Dear Barry
Before the pandemic, support for stroke survivors was better. But even then there was a roller coaster of help ending with a dead stop. I felt that I had been a passenger on a cruise ship crossing the pacific and then I felt that I had been put in a row boat and cast adrift.
The NHS is not geared to helping us recover. We have a multitude of problems, exasperated by the fact that no two strokes are the same. But we share many common problems.
Recovery can not be made by anyone other than you. Lots of us will try to help, but it's really all down to you.
I would start with a change to the description. It isn't my stroke. You don't own it and you certainly don't want it.
you have already grasped that you will not be the same as before. That is a massive factor to handle. The number of couples that split is very high. Us SS must try to ease the burden put on our partners.
we can often get outside more than before. So we tan nicely. The drugs we take will also tan us, so we look well. So many people will comment how well you look, the comment is all too often said out of our earshot. You can't see brain damage,, which is a possible retort.
the brain is still trying to correct the damage. This typically goes on for two years. Brain doesn't communicate which makes recovery less easy.
I can't help you with the anger, I don't get the anger, but I know it bugs many SS.
if you smile the brain thinks all is well and reacts favourably. So i smile many times each day. A false.fake or forced smile will do nicely.
you need to be positive, again a way to kid your brain.
there are a million of us out here, so you are not alone.
you are progressing so fast, done so much, that you deserve a pat on the back. Well done Barry.
watch out for other illnesses that slide in to our troubled lives. We cope with so much that other things don't really show. Heart diseases, Parkinson's and so on.
and of course watch out that another stroke doesn't get you. That is the ultimate failure.
best wishes
colin
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