Anyone thinking of attending a concert after a stroke

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I’ve seen a few post in the past of people wondering whether they should attend concerts and such. So I just thought I would give you my latest experience of this after nearly 5yrs post stroke recovery.

I went to a Madness concert last night and it got me thinking of all reasons I didn’t go to the last one 11 months after my stroke.

There’s a lot more to consider than meets the eye. And it’s not just crowds and noise level you have to consider…

The venue was at the AO Arena in Manchester.
We were seated two tiers up.
The steps down to our seats are, what feels like, a million little short and very steep steps to go down your seat…and there is no hand rail! You can’t even use seat backs to hold onto to steady yourself as they are just too low down.

The ground level was, naturally, all standing. There’s is no way I could have done that for 4hrs and consider myself among the better recovered stroke survivors.

Being a Madness concert, there was certainly a lot drinking going on and the concert being in full swing does not deter folk from making multiple trips to the bar. They have you constantly up and down in your seats as they have to get past you and return with their hands full of plastic glasses of beer to stagger and trample past you to their seat again :sweat_smile:

So you don’t just have to consider your own balance and coordination issues when thinking about attending such a concert. You also have to take into account all the potential drunks staggering into you and throwing you even further off balance. Despite all that, I’m surprised I didn’t witness any great tumbles down those stairs :sweat_smile: And you certainly get jostled about by the drunks at end when you have climb those stairs again to get out :grimacing:

Unfortunately our seats were booked long before I got my latest hearing aid upgrade which has the Induction loop function. If I was in the seating area which supports this system I wouldn’t have had so much issue with the noise level.

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Induction (hearing) loop systems

*What is an induction loop? “Induction loop systems help people who are deaf or hard of hearing pick up sounds more clearly, by reducing background noise. They work in a particular area when a person’s hearing aid is switched to the ‘T’ setting (or loop programme). This allows them to focus on sounds – such as a person speaking – from the loop system microphone, rather than the internal hearing aid microphone, which will normally amplify all noises in the area. The system helps hearing aid users to communicate efficiently and confidentially, even in noisy environments where deaf and hard of hearing people often struggle.” (RNIB)
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As it was, the music even drowned out the majority of the singers voices :laughing: It’s just as well my hubby and daughter knew every single word to every song that was sung…I could have just stayed at home and have them sing to me and saved us a small fortune in tickets and parking :rofl:

I haven’t experienced total deafness since I first started using hearing aids 4yrs ago. But last night I came out totally deaf; couldn’t even hear myself cough! Fortunately it had come back some by the time we got home and it’s fine once again today. I did sleep well last night and don’t feel particularly fatigued today; that could catch up with me in a day or two but I’m hoping not.

As an aside, Squeeze were the supporting artists on first around 7pm and it wasn’t 9pm before Madness came on. What I did notice was the number of people who started leaving just over half way through the main performance, no doubt heading for the last train home. That seems such a waste of money for so very little of what you came to hear :slightly_frowning_face:

Lorraine

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If you want to attend something similar in the future you could borrow/hire a wheelchair so you could go on the ground level. There is probably an area at the front for w/c users.

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Way way too crowded down there, I’d be too concerned of getting trampled. But I think they do have special areas for wheelchair access and disabilities.

Anyway I don’t have any issues with standing around other than aching hips and feet with that length of time. And with my current level of ability, I’d rather not take up those limited areas other less able bodied could benefit from.

But it’s good to highlight these things for the benefit of anyone considering this for the first post stroke :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

Lorraine

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My live music loving daughter told me about Access Card, which can be used to inform venues of access requirements and is recognised by many online ticketing sites. There’s a small admin fee but it could be very useful for anyone who would otherwise struggle with concerts and other events.

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Good news and not so good news! Well I’ll start with the good news first; on the 29th November I had my second cataract operation. I was fine until the surgeon seemed to say “oh”!I then started to panic a bit …..but I managed to calm myself down and a few minutes later it was done! Then I was taken through to the ‘recovery ‘area to have a cup of tea and a biscuit! That,s the good news! Now for the bad. Yesterday afternoon I ,with husband went to a concert which my daughter was playing the violin in.There was quite a large crowd there a bit larger than previous concerts we,d been at (pre-stroke). I,m not sure if it was the crowd of being ,sort of confined ,but I started to panic. I just wanted to escape! Fortunately this happened at the end of the concert, and husband wanted to see our daughter by making our way through the crowd to the front. This made me panic even more so I told him I just needed to leave, which we did! I don’t know if this happened because of the stroke,as I was not the sort to panic in these circumstances before that? My stroke happened 18 months ago.

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Thanks for sharing your experience Lorraine. I have never been a concert goer more a theatre person but since my stroke I haven’t ventured there. The steps and lack of handrails being one issue as I can’t do steps without but also the noise level. You have mentioned some things I had never thought about too which I will now add to my list of considerations should I decide to give it a try.

Ann

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I am not really a concert goer but I love the theatre.

Like you say there is so much to think about that you wouldn’t have normally considered. I am only 6 weeks post stroke and have a pantomime booked for Christmas Eve which I am slightly dreading but it is our Christmas tradition my daughter is only 8 so do not want to let her down. I am not hard of hearing but struggle with tinnitus and noise sensitivity since my stroke so have invested in some Loop earplugs.

Though they do not completely block out sound they make it more tolerable. I am a secondary school teacher so am hoping they help with classroom noise but invested in ones where you can switch the decibels for likes of concerts. I have tried them in a iMax cinema to watch Wicked for Good and I managed the entire sitting. I was pretty fatigued the next day sleeping for a few hours during the day but I am happy with them so far.

I have made sure to get a seat with no one behind us and not too many either side. I am dreading the crowds in and out/ toilet break in the interval but am glad I probably won’t have to tolerate too many drunken people like you had (there will be some though it’s a children’s pantomime I live in the north east of England!) :rofl:

It is trial and error for us all but I am glad you managed to go to the concert and it’s good to see you are able to see and reflect on your own progress.

Take care

Natalie

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It was certainly a different experience from the last time I was there to see Andre Rue the year before :laughing: Last time I’d been to a pop concert was probably thirty odd years ago. Just a shame the music is so loud you can’t even hear the singers.

One thing is for sure, if you have any sort of balance issues, vertigo, noise sensitivity, cognitive issues, etc, you seriously need to consider what you are going into when considering such events.

Lorraine

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It probably is the effect of your stroke that’s causing these panic attacks, the knock on effect of brain fatigue. Stimulation overload, your brain had had more than enough for one day and just wanted out. Escape. Hence the panic attack. That’s what happens when you push your brain beyond its current ability, it pushes back. Learning to managing that fatigue is trial and error. What did you do earlier that day? For big events like that, I don’t tend to do much at all that day, well, nothing more than say a bit of laundry, washing up, I don’t even watch tv, but I will read or do a few puzzles on my phone. Certainly for that Madness concert I even had a lie in that morning, a little bit of planning and anticipation goes a long way for preparing yourself. And yes, the fatigue got me a bit today but Sunday’s are a lazy day anyway :blush:

Lorraine

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My wife and I (I couldn’t have even attempted it on my own!) went to see Bruce Springsteen in Cardiff in May 2024 following My stroke in early December 2023. In fact it was about the first time I’d properly left my village since the stroke. But the trip was a bit hit and miss in some ways.

As a trip it was a massive success and I made a BIG leap in my confidence. The Millenium Stadium staff were wonderful and although we did leave before the inevitable encores to avoid what was obviously going to be a massive rush I came home a much happier person.
BUT the show itself was awful, not Bruce’s fault I’m sure but the sound quality was awful. So bad that a lot of the time I couldn’t have evren told you what he was singing and, before you say anything, my stroke mostly affected my vision and balance, not my hearing! Still, overall, it was well worth the very expensive trip just for the progress I made and at least I can say I saw The Boss!

Anyway the lesson for this is if you want to do something, anything in fact, make sure you have the right support and then go for it! Even now I’ve walked out of places because I couldn’t handle the crowds and the underground when we go to London is a nightmare for me but to anyone bothering to read this there is no shame in backing down or out of a situation. Withdraw, think what went wrong and try again when you’re ready!

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Excellent piece of advice Peter and is the whole purpose of this post really :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:
You don’t need to feel you have to miss out on life just because you’ve had a stroke.
Forewarned is forearmed and everyone is giving some good sounds pieces of advice here we can all note for future.

And by the way, the last time I saw The Boss was about 35yrs ago at Wembley arena, and could hear every word sung :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

Lorraine

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Well I DID say that going to the concert was overall a great experience for me!

But I’m a big one for singing along at concerts (yeah, I know!) but it’s hard when you don’t even know what’s being played! I envy you the show you saw him at!

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Hi Lorraine. Attempting that type of concert is amazing. Well done even if it wasn’t entirely what you expected. We used at attend our local theatre regularly for music, plays and films etc. would love to start going again but when I think about it seriously all manner of problems put me off! Started by thinking I would get a seat right at the end of the row but then as you say people getting to their seats will obviously need me to stand up to let them pass. And at the interval they all need drinks/ ice creams etc so more struggling to my feet and of course how many people will trip over my stick on their way? Then at the end of the show hundreds of people need to get out immediately- cue pushing to get out first desperate to get to the door!

So 3 years post stroke I still haven’t summed up enough confidence to attend our lovely theatre and wonder if I ever will. Today has been a bad day for no reason I can think of. Woke up feeling “strange”. Immediately think am I having another stroke? Woozy head bit wobbly etc etc. Survive the day - so far - and feeling more steady and calmer after coffee with friends this morning. Tempted to back out but told myself I would feel better for going out and of course I did.

Such is the world of a stroke survivor - well my world anyway!

You did so well Lorraine. Best wishes for future concerts- Janet

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I don’t know how hard this might be for you being Christmas Eve, but if you can, avoid doing too much of anything in the daytime if you can. Just have a very quiet day time in preparation.

I’ve never tried Loop earplugs as I have hearing aids but I would imagine they will help with reducing stimulation overload by reducing a lot of sound for you. And there’s nothing to stop you from closing your eyes too. I still do that and I’m 5yrs post stroke, it gives the brain a break, if only for minute at a time, from taking in and processing so much information. They did a lot of flashing lights at the concert where I’d just close my eyes to it and just listened or just look down. And again when the crowds started moving around at the interval, I try to limit my vision to just those around me or look at a none moving object. But this is a habit born out necessity from when I used to experience vertigo a lot after my stroke, particularly in cars. But it all still helps with reducing overstimulation of the brain so you can actually get to enjoy some of these experiences :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

Hopefully, with all the tips coming in from this post, you will actually be able to enjoy the pantomime. Because that’s what this post is for, helping people find ways to get out and enjoy themselves, particularly over the Christmas period and not miss out :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes:

Lorraine

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So you get a seat right in the middle of a row that has access at both sides. That reduces the amount of up and down for you.

Have you considered going to some small amateur dramatic theatres, if there are any near you? You don’t have the same hordes of people or volume of noise, and they can be just as enjoyable. They are quite pleasantly surprising!

That’s the sort of thing I started out doing. Start small and gradually work your way up. And cinemas can be a piece of cake these days because there’s hardly anyone in them, so absolutely no crowds to contend with, especially in the daytime :grin:

Lorraine

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Hi. Yes suppose the middle of a row would be more sensible and waiting till most people had left easier too! Must get my brain into gear! Trouble is its just easier to say “Its too much effort I cant be bothered” and just stay at home!

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I occasionally go to my local amdram theatre. I am sure if asked they would provide a seat to one side of the auditorium.

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Thanks janetb! Im a janetb too! As Emerald Eyes pointed out its probably better to have a seat in the middle of a row so that at the end you have two escape routes!!

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Hi @EmeraldEyes as someone who’s been a regular concert goer for a lifetime but post stroke despite not having any visible or obvious physical issues I’m struggling with sensory overload in larger crows. As someone who loves a concert it’s wee tad frustrating just now. The sheer amount of people and noise still seem to unsettle me but in the last few weeks has been easier.

I manged to go to an event in Durham Cathedral -just about managed but it was more a carol service - not religious but kinda enjoy this and have been before.

I will get there but not pushing too hard think being lucky to have a few smaller venues nearer home make things easier just nobody i fancy just now, I do have a wee touch of envy as it was Madness and the whole two tone matinee tour in the early 80’s that got me hooked. Been lucky to have seen Squeeze a little later and the two of them together would have been great. Hope the next outing is a little easier on you,my amazing partner is trying to persuade me just now to go to Boston for Drop Kick Murphy’s on St Partick’s day- maybe just maybe.

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@EmeraldEyes All of what you stated above is expected at a Madness concert. I went to a Queen by Candlelight and was very fortunate that the people to my left were a really nice mature couple who caused no problems whatsoever. I did feel unsafe as I tried to get to my seat, but the seats I booked were the only ones left as there were 3 of us and \i wanted us to be together. The concert was completely amazing as I love live music, but for future I would only go if I can book a box for my own safety. Apart from all you had to deal with you seemed to enjoy yourself, reading between the lines. Have an amazing day :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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