Thanks to quick thinking and outstanding care, Ellie survived a massive bleed on the brain
Ellie had just finished a gym session, when what felt like whiplash caused her to feel ill and vomit. Her partner Glenn brought her home to rest, but when she went to run a bath, she collapsed.
An ambulance took Ellie to the Countess of Chester, where quick investigations discovered a massive bleed in her brain. From there Ellie was rushed to The Walton Centre for urgent specialist treatment.
The 39-year-old from Flintshire said: “I thought there was something wrong with my shoulder initially at the gym, it just ached badly. But shortly after getting home I lost consciousness. Glenn gave the paramedics such good information about my condition and when we got to the hospital, the staff were waiting for us at the door. My mum was with me in hospital, and she urged for a CT scan. The nurses were amazing at looking after me and also my mum while I was there. I'm thankful I had them all advocating for me, as it meant I got to The Walton Centre for specialist intervention quicker.”
Further investigations revealed that Ellie had had an acute subarachnoid haemorrhage, a rare type of stroke which causes bleeding on the brain, a life-threatening condition. Ellie was admitted quickly, her medical team immediately prepped her for a cerebral angiogram - a procedure used to visualize blood vessels in the brain and neck. Later, Ellie underwent a cerebral digital subtraction angiography, which gives an enhanced look at the blood vessels in her brain, to locate where the bleed had originated.
Ellie continued: “I was monitored initially as they were trying to locate the origin of the bleed, and whether they needed to intervene to stop any further bleeding. I couldn't be more grateful for the speed and efficiency of everything, plus staff on the ward and every other department I went to were so friendly and kind. They all really took care of me.
“Coming round from the procedure, I obviously felt a bit groggy and the brain fog is something I am still recovering from. Shortly after the procedure, they let my son come and see me, even though it was late in the evening. Staff really supported me, helped me stick to a routine, and kept my spirits up.”
After further testing to ensure the bleeding had stopped, Ellie was allowed to go home. Ellie will be monitored by The Walton Centre for a little while, to ensure that the bleed does not reoccur and cause further damage.
Ellie said: “My recovery hasn't been as fast as I'd like, but I appreciate that I can only go as fast as my body will allow. I can walk further and further each day and brain fog is still a big factor, but considering the alternative, I'm doing really well.
“There are few words to articulate how grateful I am to my family for acting quickly and the NHS for making sure I received the lifesaving treatment when I did. I just hope people can learn from my experience to understand the signs of a bleed on the brain.”
To know more about the symptoms of SAH and how to act quickly, head to https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/subarachnoid-haemorrhage/
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Notes to editors
For further information, or to arrange an interview, please contact the Communications Team at The Walton Centre on 0151 556 3397 or wcft.communications@nhs.net
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust is the only hospital trust in the UK specialising in neurology, neurosurgery and pain services. Although the majority of patients come from Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales, Lancashire and the Isle of Man, for some specialist treatments of complex disorders we see patients from all parts of the country, referred by their GPs or other neurologists, neurosurgeons and pain clinicians.
The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust was rated as 'Outstanding' by the Care Quality Commission. The independent regulator of all health and social care services in England published its rating on Friday 21 October 2016, following announced and unannounced inspection visits to the Trust in April 2016.
For more information please visit: www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk or follow the Trust on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
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