Jasmine Cvetkoska is 49 and from Ohrid Macedonia. Surviving heart surgery didn't slow her down, but not recognising the risk factors of stroke that came with her condition contributed to a life changing stroke. Here she describes the impact on her life and why we should all slow down and take better care of ourselves.
Before
the stroke did you have any idea that you were at risk of stroke?
No,
I was not aware. Even though I had problems with my heart for long time, I was
diagnosed with Obstructive cardiomyopathy and I had been through serious open
heart surgery. I suffer atrial fibrillation as a complication of it and I did
not know that it is serious stroke risk factor. Doctors did marvellous surgery
and repair my heart, I had many hours spent in their offices, but no one told me
about stroke risk, or the reason for taking anticoagulants.
When and how did you realize that you/your loved one was having
a stroke?
A couple of days after stroke happened. At the beginning I was in coma
for 6 hours, later I was confused. After couple of days, in a
conversation with my doctor, I become aware what was I going through.
Can you tell us a bit about your life before stroke?
Before stroke a was a ,,300 km hour,, person. I was working and
working and taking care of everything, I was doing not just my job, but also everyone
else’s jobs at work and also at home. I was hyperactive and a lot of people
were depending on me, since I was always optimistic and had solutions for every
problem. Even heart surgery did not stop me for being so active.
How
has life changed since the stroke?
My
life is changed dramatically. I needed time to adapt to new situation, physical
limitations and language problems. Also I become very easily emotionally
labile. I can not tolerate stress as before, I have lost my adaptive mechanisms
and sometimes panic overwhelms me.
What
steps do you take now to prevent stroke? How are you working to reduce your
specific risks?
Now
that I am aware that my heart condition is huge stroke risk factor, I take more
care about myself. I reduce my work and stress and I am more serious about my
anticoagulant therapy, I take very seriously care about all factors that can
influence my INR, I practice much healthier life style and I am also doing my best to stay optimistic .
What
would you say to other people to make them take stroke prevention seriously?
Sometimes
it is just enough to tell them my story, how my life turned upside down and I am
just 49 years old. I can not be a ,,pillar,, in my family any more. Also I cannot do my job as a teacher anymore which
I was enjoying. Everybody needs to be aware that stroke does not choose by age,
it just strikes. And most important it can be prevented. I would tell them to ignore stress and
worries and to live more peaceful and healthier life.
I would like to contribute in reducing strokes in my country. By raising
awareness I am sure I can help. If people know their stroke risk and are aware
of stroke consequences I am sure they will take more care for themselves. I
would like to point out to everybody that taking care or their health for 1 hour a
day means preventing years of disease.
