Hi all, I will be 7 months post stroke next week and I’m feeling like I’ve hit a wall. I’m 30 and my body is in pain constantly from my neck and shoulder blade on my stroke affected side on top of this I’ve developed heaviness in my right forearm and knee which makes me extremely sluggish and off balance. Maybe some sort of nerve issue in my back or something. Anyway on top of me feeling my body is giving up on me I feel I’m struggling with things like reading and talking. I’ve had this since the stroke, I get my words SO muddled and backwards constantly and when I read I get like the letters round the wrong order? Like it could say Happy Dance and I read it as dappy hance or rainy day and I read dainy ray? Then I’ll sort of sit n say no that’s not right surely then it’ll click oh it’s happy dance. I don’t physically see the letters round the wrong way but my brain picking it up like that. I was quite quick and sharp with my brain before the stroke but it’s just gone, The phrase it’s like a wires been clipped is such an accurate way of putting it. It’s just constantly a step forward and a step back. On the grand scale of things this probably seems quite a silly things to feel depressed about as I know there are people here dealing with much more serious issues than this. Laura
Not silly at all. Everything your experiencing unfortunately, is quite normal. Just in case no one told you, your brain has been impacted. All types of loose wiring issues should be expected. These types of “fuzzzy” issues , in my experience, should clear up in time. Onviously, if you continue to have these problems or they get worse, have it looked at. You are your own best advocate. This forum is a great place for first hand knowledge from people who not only know what your talking about, but also experience your same issues. You cant get that from a drs. Office. Welcome, sorry your here.
Hi Laura, at 7 months and being younger you still have some recovery time and a long fruitful life ahead of you. As I was reminded some recovery initially happens in the first 12 months so you have a wee bit to go for that and that wiring may still be looking for ways to reconnect.
I had no issues with neck pains or heavy limbs but have some neck pain - have a C5-6 stenosis which I didn’t even know about until last MRI results but can deal with some painkillers when needed.
I am dyslexic so my reading and writing has always been haywire as I’ve grown older it’s improved but I find it can be a source of entertainment for others: as a “mature student” was asked to read some text for class and my reply was aye ok but it will be my edition not the authors and it may be somewhat abstract which had a room of 60 people in fits of laughter.
I know these issues are frustrating I had a 6 month battle with my left arm and hand but got it back to almost fully functional with more good luck and determination. there were a few times I almost quit but picked myself up and kept on going. Almost all of us have problems and issues and feel that sense of loss of self and it is not silly or selfish to feel this as one day you were your usual normal self then stroke hit and you weren’t you anymore. Stroke doesn’t know, care or understand it just happens and leaves us to manage everything once its gone and what you don’t maybe see is how well you are doing.
You have articulated so well your feelings and how and where you are and have spoken about feeling where you are in recovery, you are doing well and would seem to be on the road to recovery which I wish you the very best on. Take your time to speak about this and on here you will find many people who have travelled this road.
Hi Laura, as others have said you are still quite early on in the recovery process yet. It probably doesn’t feel like that but it can take your brain a long time to start putting ghings back as they were.
I have used a brain training app called mindpal but I also do wordle, qordle etc to help with words. As with all things stroke it is a case of repeating everything so your brain gets used to everything again.
My reading didn’t start to come back until I was a couple of years into my recovery & it is still hit & miss at times.
Keep going. You’ll get there.
Best wishes
Ann
Hello Laura - It’s been a while since you posted this message. How are you getting on? Has there been any changes?
I wonder if you are taking on too much too soon? As you say you are young and perhaps you just want to get on with things, but the stroke brain is saying, “Hold your horses” or “Let’s not try to run before we can walk”.
You may have seen from other members on this forum that things sometimes take time and it might be two steps forward and one step back. Your mind and your body is telling you something e.g. the aches and pains might simply be a sign of being tired from the recovery plan you have put in place and perhaps more down time or rest time is needed to recover and recharge.
Also, are you looking after yourself from a balanced diet perspective - are you getting enough protein, fibre, eating your greens etc. All this is needed for a healthy body and when you are recovering from an illness it is probably more important too. Then there is the hydration - are you drinking enough fluids to make sure you are properly hydrated.
As I recall, you stopped working following your stroke. If this is still the case, what has replaced the [large] hole that has been created as a result of you not working? I am not a stroke survivor, but I needed to be constantly working and when I had down time or was on holiday I wanted to get back to work (actually not very healthy as if you are working, you must make sure you have enough down time and take proper holidays).
I hope the responses you have had have helped you to feel less depressed and maybe come to terms with the “silly things”, which may or may not be silly depending on your voew point.
If you would like to do some brain training, I have rewired my brain or rather reorganised my brain as I don’t believe it has been affected by a stroke, at least not that I am aware of, and found doing a few puzzles daily has helped to do this.
I do word puzzles and sudoku, but you can do crosswords etc.
If you are interested, there is a little clup that posts on here regularly 
Takes care.
Thank you for the kind words. In terms of looking after myself diet wise it’s a bit hit n miss. The stroke affected my taste and smell so I really don’t enjoy food anymore which is a massive change as I loved my food before the stroke. The hole of not working yet unfortunately hasn’t been filled in any way, I don’t interact with others anymore and haven’t really left the house other than appointments or maybe if it’s dry I’ll go round the running track just down from my house. I don’t really get dressed anymore either, I live in my pyjamas 
. I’ve sort of convinced myself that getting part time job will be the first step I need to take to move on and move forward. Laura from Glasgow
There you go Laura from Glasgow - go ahead and do this. I am pretty sure it comes with tremendous benefits. And if getting a part time job is difficult, do some volunteering
Going to the running track is also a great thing to do. You can meet and interact with people and you get fresh air and exercise. It is also good for your mental health
I am sorry you are not able to enjoy food anymore and I hope you get the taste sense back soon. Despite not being able to enjoy it, it is important you get a good balanced meal. Your body and mind need the energy the food provides.
Takes care.