Gogglebox star loses vision while driving after 'undetected' brain injury

Former star Elaine Cooper has revealed a terrifying moment which saw her lose vision while driving, after suffering a bleed on the brain which went undetected for 10 weeks,

The 56 year old revealed her life flashed before her eyes when she suddenly lost total vision while behind the wheel. Ahead of the scary incident, Elaine – who appeared on the show from 2023 to 2024 – had been suffering with forgetfulness, which she dismissed as getting older and being tired ad she tried to carry on with her life as normal.

However, unbeknownst to the former TV star she had suffered a bleed on her brain from a hemorrhagic stroke, which had been there for 10 weeks before the incident. Elaine has since been told by doctors part of her brain had suffered 'irreversible' damage.

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According to the a hemorrhagic stroke, also known as a subarachnoid haemorrhage, is an "uncommon type of stroke caused by bleeding on the surface of the brain. It's a very serious condition and can be fatal".

She has since had to give up driving, her job and often doesn't leave her house after being diagnosed with a stroke in April 2024.

Elaine, who is a medically retired music teacher, has revealed: "I struggled to make sense of the around me". She added that she was 'completely shocked and heartbroken' by the news.

Elaine added to "They told me part of my brain had been irreversibly damaged.

"And as there wasn’t anything they could do, this was just who I was now." She added how she didn't feel like herself at first before she added: "But I knew I had to keep going and try to make the best of a bad situation."

Elaine revealed that once her vision returned everything was blurry and when she managed to get home she suffered a 'pounding' headache. However, Elaine became increasingly concerned when she began forgetting things such as her friends' names and how to fill up her car.

Elaine feared she was "losing her mind" and found the forgetfulness "terrifying". She was diagnosed in April 2024 following a CT scan and an MRI.

Sadly, the effects of the stroke on the former TV star have got worse, which has since meant she has had to give up driving, and her job. Meanwhile, she stopped going out as much, too.

Elaine has also since developed double vision and paralysis on her left side. She added of her health condition: "It’s had such a huge impact on my life.

"I’ve had to accept that I must use a wheelchair for anything other than moving very short distances." However, Elaine has 'learned coping strategies' and now has regular MRI scans and visits a rehabilitation centre on a weekly basis, which she said has been a 'real turning point'.

She added: "I hate relying on people for the simplest of things, but acceptance is the biggest barrier.

"It’s still scary, but slowly and surely, I’m getting back to some version of the old me."

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