A MAN says he spent five weeks after being woken from a coma convinced Rihanna was on her way to see him.
Mark Gibbs also thought he was in California and was £50,000 richer – and was "gutted" when he came back to reality.
But, despite his disappointment, he wants to use his experience as a cautionary tale about substance abuse.
Mark was an avid drinker and drug-taker, but having lost the use of his left arm and struggling with his speech, he's been sober ever since.
The former hospital porter, from Ayrshire, Scotland, said: "I'm a walking advert for not taking drink or drugs."
Mark was rushed to University Hospital Crosshouse after he was found slumped and unconscious at home in April.
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Doctors discovered he had liver and kidney failure due to his struggles with alcohol and drug abuse, and he was put in a coma.
Upon waking, his hallucinations made him adamant he was in the sunny Golden State, had won £50k, and pop singer Rihanna was coming to visit.
The illusions lasted for five weeks before he realised it wasn't real and was "gutted", he claims.
Mark was told he had suffered two strokes and spent eight weeks recovering in hospital before he was able to go home.
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He said: "I thought I was in California. I thought Rihanna was coming to see me and I had won £50k.
"When I had the realisation it wasn't real, I was a bit gutted."
Mark says he battled alcohol and drug problems from the age of 14.
He said that on April 3, he had drunk too much and collapsed at home.
His mum discovered him after she didn't hear from him for two days and called an ambulance.
Mark said: "My mum found me slumped in the shower.
"It was a matter of life or death."
Mark was in a coma for two weeks before coming round, but was hallucinating for more than a month.
He said: "For five weeks I was convinced. At the time it did seem real.
"The doctors never could give any reason."
The health scare was a wake up call for Mark and he has been sober for four months.
Due to suffering two strokes, he has now lost the use of his left arm and his speech is impacted.
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He said: "The nerves are totally dead in my left arm and hand. I can just twitch my fingers.
"My legs are also still weak. I want to build them up to play football again."
What is a stroke?
MORE than 100,000 people suffer a stroke every year in the UK.
It is a life-threatening medical condition that claims the lives of over 38,000 people annually.
The main symptoms can be remembered with the word FAST:
- Face – the face may have dropped on one side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have dropped
- Arms – the person may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm
- Speech – their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake
- Time – it's time to dial 999 immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms
Strokes are caused when the supply of blood to the brain is restricted or stopped and cells begin to die.
Certain conditions, like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, irregular heart beats and diabetes, increase the risk of having one.
Strokes are usually treated with medicine, but people are often left with long-term problems so recovery can take some time.
For example, many people experience aphasia – difficulty with language or speech, usually caused by damage to the left side of the brain.
Sufferers will often have trouble with reading, listening, speaking, writing or typing.
Speech and language therapy is the main type of treatment.
Source: NHS and the Stroke Association
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