A thread, for my #stroke anniversary. Yesterday, while on my daily walk I met a woman (at a distance) who looked at my stick and asked the common question "what happened to you?" I often feel like saying none of your business, but instead said 'I've had a stroke' Oh she says 1/13

'I had a mini stroke a month ago' she says smiling proudly. It 'dissolved' sic itself in an hour! After a few minutes we parted & my usual optimism was shot! You see, Ischemic stroke is one of the three most commonly misdiagnosed conditions (lung cancer & sepsis too) 2/13

5 years ago today I suffered multiple brain stem strokes & was left unable to stand, sit, swallow, talk, walk, because I was misdiagnosed. I had no risk factors On the day of my strokes I had an abcessed tooth removed at 10am, slept, then worked from home in the afternoon. 3/13

I hadn't been able to eat but had sipped 2 glasses of wine while I worked (it had been a tough extraction) At 6pm I was eating pasta with a third glass of wine when my brain felt strange, I became paralysed, fell to the floor, wet myself & spilt my dinner on my clothes. 4/13

Despite rapid response from @AmbulanceVic some symptoms had 'resolved' by the time I was in ED which was empty. My BP was 200/130, my left leg was spasming, with empty stomach & no intention to drive my blood etoh was 0.04 Medical staff berated me & sent me home after 2 hours 5/6

At home I slept & 2 hours later woke unable to breathe & swallow. My husband carried me to the car & drove back to the ED 5 mins away. At ED I had to stop the triage nurse from doing her paperwork to look at me. In the ED I was monitored, blood tests, had a CT scan(no bleed) 6/8

I had ECGs that indicated 'possible CVA', but @VSTprogram was not consulted, & I was only given Clopidogrel. My husband had to go to the nurses station every 40 minutes to get them to come look at me, as I pleaded for help. Eventually they said 'I guess we should admit you' 7/8

After midnight I was transferred to a bed in a 4 person ward. The nurse call button fell to the floor & the nurse merrily said 'oh you won't be needing that anyway' & left it there. She turned off the lights & alone in the dark I experienced another #stroke and prayed to die 8/8

The next morning I awoke to full left side paralysis & unable to speak. I was't seen by a physician until 1pm that day (who was a Respiratory Physician). At 11 orderlies starting moving my bed to a room next door. My daughter asked why & was told 'because she's had a stroke' 9/10

This was the first my family were told. In the afternoon I had an MRI which confirmed 'multiple striatiscapsular infarcts' - rare brain stem strokes. After 6 days in this hospital my family got me to Melbourne to @Epworth Richmond where I finally got the help I needed 10/12

"That's terrible you should take legal action" many have said. But like other stroke survivors who've tried I came up against a legal system where Drs are judged by their peers who say things like "it wasn't great treatment - but it wasn't negligent" 11/13

I was 55 years old when I had my stroke. I had just started a new CEO. I had plans to improve primary care in the greater Bendigo region. I had another 10 years of my career at least. GONE! The financial impact meant we had to sell our home & use my super 12/13

Thanks to the work of many stroke services in Vic are so much better now, but 5 years ago I lost my first life - and have been denied the opportunity for compensation.
@StrokeAus @VSTprogram Prof. Stephen Davis @Coralie_English @FloreyStroke Prof. Bruce Campbell @AVERTtrial END

@RichardGerraty @ibmjet @JennyMikakos @DanielAndrewsMP @SlaterGordon @libertysanger @JillHennessyMP