"Surviving the odds! Never ignore symptoms."

I discovered within the same week I had had a TIA., I discovered I had a severely blocked carotid artery and I also learnt I was a very very lucky patient on being treated! 

I felt on receiving the news, utter shock, scared like I never felt before and, like it was surreal. 

My own assumptions about ever having a mini stroke, on seeing many adverts about the symptoms/ 'FAST', meant I believed I would spot it straight away. However I awoke only with total loss of vision in one eye. What I didn't recall is that I only had a 14 day timeline to get treatment! 

Further investigation revealed severely blocked Carotid Artery to my brain. Urgent Enderterectomy neck Surgery was required/ carried out on Day 11. To awake post-op with no paralysis, or no complications.

On waking from the op I  felt elated personally! To awake for one, with no  complications and no paralysis. 

I couldn't thank the Vascular and Surgical Team enough, and Mr Jereerah the Surgeon from Wrexham Hospital especially. I told him he's a Genius, to him it was just his job, he said. To me (and I'm sure many similar patients) it's not just a job - it's something I'll never find the right words to tell them, they're amazing human beings!! 

I've since told others of my experience who agree. I also since chatted with an individual,of symptoms they were mentioning, of their own. I told them how my story evolved completely unexpectedly. They had been ignoring their ongoing symptoms similar to mine, and after our chat is going to face their fears, by getting a professional opinion. So additionally, if I can help 1 other person through my success story that's great, plus part of my recovery process.