‘Fit and healthy' woman, 22, left fighting for life after freak ‘blistering pain' struck suddenly paralysing her
The fit and healthy 22-year-old was
Advertisement
13
Saskia Bishop, 22, was visiting her grandma on Easter Monday when she was struck by a sudden searing headache
Credit: Kennedy News
13
She experienced no warning symptoms beforehand
Credit: Kennedy News
13
Unable to stand or speak, Saskia was rushed to hospital
Credit: Kennedy News
13
Tests showed Saskia had a significant bleed in her brain that had caused a stroke
Credit: Kennedy News
Saskia was visiting her grandma on April 21 when disaster struck and she was floored by the sharp pain in her head.
Advertisement
The
business
owner was rushed to A&E where doctors made not one but two devastating discoveries.
Saskia, who lives in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, said: "I had absolutely no symptoms or changes in my health.
"There was literally nothing to suggest it was going to happen until the day that it happened.
"I had just arrived at my grandma's and got a blistering pain in my head.
'It hit me like a sharp pain and then I could almost hear a flat line beeping in my head.
Advertisement
"It was so consuming, I couldn't think about anything else.
"My dad told me to go lie down and I immediately threw up. I could basically only blink.
"I couldn't really move. If I stood up, I would've just collapsed.
"I knew that something wasn't right but as soon as my speech started to go, I couldn't communicate that with anyone.
I battled mystery headaches for ten years - doctors thought I'd had a stroke but it was something much rarer
"I was really frightened when I was
Advertisement
Aware something was gravely wrong, Saskia's dad rushed his daughter to Gloucester Royal Hospital's A&E, before she was transferred to Southmead Hospital's intensive care unit in Bristol.
It was there that medics discovered Saskia had a significant bleed in her brain that had caused a stroke.
But more bad
news
was to come. Further tests revealed she was also suffering from a rare brain condition known as
13
Saskia was also suffering from a rare brain condition known as arteriovenous malformation
Credit: Kennedy News
13
She underwent a seven-hour operation to remove the AVM and surrounding blood clot
Credit: Kennedy News
Advertisement
13
Ever a 'chatterbox', Saskia was unable to speak for two weeks
Credit: Kennedy News
13
She spent two weeks in hospital and has been dealing with lingering effects from her ordeal
Credit: Kennedy News
An AVM is a tangle of blood vessels in the brain or on the brain's surface which causes blood to bypass normal tissues.
Most people with
In Saskia's case the AVM had ruptured, causing a
The 22-year-old underwent a seven-hour
Advertisement
After losing her speech for two weeks, she has now made a partial recovery and her speech has gradually returned.
Saskia was able to go home after two weeks in hospital but she is still suffering long-term effects, including fatigue and mobility issues, months later.
What is an arteriovenous malformation (AVM)?
An AVM is a tangle of blood vessels in thebrain or on the brain surface.
This causes blood to bypass the usual network of vessels and flows directly from arteries to veins.
Symptoms may vary depending on the size and location of the AVM
within the brain.
While AVMs commonly cause no symptoms at all, they can lead to seizures, headaches, speech disturbances and visual disturbances.
Sometimes a brain AVM is found after the blood vessels burst and bleed, known as a hemorrhage.
The cause of brain AVMs isn't clear. Most people who have them are born with them, but they can form later in life.
They are typically discovered between the ages of 20 and 40.
Source:
NHS
"I'm such a chatterbox I thought nothing is going to stop me from speaking,' she says.
"A load of my head is numb now. I get shooting pains where my scar is and my whole head aches but other than that I'm very lucky I don't have any other defects.
"When I got my speech back it was gradual.
Advertisement
'It was frustrating that I couldn't get my point across and sometimes it takes me a while to answer. It's still coming back.
"I've made a strong recovery but if I go long distance, I need a wheelchair.
"Everyone kept saying I was lucky and I feel grateful I survived and I can walk and talk. It could've been fatal.'
13
Saskia still gets frustrated when it takes her longer to get her point across
Credit: Kennedy News
13
She also can't walk long distances yet
Credit: Kennedy News
Advertisement
13
But Saskia recognises she's lucky to not be suffering with more serious aftereffects
Credit: Kennedy News
Saskia also had to reckon with her family's concern for her.
"When they told me how serious it was, I was more worried about how my family would take the news,' she said.
"They said it was the worst day of their lives and thought I might not make it through.
"My family thought I was going to die when they were told [I had an AVM]."
Advertisement
Saskia said she was 'stubborn and determined [she] wanted to do things" while recovering from her ordeal.
But she's had to learn to take things more slowly.
What are the symptoms of stroke?
The FAST method – which stands for Face, Arms, Speech, Time – is the easiest way to remember the most common symptoms of stroke:
F
= Face drooping - if one side of a person's face is dropped or numb then ask them to smile, if it's uneven then you should seek help.
A
= Arm weakness - if one arm is weak or numb then you should ask the person to raise both arms. If one arm drifts downwards then you might need to get help
S
= Speech difficulty - if a person's speech is slurred then this could be a sign of a stroke
T
= Time to call 999 - if a person has the signs above then you need to call 999 in the UK or 911 in the US for emergency care.
Other symptoms include:
sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
difficulty finding words
sudden blurred vision or loss of sight
sudden confusion, dizziness or unsteadiness
a sudden and severe headache
difficulty understanding what others are saying
difficulty swallowing
"This is the worst thing I've ever gone through. I've never gone through anything like this.
"I thought I'd be back to work in two weeks but I still can't do most things so that definitely isn't an option for a while.
"I'm just taking it day by day."
Advertisement
Now, Saskia wants to warn others about the importance of listening to their body.
"I was born with my AVM. A lot of people go their whole life without knowing. I had no idea I had this.
"I'm kind of lucky I had it when I did because recovery is so much easier when you're younger.
"I would say to other people your age doesn't protect you from anything so listen to your body. You know if something is severely wrong."
13
Saskia hasn't been able to go back to work and is still taking it day by day
Credit: Kennedy News
Advertisement
13
She urged others to listen to their body
Credit: Kennedy News
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Agriland
a day ago
- Agriland
EPA: 'Urgent need' for mandatory registration of private water supplies
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned that there is an "urgent need" for mandatory registration of private drinking water supplies. The total number of small private supplies (SPS) remains unknown as there is no legal obligation to register them. Unregistered supplies are not monitored by local authorities. The EPA Drinking Water Quality in Private Group Schemes and Small Private Supplies 2024 Report, released today (Wednesday, July 23), shows that 24 private group schemes (PGS) failed to meet E. coli standards. This figure is up by 13 from the EPA report issued in 2022. Furthermore, 19 PGS failed to meet trihalmethanes (THMs) standards in 2024. Currently, over 370 PGS supply drinking water to 193,000 people across rural communities in Ireland. In addition, many businesses and public facilities supply water from their own private wells, these are categorised as small private supplies (SPS). There are almost 1,700 SPS registered with local authorities, but many more are not registered. These include supplies serving schools, nursing homes, sports clubs, and self-catering accommodation. Source: EPA Drinking Water Quality in Private Group Schemes and Small Private Supplies 2024 Report EPA director, Micheál Lehane said: "The lack of a mandatory requirement to register a private supply serving water to the public is a serious legislative gap that must be addressed. "Without registration and subsequent monitoring by local authorities, consumers are unaware of the potential health risk they may be exposed to. "Everyone has the right to safe drinking water. We want to see mandatory registration, but in the interim we strongly encourage private suppliers to register with local authorities so that all proper safety checks can be carried out on their supply.' The EPA has stated that meeting E. coli standards is a "minimum requirement" in the provision of safe drinking water and failures indicate a lack of proper disinfection which must be addressed by water suppliers. E. coli failures were recorded in 51 SPS that were monitored by local authorities, posing a risk to consumers that use these supplies. Programme manager at the EPA's office of radiation protection and environmental monitoring, Noel Byrne, said: 'E. coli contamination of a drinking water supply can cause serious public health impacts. "E. coli compliance has declined with almost double the number of private supplies failing in 2024 compared to 2022. "This needs to be addressed as every community deserves access to safe, clean drinking water. Suppliers must take action to upgrade their systems and meet standards. "Local authorities, as the regulator of private group schemes, need to take the necessary enforcement action to ensure public health is protected.' THMs can form when natural material like leaves or other organic matter in the water source, react with chlorine used to disinfect the drinking water. According to the EPA, while disinfection is essential, THM levels should also be kept as low as possible and in compliance with the drinking water standards. In 2024, 19 PGS supplying 21,800 people failed the standard for THMs. This shows little change from 2023 when 21 schemes supplying 22,000 people failed the standard. Local authorities monitored 91% (1,517) of the 1,663 registered SPS at least once during 2024, which is an improvement from 86% in 2023 and 75% in 2022. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) is responsible for water policy and making funding available for improvements to private supplies through the Multi-Annual Rural Water Programme (MARWP). The new cycle of the MARWP 2024-2026 was launched in January 2024, with €45 million awarded to group water schemes for improvements to treatment infrastructure in 2024 by DHLGH. A review of the rural water sector commissioned by DHLGH highlighted several key issues including:
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Horrifying photos reveal the true dangers of ibuprofen after mum's skin ‘fell off' leaving her fighting for life
Aleshia initially thought she had a simple case of the flu, and doctors agreed, sending her home with painkillers. But within days, the mum-of-three was close to death TERRIFYING ORDEAL Horrifying photos reveal the true dangers of ibuprofen after mum's skin 'fell off' leaving her fighting for life AFTER giving birth to her third child, Jaxon, via C-section, Aleshia Rogers was taking ibuprofen twice a day to dull the pain. But within three weeks of giving birth, her skin slowly started to fall off, and days later, doctors gave the mum-of-three a five per cent chance of survival. Advertisement 15 Aleshia Rogers had a severe reaction to ibuprofen which made her skin 'fall off' in 2020 Credit: Kennedy News 15 The mum was told to take ibuprofen after the birth of her baby boy, Jaxon Credit: Kennedy News 15 Aleshia developed a rash - one of the first signs she was having a rare reaction to ibuprofen Credit: Kennedy News 15 Mum Aleshia pictured in hospital, when she was given a five per cent chance of survival Credit: Kennedy News The mum-of-three welcomed her son into the world in August 2020. Advertisement But the 27-year-old began developing flu-like symptoms, including a high fever, swollen face and rash on her chest. She also had a burning sensation when she swallowed. Despite going to the hospital twice for medical advice, Aleshia was told she had pink eye (conjunctivitis) or scarlet fever and to continue taking ibuprofen to ease her pain and reduce the swelling. But just hours later, her face was engulfed in painful blisters and peeling skin, leaving the mum unrecognisable to loved ones. Harrowing pictures showed Aleshia lying in a hospital bed, her skin completely covered in bleeding sores after what doctors believed was an extreme reaction to painkillers, Ibuprofen. Advertisement Aleshia, who lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, tells Sun Health. 'My eyes started swelling. 'They were bloodshot and burning, and I got a small rash on my chest, so I went to A&E and they told me I had pink eye and sent me home. 'The next day, my whole face was swollen, and both eyes were swollen shut. 'I went back to A&E and they told me I had scarlet fever and to go home.' What is Stevens Johnson Syndrome Hours later, her symptoms had progressed so drastically that her entire face and chest were covered in blisters. Advertisement She returned to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) - a rare and serious disorder where the immune system sparks widespread inflammation in response to medication. She was later told she had Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis - a severe form of SJS - that was likely triggered by taking ibuprofen. Ibuprofen was my go-to med. It's very upsetting and confusing. Once it starts, there's nothing you can do to stop it. Aleshia Rogers Aleshia, a child and education technician, says: 'The doctors said the skin had died and detached. 'They called it sloughing. It fell off in sheets. 'The doctors said 90 to 95 per cent of the skin came off my body. Advertisement 'Since your skin is your biggest organ, this caused me to get sepsis and multi-organ failure.' 'It was touch and go' She was transferred to an intensive care unit for burns and placed in a coma for three weeks. Aleshia underwent a full-body skin excision (removal) and grafting, as well as an amniotic membrane transplant on her eyes. During this time, Aleshia's heartbroken family were told she had a five to 10 per cent chance of survival. Miraculously, she was discharged after a month. Advertisement 15 Aleshia's back when her worrying rash started to develop Credit: Kennedy News 15 Aleshia was told she had pink eye (conjunctivitis) or scarlet fever - and was even told to continue taking the pills Credit: Kennedy News 15 Her condition rapidly progressed until 90 to 95 per cent of her skin fell off her body Credit: Kennedy News 15 Aleisha's black legs, which may be because she had sepsis. This can prevent proper blood flow Credit: Kennedy News 15 The 27-year-old was later diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Credit: Kennedy News Advertisement 15 'My family told me it really was touch or go as to whether I'd make it through,' says Aleisha Credit: Kennedy News 'I had absolutely no idea what had happened to me,' Aleshia says. 'I forgot that I had given birth. I lost a lot of memories. 'My family told me it really was touch-and-go as to whether I'd make it through. 'I've been told so many times that I'm a 'miracle'. Advertisement 'It's always a thought, but I live my life like tomorrow isn't promised and try not to live in fear. 'I don't want people to be afraid of medicines, but I want people to be aware and mindful of what can happen.' What is Stevens-Johnson syndrome? Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a rare but serious skin reaction, usually caused by taking certain medicines - often epilepsy drugs, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory painkillers. It is named after the two doctors who described it in the early 20th century. It can be life-threatening so it requires immediate hospital treatment. Symptoms usually start with flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, sore throat, cough and joint pain. A rash usually then appears a few days later - spreading from the upper body to the face, arms, legs and genitals. You can also get blisters and sores on your lips, inside your mouth and on your eyes. Hospital treatment usually involves fluids to prevent dehydration, creams and dressings to moisturise the skin, strong painkillers to ease discomfort and medicines to control inflammation and prevent infection. It can take several weeks or months to fully recover. Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) is diagnosed when more than 30 per cent of the skin surface is affected and the moist linings of the body (mucous membranes) have extensive damage. SJS and TEN are rare. There is thought to be about one TEN case per one million patients - about 60 every year, according to the University of Liverpool. SJS is more common, with an incidence rate of about one in 10,000. Source: NHS Five years on, Aleshia is still recovering from long-term complications associated with SJS but is determined to raise awareness of this life-altering disorder. She says: 'We believe it was all triggered by taking ibuprofen. 'I took it twice a day for the C-section recovery pain, then continued taking it to ease my pain and swelling [when I developed flu-like symptoms]. Advertisement 'Ibuprofen was my go-to med. I'd basically taken it my whole life since I was 14 to help with period pains. 'They don't know why I had this reaction to it. Doctors don't really have an explanation for it. 'They just said my body decided it didn't like it one day. It's very upsetting and confusing. 'There's no prevention, and once it starts, there's nothing you can do to stop it. 'And there's definitely a chance I can get it again at any time.' Advertisement 15 Aleisha was treated for sepsis and multi organ failure Credit: Kennedy News 15 Aleisha's whole body blistered before her skin peeled off. She is pictured as her wounds heal Credit: Kennedy News 15 The mum's skin was left discoloured following the ordeal Credit: Kennedy News 15 Aleisha even had blisters in her mouth Credit: Kennedy News 15 Five years on, Aleshia is still recovering from long-term complications associated with SJS Credit: Kennedy News
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Irish Times
‘Just be in the present moment': the tyranny of western McMindfulness
Sometimes, the present moment is precisely what we need. Sometimes, it is unbearable. The present moment is not a benign psychological state of calm and tranquillity; it is to be approached with caution because it is potent with possibility and the potential to unravel our cobbled-together lives. 'Just be in the present moment,' we might say to the overstretched parent, the struggling adolescent, the commuter getting home in the dark or the junior doctor 11 hours into another Friday night working in A&E. Often this is a heartfelt and well-intended response to witnessing our fellow humans in distress; an expression of a genuine desire to offer comfort and support. However, this is not always the wisest response; it ignores what we know about the human mind, obscures the structural issues that underpin much human distress and runs the risk of victim blaming. READ MORE Like every generation before us, when faced with the inevitable challenges of being human, we seek simple solutions to complex problems. We turn to our contemporary healers seeking a balm or a quick fix for the troubled heart and mind and the exhausted body. And now, more than ever, we place our hope, perhaps too readily, in the promise of the present moment, overestimating its power and mistaking it for a cure. These minds of ours seem to have minds of their own sometimes. Racing ahead, spiralling back, caught in loops or worry and scenes we never meant to replay. There is little doubt that the human mind needs to be rescued from the rollercoaster of worry and rumination, the cycle of graphic catastrophisation we are all gripped by from time to time. However, the imperative to simply 'be in the present moment' is often a well-meant but naive response that fails to grasp the complexity of the human mind. The 'just be in the present moment' cultural obsession has taken firm root over the past two decades, emerging in part from the oversimplification of mindfulness meditation. This trend has been described as 'McMindfulness': a westernised, reductive, fast-food version of Eastern meditation practices, stripped of their ethical and moral foundations. [ Anyone else had their fill of mindfulness? Opens in new window ] Experienced meditators might smile at the naive expectation that one could inhabit the present at will or, indeed, remain there for prolonged periods of time. Or that 'being in the present moment' is a straightforward choice; like flipping a switch and we're suddenly in the arms of the present moment, luxuriating in contentment and calm. Worryingly, the present-moment obsession locates the source of distress firmly within the individual, overlooking the structural and systemic conditions that underlie so much human distress. In so doing, the concept of 'the present moment' is co-opted to serve an increasingly individualistic and meritocratic social narrative. The current obsession with the present moment also plays into the lucrative wellness culture we find ourselves immersed in. A wellness culture that also seeks to exist in the absence of meaningful social critique. This culture places an unsustainable burden on individual bodies and minds, demanding self-optimisation without addressing the broader conditions that cause distress. In such a culture underpinned by insatiable individualism, we find ourselves stumbling towards a new kind of exhaustion, present-moment burn out. Sometimes, the present moment is simply too much to bear. Sometimes, it's too painful. Sometimes it's overwhelming. And fundamentally, that is not a failure of will; it is simply not how the human brain works. Advances in neuroscience tell us the brain does not behave like a machine, responding to commands, and switching gears on command. It is the product of millenniums of evolution, shaped to anticipate, remember and protect. It does not yield easily to commands such as 'just relax', 'don't be worrying' or 'be in the present moment'. Our brains are primed for vigilance, to detect threats, escape danger and act fast, not linger and reflect. This immediacy and reactivity once gave our ancestors a survival advantage in a threat-ridden world. It's a 'better safe than sorry' brain in the main; reflection weighing the pros and cons comes later; survival comes first. The human brain's ability to psychologically avoid and deny the present moment is a highly evolved way of protecting ourselves from being overwhelmed. At times it might be the only option, even the wisest one, when life's harshness is unrelenting, when the forces of social and economic deprivation offer no reprieve, and when the lottery of life seems incessantly cruel. [ Has mindfulness become just another wing of capitalism? Opens in new window ] 'Just be in the present moment' can be a brutal ask that risks exposing the human heart and soul to more than they can bear. In the face of adversity, temporary emotional avoidance may be precisely what's called for. Denial, so often maligned by present-moment enthusiasts, can in fact be our ally. It can serve as an adaptive, protective and even compassionate reflex in the face of the cruelty we can encounter as we make our way through this life. The danger lies in becoming trapped in a pattern of denial: the psychological toll involved in persistent denial is considerable. A little denial can go a long way, but we get into trouble when avoidance becomes a way of life. A life lived in a continual state of denial and avoidance will blunt all of life; we risk living a life that feels hollowed out, flattened. In the present moment we are invited to bow to our smallness and insignificance, where we recognise our place in the vast web of existence, our place in the 'family of things' as the poet Mary Oliver described it. The immensity of the universe is laid bare when the present moment is encountered; this immensity slowly and softly reveals itself to us, offering an invitation to breathe deeply and live more wholeheartedly. In the presence of this moment, our interconnectedness is felt viscerally again, as if for the first time. The present moment pulls the rug from beneath us, uproots us from an anaesthetised individualism and reawakens us to the sharpness and subtlety of our shared humanity. Our long-standing ill-at-ease, out-of-sorts hen on a hot griddle eventually gives way to a bewildering vastness: sparkling with marvellousness and insignificance, tipsy on the freedom of it all. Our current cultural obsession with the present moment often obscures its radical potential, attempting to neutralise its potency. The present moment does not exist in an abeyance of our past or our imagined future. The present moment is never cut off from our past or imagined future; it is carried on the wings of memory and anticipation, rooted in what has been and lifted by what might be. The present moment, nestled quietly here, is not a refuge of sameness or shallow calm. It is the threshold where the familiar comforts of predictability begin to loosen, making space for the life that has been quietly waiting for us all along. Dr Paul D'Alton is associate professor at the school of psychology, UCD
