vision but by the end of the next day I felt completely back to normal.”
The grandmother is incredibly emotional as she describes her ordeal.
“I think about how grateful I am that I received this treatment. It saved my life.
“When I was in the ambulance and unable to communicate and in pain I just kept thinking that I might not see my grandchildren again and the thought of that was terrible. I am so happy to be here. I lost my husband 12 years ago and my mother 10 years ago and I understand how fragile life is.
“I am just so lucky.”
A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or severely reduced, typically by a blood clot. This means that brain tissue is deprived of oxygen and food, causing brain cells to die.
According to statistics published by the Department of Health, stroke is a leading cause of disability in Northern Ireland and one of the most common causes of death. After heart disease and cancer, it is the most common cause of death here.
Around 4000 people in Northern Ireland suffer a stroke each year and of these, 1300 will suffer long-term disability as a result - a common traumatic effect is apahasia, a disorder which makes language formation difficult.
Consultant physician Kevin Dynan is responsible for assessing stroke patients and administering thrombolysis treatment at the Ulster Hospital, although it is now available at all of Northern Ireland’s major hospitals.
“Most strokes are caused by a clot blocking the blood supply to a part of the brain. If given quickly enough thrombolysis can dissolve the clot and limit the damage done to the brain. The problem is that this must be administered very quickly.
“If three hours have elapsed then the damage has been done and the treatment would not have any effect. That’s why some patients aren’t eligible for this.
“Therefore, if you experience any stroke symptoms you must act immediately and call an ambulance.”
Like any treatment in medicine, a 100 per cent success rate cannot be guaranteed.
“It isn’t always successful but it can massively improve your chances of making a very good recovery.
“Some people may receive the treatment and not get all the benefits - it’s something you can’t tell in advance because everyone responds differently. Sometimes it might turn out that the clot on the brain was very large and therefore will not dissolve fully. It also depends on what part of the brain the clot has travelled to. Certain parts are incredibly sensitive to any sort of damage.
“If you have a stroke and receive this treatment then you are much less likely to be left disabled as a result of it.”
Quick assessment of the patient is the most difficult part of the process.
“You look at the patient’s medical history, examine them and then do a brain scan in order to be certain that it is a stroke which is causing the symptoms. The actual administering of the thrombolysis injection is quick though and results are quick too.
“This treatment became available in Northern Ireland five years ago and according to guidelines in a report published by the Department of Health, all the larger hospitals here now must provide this. Everyone in Northern Ireland should be able to receive this treatment if required. Every health trust must have this treatment available and the ambulance service is aware which nearest hospital can provide a patient with the treatment.”
Elizabeth Ferguson, who is now happily back to her normal routine, urges people to be aware of the stoke warning signs - facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems (as outlined in the FAST campaign ads) and, if any of these are present, call 999 immediately.
“I do worry about what people would do if they were on their own when something like this happens. I never stop being so grateful that I had people there with me to call an ambulance. Be aware of the symptoms of stoke and act quickly.”