Atul Tandon, a successful lawyer, had a severe stroke that led to his cognitive impairment, memory loss and shattered happiness. Here, he struggles to answer questions and says his confidence will take time to get back. His wife Rashmi helps him share his experience.
Introduction
(written by his wife Rashmi)
Atul had a brain stroke in 2017 at age 52. He had a blood clot on the centre of his brain, inclined towards the left side of the brain due to which he felt weakness on the right side of the body (especially his legs).
He is a lawyer by profession specialising in Land Deals and Arbitration. As an arbitrator he settles disputes of lands for big construction companies and multinationals and is required to travel extensively.
From childhood, he has been a sports enthusiast. He has represented his school and college for karate, boxing and football and won many prizes. He has been an active person throughout his life.
Please tell us a bit about your condition.
Presently, I keep searching and digging for words. I am unable to write, frame sentences. I face lack of memory of certain degree. My reading and writing skills are hampered.
Laziness and fatigue have taken over me ... too many thoughts come for doing work... but unable to mobilize and motivate myself to work.
The recollection of work and putting together words and phrases is difficult.... which I am slowly recollecting now.
Expressing my view thoroughly, or an extempore on issues are difficult whereas earlier I was excellent at them. Now I have become conscious of them.
My happiness has been affected after stroke.
What were the early symptoms? What made you go and see a doctor?
(Written by Rashmi) One day when I got back home from a work trip from Bombay to Bangalore, on the way my nose started bleeding profusely. It was not like a sunstroke temporary nose bleed, but there a heavy rush of blood flowing out of my nose. I tried to wipe it with my handkerchief, but it was totally soiled within seconds. I must have bled for at least five minutes continuously.
But there other symptoms which had been occurring over the last three four months. My weight had increased, I would get spells of dizziness, experience lots of anger and mood swings, felt weak grip in my hands, felt fatigue and lethargy. I was also not getting restful sleep at night.
My wife felt something abnormal about me and took me to a doctor to get checked in the morning on January 17, 2017 .I was told that my blood pressure was very high He immediately gave me a tablet to bring down my BP. But not seeing much improvement in my condition by evening, my wife took me to a hospital nearby where they told us that I was showing symptoms of stroke and immediate action was taken by them by doing …..ECG and MRI scan.
After the stroke, I was not able to drive, no access from one side of my body. Each leg felt like it weighed like a ton.
In these four years since my stroke, my weight has increased. I have been behaving very differently due to loss of equilibrium, loss of coordination of mind.
What tests were done to diagnose your stroke?
- Full body check-up
- Blood work (blood test for cholesterol, and other factors)
- ECG
- MRI
- Thorough check of parameters and
- Blood pressure check
Could you describe your experience of managing your condition? What was your course of treatment? What rehabilitation did you have to go through?
Written by Rashmi – Actually none. Not interested and fights if you ever talk about it also. He will do the opposite of what you tell him. I think he needs counseling but he still is not ready to take any action or any help.
- It was a heart breaking experience
- Self-pity, anger and irritableness took over me. I still live with the trauma and become cruel to my own self.
What is your present condition? Have you had any related complications from your primary condition?
- Still taking time to recover fully, feel I have recovered 90%.
- My confidence will take time to get back
Have you learned anything in managing your condition that you wish you knew before?
Acceptance to live it, overthrow the frustration of feeling defeated all the time.
How did you mentally and emotionally cope with your condition?
- Patience, slowly, kept into my system to accept the reality. At times I do listen to OM chant.
Who has been your biggest support/companion through it all?
Family and friends.
What were some of the challenges you faced due to your stroke?
- After four years to face big deals in my work.
- Travel, and personal appearance.
- Accepted the defeat and I have given up
- Driving car, speed. My kids (daughter and son both teenagers) tease me how slowly I ride my motorcycle …slower than a cyclist.
What is your advice to patients who face similar experiences?
Maximize your patience and minimise your expectations in business and profession.... the world can be as dark as can be. Only God can bless the world.
How has your diagnosis changed your life perspectives and ambitions?
I learned to live with it, change my routes and wants. I now try to follow the course of my new life.
What keeps you awake at night?
- Sleep off.
- Get away from the facing of the reality
