Stephen Frame, 44, from Glasgow trains four times a week and passes on his expertise to clients running his own personal training business, SFrameFit.
An ultra-fit personal trainer has told how he suffered two shock strokes before medics discovered a heart defect he had from birth.
Stephen Frame, 44, a depute headteacher from Rutherglen trains four times a week and passes on his expertise to clients running his own personal training business in his spare time, SFrameFit.
But just weeks ago his life was flipped upside down when unusual symptoms he put down to a virus turned out to be two devastating strokes.
He was then diagnosed with a potential hidden killer defect that was causing his heart to stop in his sleep.
Stephen started to feel dizzy at home days before he was took himself to hospital
Stephen, told the Record: “When I woke up on Friday, March 21 I just felt incredibly dizzy. I was struggling to support myself and the room was spinning.
“I started to feel sick and nauseous. I decided to lie down that day.
“I noticed that I was spilling water slightly when I tried to take a drink. It continued throughout the weekend. I just put it down to a virus.
“I went into work on Monday afternoon and I just felt like my right hand wasn’t doing what I wanted it to.
“I spoke to a friend who is a doctor. He said there were some major red flags and he told me to go to hospital. That advice saved my life.”
Scans revealed the PT suffered two strokes
Stephen was given a CT scan at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital which revealed the shock news he had suffered a stroke, known as a cerebellar infarction, which had blocked the blood supply to areas of his brain.
An MRI scan then showed up that Stephen had in fact suffered two strokes.
He said: “I couldn’t believe it. I was in total shock. To be told I had suffered two strokes were terrifying. That was the last thing I thought it would be.
“Doctors said had I ignored it any longer then it could have been a completely different story.
Stephen was kept in a stroke ward for further tests and assessments. He was just about to be discharged when a doctor asked if he could take part in a research study looking into links between heart issues and strokes.
Stephen was kept in a stroke ward
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“I was sent home with a heart monitor to wear for 28 days,” Stephen added.
“I was called back in on my 43rd birthday weekend, (May 1) They told me that they discovered that my heart was pausing in my sleep.
“Anything over three seconds is a concern. My heart would stop for seven.”
“They found that I had a gap in my heart that had been there since birth.
“They said that was causing my strokes as it was forming blood clots that were travelling to my brain.
A 28-day monitor found Stephen’s heart would pause in his sleep
Stephen has been given a pacemaker device to ensure his heart doesn’t go into a life-threatening cardiac arrest. And he is set to undergo surgery to close the gap in his heart.
He added: “If my heart paused when I was awake I would know all about it and I could get help. If it stopped for too long in my sleep I would have no chance.
“I’m lucky that I could take part in the research. It meant everything was diagnosed quicker.”
Stephen hopes to make a full recovery
Stephen, who has been supported by husband, Nick, 38, has urged Scots not ignore any symptoms, no matter how unusual they are. He has not been able to work since suffering his two strokes but is focusing on his recovery before stepping back into the classroom or the gym.
He added: “Because I’m fit and healthy I’ve been able to bounce back. It is life changing though. I’ll be on blood thinners and the pacemaker for the rest of my life. There are parts of my brain tissue which have died and will never recover.
“It just shows it can happen to anyone.
“It wasn’t the classic stroke symptoms either. I want others to be aware of that.
“If you think something isn’t right, no matter what age, or health, you should get checked.”