Trent Schott, Waterloo region What symptoms did you experience that resulted in you going to the hospital? 

I was on a ski weekend when I woke on Feb. 23 with a splitting headache behind my right eye, then discovered I could not swallow. Then my left hand started feeling numb, my voice changed and I had a general feeling of unwellness. I felt dizzy and faint.

When the symptoms started, we were at Bristol Mountain in New York. I was with three friends when I complained of the inability to swallow. We didn’t know what to make of it until I told them that I just did not feel right. They immediately packed us up and drove me back to Niagara Falls, Ont. I checked into emergency but while I was waiting, I felt more and more faint, so I flagged down a paramedic walking by. He quickly got me into the triage nurse and my care began.

What kind of treatment did you receive?

I was given medications and went through many kinds of testing. I was put on a feeding tube. 

I received periodic visits from a speech pathologist, who gave me exercises to “awaken” my swallowing muscles. She was very helpful in giving me hope and goals to strive for. 

I was able to see some physiotherapists, who got me practising my balance and regaining strength. These were highlights of my days as I was going stir crazy sitting around in a hospital room. 

I was given regular updates from my assigned doctors, as well as regular visits from (Nurse Practitioner) Charmaine Martin-Gaspar. The nurses were very kind and helpful in keeping me at ease during a difficult period. Being on time with meds and IV bag changes doesn’t sound like much, but to a person who is in that situation, it was very comforting. I felt like I was given extremely good care from the entire team. I was in Niagara for five and a half weeks and then one week at Grand River Hospital. I began eating on my own again after six weeks and was discharged three days later. 

How has life been for you since?

I had a follow up CT scan with neurologist Dr. Si You Sun after six months, which showed no change in the blockage. I am now taking daily aspirin and perindopril. I gained back the 17 pounds I lost quite quickly once I was able to eat normally again. 

I feel very well now with some minor but noticeable fatigue. I am experiencing some left side nerve pain that I am trying various things to improve, like mindset/distraction techniques, physiotherapy, currently, and trying acupuncture next week. I no longer drink alcohol, save a small glass of wine occasionally. I have become a connoisseur of zero-alcohol beers. Other than that, I am pretty much back to normal – even getting back to my rec hockey.