Brian May, 77, urged 'not to rush' stage return amid stroke recovery as doctor issues verdict on health ordeal
Brian May has been warned not to rush his recovery
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Queen guitarist Sir Brian May, 77, has been urged "not to rush" his return to the stage after he revealed he had suffered a "minor stroke" at the beginning of last week.
Posting a video addressing his fans, he explained: "I hope you’re all well out there. I’m here to bring you first of all some good news.
"I think the good news is that I can play guitar after the events of the last few days and I say this because I was in some doubt because that little health hiccup that I mentioned happened about a week ago and what they called it was a minor stroke and all of a sudden - out of the blue - I didn’t have any control over this arm so was a little scary.
"I have to say I had the most fantastic care and attention from Frimley Hospital where I went blue lights flashing… the lot. Very exciting!"
Whilst May has assured his fans he is on the road to recovery, GP and Medical Director at Pall Mall Medical, Dr Chun Tang, has urged the star to take it easy and make sure that he is back to full health before returning to the stage.
Speaking to GB News, Tang touched on how long someone should stay away from the stage if they suffered a stroke or whether they needed to slow down altogether.
He explained: "There’s no set timeline for returning to the stage after a stroke - it really depends on how recovery goes. It’s important not to rush it. Your doctor and a speech therapist can guide you on when it’s safe to perform again.
"Some singers return in a few months, while others may take longer. It’s not necessarily a sign to stop, but pacing your recovery is crucial to avoid setbacks."
He added that he would recommend a stage performer to take a break for at least several weeks after a stroke, depending on the severity of the stroke and how well someone is recovering.
"Rest is crucial to allow the brain and body time to heal. Once your doctor gives the all-clear, you could start working with a speech therapist or vocal coach to gradually ease back in but taking it slow is key."
Brian May suffered a stroke four years after his heart attack
The star was seen looking healthy and happy recently as he watched cricket at the Oval during day two of the Third Rothesay Men's Test match between England and Sri Lanka.
He appeared alongside his wife, EastEnders icon Anita Dobson, looking cheery and relaxed as they watched the match just days after his stroke ordeal.
After sharing the news of his stroke, Sir Brian reassured fans that he could still play guitar as he twiddled his fingers for emphasis praising medical staff for giving him the "most fantastic care".
The rock star had been seen out just days before the health crisis, appearing on ITV's This Morning to promote his BBC documentary on badger tuberculosis.
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Brian May was seen at The Oval watching the cricket with his wife Anita Dobson
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The stroke comes four years after the rocker endured a heart attack amid his recovery from a ripped muscle and trapped nerve as a result of a gardening injury.
Sir Brian reported his concerns to his doctor, and after driving to the hospital himself, the guitarist learned he had a number of blocked arteries.