Hello everyone. I had a stroke on 22 December 2024. I am being sent home today from rehab centre. I live alone. I will have carers and more physio. I have no use of my left arm and left leg is slightly better and have just started walking very slowly with stick. Also have drop foot in affected leg. I feel so anxious. Has anyone got similar story with positive slant. Everyone on here seems so positive and I just can’t stop crying
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It’s a natural reaction over something you have no control over, living alone doesn’t help, but try to concentrate on what you can do
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I left hospital with no use of my left arm and a very dodgy left leg. I could walk around the house but used a wheelchair outdoors. Initially I went to live with my mother.
Within 4 months i had returned to live by myself in my own house; had regained my driving license ; got a car and returned to work( parttime).
My walking has improved although I still use a wheelchair for distance, Unfortunately I h still have no use of my left arm, but i have adapted and can do most things one handed.
You are very early on in your recovery and have a lot of potential to improve.
Hope your discharge goes well
Janet
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I remember being petrified when I was first discharged. I really felt like I had no clue about what had just happened to me. Although my family insist it had all been explained to me, I hadn’t remembered or being able to retain any of the information I had been told. It’s really scary at first, and how you’re feeling is completely natural. It does get easier in time and you learn the new you and how you need to adapt. Good Luck!
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Hi @Janis
Welcome to the community, I’m sorry to hear about your stroke and the anxiety you’re dealing with.
As the other members have said this is common when you’re due to leave hospital. I hope you’ll be able to get some comfort that you’re not alone by being part of this community.
We do have some information on our website about anxiety which maybe helpful for you to have a read through.
If you need anything whilst you’re using the Online Community, please don’t hesitate to tag me using the @ symbol and my username
Anna
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Hi Janis and a big welcome to our community. Firstly I would say that everything you are feeling is perfectly normal. I clearly remember desperately wanting to be discharged from the rehab unit I had spent 12 weeks in but when the time actually came, I was petrified and had no idea how things would pan out. I was very tearful and everything made me anxious but slowly things improved.
My hemorrhagic stroke 8 years ago paralysed my left side and like you I have a drop foot and no movement in my left arm or hand.
Slowly but surely things improved and although my arm has not improved, I have adapted as best I can and can do most things with my right hand.
I walk with a stick and use a wheelchair or a mobility scooter for going that bit further.
Do you have friends or family that can help when you need that bit of extra support?
Good luck with your discharge and be kind to yourself and try not to do too much too soon.
There’s always someone here to offer information and advice when you need it, so jump on and ask away and remember you are not alone.
Best wishes and regards Sue
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Hi @Janis - welcome to this community.
This is a great place to find help, support, chat and even have fun. You have seen already the positivity in this community which is great. You should feel free to drop by anytime you feel the need - there is always someone here to have virtual coffee with 
Wishing you all the best on your road to a recovery from your stroke.
Namaste|
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Hello Janis !
Yes, this is scary. I went home in similar condition, except I am not alone. It is no fun, either way. I was full of crying, shouting, wailing and trying to kill myself. My wife will testify to all that and more. Just yesterday, I told my Chinese Doc. that my wife put me at 20% health, back then. She gives me 60% today, and the good Doc said this Spring I’ll shoot up to 70-80%. How does he know that? I ask myself. But he knows, so I had better believe it, and so had you !!
We are here for you,
Ciao, Roland
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@Janis just popping by to ssy hi & welcome to the community. Sorry you’ve had cause to join us.
Crying after a stroke is very common. Emotional lability is what it is called & you’ll probably find your crying is worse than you would expect it to be.
Going home will be full of anxiety. It will be a big thing for you. As someone else suggested maybe you could get some friends / neighbours in to help between the carers coming in. People are often happier yo help than we think.
Try & see it as a positive. Being at home will force you to do things & that might help with your recovery long term. It doesn’t matter if it takes longer or you get it wrong it is all a learning curve.
Before they send you home ask them about adaptations to your home & aids that you may need. They should get these in place for you before discharge.
Best of luck.
Ann x
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I left the rehab unit near 3 years ago, I had/have similar issues to you. for me I just wanted to be home so I could go for a wee when I wanted… I had one of those sticks with 3 feet and used the walls and my hands to walk my way around at first and a wheel chair outside…
It was scary but liberating once I mastered the toilet/bathroom I had a frame at home and moved from a wheelchair to a rollator… over the next year i started a circuit outside to the left a few hundred yards/meters to a bridge and back and to the right a few hundred yards/meters to a crossing and back…
eventually i went pased the brige to another crossing then i had a loop of a mile with the aid of nordic walking poles… I did that mile in the morning then lunch then evening, that was my 3 miles a day asnd it was exhausting/scary i had one of those watches that meant if I fell it would alert someone, that was a real comfort or i’m not so sure how far i would have gone on my own, it s all about finding your comfort space and building your strength and confidence.
eventually in year 2 as I couldnt get benefits I had to look for a job, i got one in the civil service that was a 2 mile walk each way… it was great as I live on the Sussex coast cycle route… that also meant there was no rush for me to return to driving but i did in year 2
each step was scary and there where plenty of moments I wished my life had ended with the stroke but these are just moments, the same in the moments where i lose my words or when my left foot is glued to the floor and i feel i’m going in a circle.
its all very scary and at times incredibly disheartening at first the pavements around here where very scary, and its a journey that does leave me feeling angry and isolated at times it also has its rewards.
That job didn’t work out (not the disability aware they claim) and i’m now at a job in the citry near the Gerkin. I never thought I’d ever be traveling to london for a day trip, let alone a 2 hour communte (me scared of being too far a toilet, or not being able to access one when bladder yells now!!!) while i’ve never used it i do find having the bladder and bowel, “just can’t wait” card in my digital wallet a comfort… find your comforts and recognise them for the real value they offer
The thing is I even did the underground at Christmas, was off to Liberties to look at fabric, bouncing around tube trains with this kind of weakness is not fun (in fact I was mostly terrified) but afterwards its an excillerating to think of doing something you didn’t you’d ever do again, living by the sea mine included never walking on the beach again (pebbles shifting underfoot scared me silly)
but you’ll find people are more amazing than not! from the ladies that helped me up stairs with my rollator to the passengers on the tube helping me not get squished or pushed over…
its a long journey and even after 3 years i realise mine is still just begining I’m just over 50 and want to retrain, learn something new and be the somebody again the stroke took away, its hard but really it is doable.
am wishing you the very best on your journey as i’m sure you’ll shine.
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Hi @NckWhlr - Welcome to this community.
What a wonderful introduction to the forum. Truly heartwarming and awe inspiring.
Thank you so much for sharing this.
You are living proof of this 
You will surely achieve whatever goals you set yourself as you have already proven by getting a job and then changing jobs and best of all navigating your way through the London Underground. Bravo 
Wishing you all the best.
Namaste|
Hi @NckWhlr
Welcome to the community. I’m sorry to hear about your stroke.
It sounds like you’ve come a long way and done incredibly well with your recovery. I’m sure your story will help to inspire others!
Anna
@NckWhlr Hi & welcome to the community. Great to see you here & thank you for sharing your experience. It sounds like you have done amazing & you are right however scary things seem at the time the feeling you get when you have achieved something is qorth the fear.
Look forward to hearing more from you.
Best wishes
Ann
You sound incredibly brave nick.