A mum-of-five has claimed she was sent home from hospital after being told she just had a hangover, but she was actually having a stroke and needed emergency surgery to remove part of her skull.
Helen Mullins, 41, from Nottingham, was working late doing floor management at an outdoor event in August 2020, when she noticed numbness in her left arm.
The next day, she developed pain in her head and a lack of movement in her left side.
“It scared me because I lost all control of my arm and hand the pain was like a migraine in my fontanel area of my head,” Helen told Jam Press.
“It was excruciating.”
After phoning 999, Helen claims she was told it sounded like she had a migraine and she was told to take strong painkillers.
However, later that day with Helen getting worse and struggling to walk, an ambulance was called and she was taken to the Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham.
Helen had her auntie and sister step in to help look after her five children – Dominic, 23, Kylah, 15, Alistar, 12, Izack, 11 and Miah, 8.
After arriving at A&E, Helen claims doctors told her that her symptoms were due to a hangover.
Helen said: “When I went to hospital, I couldn’t walk properly, my left leg was completely numb.
“I knew something was very wrong but I was told that I was acting drunk and was obviously just hungover.
“I’d been at work the night before until very late so I only had a little to drink. I was in no way drunk and take my job very seriously.
“I also had a ligament injury at the time but I had left my crutches at home and was holding onto seats and the walls, which may have made me seem worse.
“I was told I just needed rest and rehydration.”
Helen returned home but was back in hospital the next day after experiencing more pain.
This time she was told she’d had a stroke caused by a blood clot and they would have to operate straight away.
She added: “I was very confused as I didn’t even know what a stroke was.
“They had to operate to remove part of my skull as the pressure on my brain was too much.
“The next thing I knew, I woke up in hospital with what felt like a fuzzy TV in my head.”
After the operation, Helen spent three months in hospital recovering from the stroke and surgery.
While she initially lost her speech, which thankfully came back very quickly, she was also being fed through a tube and had intense physio and occupational therapy to help her movement.
It was particularly hard for Helen being in hospital during the Covid pandemic.
Helen said: “I remember walking up shortly after my op and thinking about my kids and worrying if there was enough food in the fridge.
“Those few months were tough.
“I was also dealing with changes to my body that I knew nothing of before and the physio was also very hard as I got a blood clot in the back of my knee which caused me a lot of pain.
“The hardest part was when my sister bought my children up to see me but they had to see me through the window and were all crying, I couldn’t even give them a hug. That was soul-destroying.
“My mental health declined after that, I was an emotional wreck.”
Helen was discharged from the hospital on 3 November 2020, after spending three long months away from her family.
Helen said: “I was allowed to come home in November 2020 and had carers until the following July.
“I am still paralysed on the left side but have gained movement in my left leg so I can walk more now with a frame.
“But I’ve partially lost vision in my left eye and my left arm is still no good.”
Although it has been difficult, she is glad to be home and is thankful for all the help she has had from family and friends.
She added: “My dad has been a godsend helping any way he can and my friends have all been amazing.
“They even sorted out my house out so it was ready for me for when I was discharged from the hospital.
“On discharge, we had a team of family and friends to help care for me who have all been amazing.”
Despite everything, Helen is now able to walk aided around the block and recently managed to walk over 2,000 steps.
She is now taking part in the Stroke Association’s Stride for Stroke campaign by attempting to walk 2022 steps and raise at least £2022 for the charity.
She also wants to raise awareness that strokes can happen to anyone, young or old.
Helen said: “I joke with my sister that I feel like Captain Tom walking around with a frame. I’ve been able to walk a couple of thousand steps now, that’s why I wanted to do this challenge for the Stroke Association.
“I’ll be walking 2022 steps and I want to raise £2022 at least too.
“I’ve lost so much since my stroke but in sharing my story on my ‘Helen’s road to recovery’ page. I’ve had amazing support and been able to provide support to others too.”
A spokesperson for Nottingham University Hospitals Trust said: “We would like to wish Ms Mullins all the best in her recovery and in her efforts for rising vital awareness and funds for the Stroke Association.
“We have not been contacted by Ms Mullins surrounding her care however we would encourage her to contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) so we can look into any concerns.”
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