Norfolk stroke survivor’s mission to challenge stigma and educate others on what stroke recovery actually means

Peter Ellis, 60, from Diss began writing a blog to help his recovery and share his experience of stroke recovery and treatment, following a bleed on his brain that doctor’s said was, ‘the size of a fist’.

Peter, who had recently taken early retirement, had a stroke in March 2018 when a sudden sensation came over him and he lost all use of his left side. After attending hospital for scans, Doctor’s discovered Peter’s stroke had been caused by a major bleed on his brain.

Peter was initially left unable to walk or move his left side freely. He would go on to spend two months in hospital followed by months of rehabilitation before finally being allowed home in August 2018.

Peter said: “I was doing some strenuous work in the garden and I remember this sensation just suddenly coming over me. I sat on a bench trying to work out what was happening, when my left arm suddenly just fell to the floor. The first thing I remember thinking bizarrely was ‘I haven’t done my will’.

“I can’t remember anything from the ambulance to the hospital where I had further scans that discovered the bleed on my brain. After six days on the ward I deteriorated. The doctor’s decided to operate, as the second bleed, that happened while I was being observed initially, was life threatening and pressing down on my spinal cord.”

Despite months of ongoing hospital rehabilitation which has helped Peter move more freely again, he is now unable to carry on the hobbies he loved such as piano and gardening.

Peter began writing his first ever blog after returning home. His mission is to share his own personal stroke journey, challenge stigma around the condition and to educate others on what goes on in recovery.

Peter said: “I was in a sorry state after my stroke – emotionally, physically and spiritually. It’s not been easy on my partner Duncan either, the pressure on him has been huge. After a stroke you feel totally exposed and vulnerable, especially when there are things like going to the toilet, that you just want to do by yourself but can’t.

“My experience of stroke care has been mixed with some good compassionate care, good therapy but also no goal setting unless I asked, and a reliance on motivation to change which just wasn’t there at the start. Once sent home the early discharge care was excellent but only for 12 weeks and then you are left on your own, which left me very anxious. There was no other support offered.”

“My blog is designed to be an outlet to express how I’m feeling and how that has evolved. However, it’s also designed to help those less well connected and supported, who deserve no lesser care, and need so much more motivation. My stroke was the scariest experience of my life but I am determined to progress in my recovery and others can too.

“I honestly think the only people who offer any hope for the future are those who have had a stroke and offer examples of recovery.”

You can read more about Peter’s experience of stroke here: https://mystrokejourney.health.blog/