Sorry been quiet recently as back at work and trying to get some normality back in life. Its now 5 weeks since i was told the news i had a Right Lacunar Stroke. Now on prevention medication and managed to loose nearly a stone in weight.
Today however i have just felt really offish like im waiting for another stroke to hit me, i have been smiling more to make sure no drooping in my face ect. Just the anxiety is crippling me after what I have felt has been a good week or 2.
Does anyone else still worry another is about to happen?
Yes! It has been 1 year since my stroke and it took me about 10 months to realize that the brain fog and feeling off were not the signs of another stroke, but just the aftermath of the stroke that will most likely come and go for the rest of my life. Once I was able to accept this fact, I was able to change my mindset and start teaching myself how to work past the fear and move on. You are only 5 weeks post stroke. You have to give yourself time to heal, both physically and emotionally. As you heal, the fear becomes less and less a part of your daily life. After surviving a major stroke, I look at each and every day as an incredible gift and am so thankful. When my time comes to leave this world, I will go with a grateful heart for the life I have been blessed to live. The time we all have left is too precious to be ruled by fear. Try to live each day as joyfully as you can, give back to others and allow yourself the grace to heal. You can do it and it will get better with time. Hang in there!
Oh yes, 8 months later I’m still doing the funny forced smile thing a few times a day. But the fear has receded with time and though I doubt that it will ever leave me completely it’s mostly in the back of mind and not getting in the way too much. @Bmarinelli described how each day feels like an incredible gift, and I’d echo that. Being grateful for that second chance and trying to make the most of it helps to keep the fear in its place.
If you worry you are likely to waste your life more than another stroke would. The chances are that something will get you eventually so you might as well worry about the asteroid heading for your house right now or the runaway horse that could get you tomorrow.
Personally I would rather a massive stroke got me in a few years rather than getting dementia and lingering on for years,
Anyway while I am here I am going to enjoy life.
Sorry that your anxiety is through the roof but sadly it is completely normal. My husband only has to say that his head aches and I’m worrying. I do have to breathe and count to ten to keep a lid on it and it does get easier with time. You just get to know what is ok and don’t forget it’s still really early days. Wishing you a complete recovery
Thank you everyone for your kind words and i certainly take life as a gift now, i do believe ive been given a second chance. Just been off balance today and having a headache have made me so anxious ive also been doing the fake smile alot today jist to make sure. My blood pressure was the main reason i think for the stroke so come home and getting readings of 148/88 which i know is still high but is low for me.
Thanks again everyone this forum is such a massive help
@DanRose991 if you are back at work you are likely suffering fatigue or stroke decompensation. Both of which will bring back some of your stroke symptoms. It is your bodies way of telling you you need to rest up a bit.
The anxiety will recede over time. It took me a long time to recognise the signs of overdoing it as opposed to I feel like I am going to have another stroke. You will learn what is normal for you in time. If you are very worried though you just get checked out.
Hi DanRose991,
Glad that you are doing well. for my sins I have just had a second spell in hospital in my recovery journey for pushing recovery too hard.
Even more scary is I am trained in trauma informed practice as part of my job and understand fully brain trauma and its effects.
Like us all you have survived a traumatic experience and your brain is pre-programmed to protect you. Most of these feelings are normal and difficult to process and at 5 weeks its such a fresh and overpowering feeling and memory. Wish all my training could give a better insight but it’s most likely we all feel similar at times and have our own self checks even though we may not know it. I have felt everything in the last two weeks again and waiting on a MRI scan result is doing my anxiety levels no good,
I have decided though to stay positive and focus on the good things and keep trying to build on what I know has been working.
Your doing amazing and talking about it hopefully helps, wishing you strength and a full recovery journey.
@DanRose991
I try not to think about it, otherwise I may as well give up living. I take each day as it comes. Somedays its such a struggle but I just call them an Irene bad day. Some days I almost feel like me again and that feels pretty awesome. One day at a time. Good luck
ive also been doing the fake smile alot today jist to make sure. My blood pressure was the main reason i think for the stroke so come home and getting readings of 148/88 which i know is still high but is low for me.
