Hi, I had a minor but full stroke early November 2024. I thought I was recovering very well although always a little unsteady on my feet and getting tired easily. I could do everything I had done before, went to watch football, had grandkids and did the weekly shop etc etc. One night I went to bed early as nothing was on TV, Washed, and went to the bedroom, took all my clothes off just one sock to go!! fell and smashed my right hand side Ribs on bed frame. 6 weeks or so later of pain, I thought I was just just unlucky and had to be more carefull. Monday just gone I was watering the lawn, walking backwards as I did it when Whoops, fell backwards and to the left, landed on concrete edging and a concrete flower pot!! Now in so much pain with damaged Ribs on the left, bruised right arm etc and having to sleep downstairs as couldn’t get out of bed on first night. So please DO NOT GET OVER CONFIDENT in your recovery. It obviously takes longer than some think.
Hello Jeffers - Is it down to overconfidence or is it possible you may have had another stroke? Have you been tested following your recent incidents?
I could be wrong, but oftentimes people have mini-strokes and because they are over quickly, the person is not aware they have had a [mini] stroke.
I wonder if it is worth eliminating this possibility?
Just a thought.
Take care.
@Jeffers sorry to hear of your falls & all your pain. I bet you were really fed up. Hope all is healing ok now. It may be worth getting checked by your GP to make sure there’s nothing other than bad luck causing your falls.
Fingers crossed you don’t have any more.
Best wishes
Ann
So sorry to hear of your falls, we are certainly not as sure footed after strokes as we would like to believe so likely more susceptible to them.
So it’s always best to err on the side of caution when moving around such as:
- Sit when putting on/taking any clothing/footwear on the lower body;
- Think to check before you step - check for hazards at ground level particularly when doing things like gardening/watering and avoid going backwards where you can.
- Never pivot around when changing direction, because you never know what or who may come up behind you even if you know the flooring is clear, thus avoiding collisions with other people.
- Take all stair one step at a time, being sure to place the whole foot firmly on the step and ascend/descend slowly. This avoids the risk of your heel or toes slipping off a step to set you tumbling.
Did anything significant in you Polycythaemia blood test? Your falls certainly could do with being discussed with your doctor.
Can I take it you never considered taking yourself off to A&E after the second fall?
Lorraine
Oh this is something I am saying to hubby all the time. Even after he fell trying to put his trousers on a few weeks back he still won’t do it. I think he is being stubborn because I suggested it to him 
I sit all the timecas difficult to get dressed standing up when you can’t lift your foot off the floor 
My hubby is the same, although he’s not fallen yet 
I supposed I’m just used to dressing whilst sat from when I had my hip replacement, then broken ankle and then the stroke I wasn’t left much choice
But it’s the same with all the above precautions I take, I’ve drummed them into myself over those years. I know I can get dressed/undressed now standing up because I’ve tested it. I’m all for taking calculated risks, but that’s just not one of them 
Lorraine
I’m not able ito get dressed standing up at the moment but you’re right it’s a risk that we don’t really need to take. I spend enough time on the floor without doing anything that might bring on a fall.
I get dressed on one leg, but do it next to the bed, so if I fall over, I have something to land on.
I also tripped over on the way to Asda. Scraped my hand but still carried on to Asda, had my hanky wrapped around it to stop the weeping blood. Suppose that was due to the blood thinners. Didn’t do any real damage though, just to my pride.
That’s one way of doing it. A soft landing is always better than a hard one.
Hope your hand is ok now.
Hands fine now, thanks. Happened a few weeks ago so all completely healed up.