Hello good morning.
 Well . LIFE IS NOT WHAT IT SEEMS ENJOY IT WHILE YOU CAN!
I started this blog to emphasise to the older generation what they can achieve through exercise and sport. Mine being walking football.
For those of you that have scrolled through the blog you will have read my testament and that of several of my fellow players, to the joy and fitness we get out of walking football.
Not just exercise but playing the game we love, some for the first time, many reliving past memories, the social side too, meeting new friends, the banter on and off the field. Once a man twice a boy in full.
Life truly is not all it seems.
Some weeks ago a GP called me in to see her to discuss a health check I had volunteered to take. She told me that their computer flagged up based on the information, I had a 35% chance of a heart attack at the age of 75. (well no shock there). She asked would I consider taking statins now, as their new strategy was preventative medicine rather than cure.
Are you telling me to take them I asked.
No it is your choice she replied.
Well I would prefer not too, I have read about them, my wife takes them and does not like them.
On the up side she agreed as my records showed the following :
My boods & blood pressure were fine.
I had lost 10lbs in weight.
I was no longer after a short spell considered to have type2 diabetes.
Last but not least I was doing 2 / 1/1/2
Hrs of walking football sessions per week.
 I walked out of the surgery feeling pretty good.
ALas life is not all what it seems.
03/05/2019 I was at my 2nd session of the week at Desborough Leisure centre. Here those who attend are split into teams of 5. We play 5 minute games, so on average we can play 2 games then sit out for 1.
My team of the day started of with 2 draws and a win. I had 2 assists
, 1 goal and was enjoying the moment.
During the third game my vision became more blurred than usual as I play without my glasses, zig zags started to appear around my eyes.
Whilst standing out and watching the next game I could not see the guy standing to my left out of the corner of my eye. I just thought it was sweat.
I started my 4th game but soon had to pull out.
Everyone rallied round got me a chair , sat me down asked my symptoms.
I said it was probably a migraine as I often got zig zags,  took pain killers and they would go.
After the sessions some of us have a coffee and some banter, I still could not see the guy sitting to my left. Another guy gave me a couple of paracetamol.
Then it was time to go home. My 2 chums from school would not let me drive home and kindly made sure my car and myself were delivered home.
They left, my sight came back, I showered told my wife I needed to go to bed.
I don't remember much about the next couple of days apart from being tired and bed sore.
 Monday arrived, felt a bit better.
Tuesday much the same. An engine mount I ordered for my car arrived so I got ready and fitted it. Took the car for a test drive. The vibration I was getting had gone, job done.
I went indoors told my wife I was going in the shower, I was not feeling good and she would need to take me to the surgery.
Some 6 hours or so later I'm I'm Northampton General Hospital being told I had most likely had a TIA episode at the football.
Transient ischaemic attack, small or minor stroke!  stroke.org.uk
On the Thursday a specialist confirmed that I had a TIA. Put me on some medication (ironically one is a statin), sent me home and said carry on as normal.
I do have to have an MRI scan to see if any damage occurred during the attack. Just waiting for an appointment.
I have written this story to let you know if you or someone you are with experience what I did.
A TIA is considered an emergency and you should ring 999.
It is not the end of the world life can go on.
Just keep taking the tablets.
Me, taking a couple of weeks off the football, then see about easing my way back in.
Good luck all