Thank you. I needed reminding. I am glad things have moved on for you. I hope wherever you’re upto it’s a good place now.
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Hi @Gilly23, just jumped on to say sorry to hear of your stroke but welcome to our community. We are a merry band of stroke survivors and their carers and families and I hope you will find this a useful place to be.
It sounds like you’ve been been through the mill and its no surprise that you are feeling overwhelmed with everything but this is normal. I can see from all of your replies that you have been given lots of advice and information, so I won’t go through everything again.
Stroke affects everyone around you and I would recommend that you have a heart to heart with your husband and make him aware of how you’re feeling and what you are our concerned are about. As they say, 2 heads are better than 1 and I’m sure he will be keen to help if he can, even if its just to give you a big hug when you’re feeling down. Be patient ( easier said than done sometimes ) and be kind to each other and I’m sure with your husband’s love and support you will get through the long and difficult journey that is stroke reccovery.
There is always someone here to offer information and advice or just to be a shoulder to cry on or if you need a rant if things get tough.
Sending positive thoughts and best wishes for your recovery and look forward to hearing from you.
Regards Sue
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thank you for your kindness and support. I have slept all afternoon, peacefully which is down to the support. I am recognising, I am pressurising myself and trying to do and expect too much from myself. This is an old demon of mine and if I had any control over my demise, that demon didn’t help me.
So thank you! So good to hear such goodness from others through adversity.
I spent my life helping others as a therapist, I can now see the value in what I did and gave.
Enjoy the sunshine. I am hoping for a sunny 2026 and a whole different summer.
Thank you again.
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And you will be again, just let us calm you down and reassure you that it can and does get better. Welcome to the forum @Gilly23, the club none of us chose to join 
You have just survived a life threatening event, that’s the biggest shock of your life!
And we all know exactly what you are going through, you are not alone here. Let it all out, say whatever you have to say, ask anything, no matter how stupid or simple you might think them to be, they’re all relevant. Just sharing helps relieve the panic and worry and isolation you feel. And in this case it’s better out than in because it all helps relieve the pressure on your brain.
Crying will help a lot in relieving these overwhelming emotions you are likely experiencing at the moment. It would do your hubby to cry too, cry together. This can often lead to laughter, triggering those feel good endorphins, much needed right about now 
It may also help with nausea, as I’m sure some of that will be due to your current level of emotions. Camomile and mint tea can also help with calming both the mind and the stomach.
And failing all that, travel sickness pills can alleviate the nausea. But do check with your pharmacist or gp to see if they don’t clash with current medications before you take them.
But don’t cut your husband and family out, they do know the fear you feel, they are feeling it too. So you all suffer in silence by not talking in the misguided belief that you are protecting them somehow. You’re not! They’re not mind readers so you only worry and stress them out needlessly by keeping them in dark. You may think you are fooling them, but you’re not.
Lorraine
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thank you Lorraine. Your reply made me cry, but in a good way, my head feels like it’s going to explode most of the day. You’re right it needs to come out. I read your reply to my hubby and he thought it was so spot on.
When I am stronger I hope to return all this help and wisdom.
Thank you for helping me through this . Gill
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And now you’ve made me cry too, but in a good way 
Just getting it out will make you stronger because it lightens you! Your off-loading a burden you don’t need to carry alone. Because you’ve got things to do, people to see, places to go and a good life to live. I’m 4½ years post stroke, I haven’t time to be an invalid or be maudlin any more. I cried all night that first night in hospital and now I’m in the middle of decorating my kitchen and downstairs loo, sweating buckets in this heat. The sooner you get back to that mind frame the better you will feel, and don’t bother delving too far into the future, the here and now is what matters!
Lorraine
By the way, consider taking Magnesium Glycinate if the pressure in your head continues, but do speak with your gp/pharmacist first to be sure it doesn’t interfere with your current medications. I’ve been taking it daily for a couple of years to alleviate that pressure, brain squeeze in my head and my gp is well aware 
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**thats so good to hear Lorraine! Wise words, the here and now is all we ever had but I like many played that lip service until now. Suddenly my bucket list and grand ideas don’t matter. I just want to be well and spend time with my family and friends.
Thank you again x
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Hi Gilli
I’m 58 and like a lot of people thought this would never happen to me. Just get old and win the lottery but nooooo a stroke , a bad one, 2 days in coma and 6 months down the line still learning to walk properly. The one thing we can say is we’re alive. Hard work it may be but keep fighting. All the best
Russ
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What a terrible shock for you. You’ve come along way. Yes we are alive and I as I am sure you do, very very much appreciate it. One day at a time, 58 is way too young for this. Keep fighting Russ, everyday is precious.
I will be thinking of you, sending you strength. Gill.
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Hi Gilly, like yourself I was 64 when I was first diagnosed with a Tia,and like yourself I was fit and still consider myself fit. I cycle and walk 5 miles most days I have a BMI of 24 . I didn’t understand why it happened and why I needed to be on medication for the rest of my life fortunately for me I have an excellent GP who explained the benefits of taking the medication ( which was the same as you are taking) explaining to me that atorvastatin not only works to reduce cholesterol but can actually reduce the plaque in arteries and and help to repair them. I also would push to be seen by the stroke clinic as I was seen within 2 weeks. I am now 70 and have had another TIA about 6 weeks ago and was seen by the the stroke clinic within 3 days. They think I might be resistant to Clopidrogrel and have put me on tricagrelor which is another anti platelet medication .A few years ago my statin was changed to rosuvastatin
Kindest regards
William
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Thanks William. I hope you get on top of this now and put it behind you. I have a couple more tests and then I am going to push it. I don’t really understand what’s going on , it’s been very disjointed which has not helped me understand or my angst.
I am looking forward to getting back to my exercise. I had been trying to walk everyday but I think it’s too soon as I am wiped out and the headaches are back.
I do hope it’s the end of your stroke journey and you can just live your life well. 70 sounds good to me today! Thanks again. Gill
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Hi Gilly23,
Welcome to the Online Community.
I hope being part of this community offers some reassurance that you are not alone.
As @Mrs5K has mentioned, please do reach out to our dedicated Stroke Helpline team. They not only provide information and practical support, but can also talk through how you’re feeling to help reduce any anxieties that you may be experiencing.
I have no doubt that these guys will continue to give their support by sharing their experiences. If you have any questions or need help with the Online Community. You can tag the Community Coordinator @Anna_moderator into your post or you can contact us directly through the service desk.
All the best
Nicola
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Gilly, I feel for you because the shock can be hard to cope with. I would just like to share a bit of my stroke experience, hoping it might help. I was 86 when it happened, but incredibly fit. I only stopped skiing at 79 because my daughter wouldn’t book me on the next trip. My goal was to ski on my 80th birthday, I’m a hypnotherapist so I know how powerful the mind is. You mentioned in an earlier post about your fear. That can cause a lot of unwelcome symptoms so I would suggest finding a reliable hypnotherapist. Fear is a learned response so anything learned can be unlearned. I have always been wary of pharma. drugs so on the first day in hospital the nurse arrived with 5 different pills I wanted to know what they all were. I won’t put anything in my body unless I understand exactly what it is and what the side effects are. One of them was a statin. When they first came on the marker many years ago and I read all the hype I had big doubts. So I put the statin under my tongue and put it in a kleenex as soon as the nurse was gone. I take Losartan and Doxazosin for my BP only. One year after the stroke I developed neuropathic pain in my legs at night. 2 different doctors prescribed something that was counter indicated to be taken with Losartan. So you really have to check. As MangiB said so rightly, you have to check everything. Doctors don’t know what it’s like. We do and are here to support you. It’s early days, you’re going to improve. If I can do it at my age you certainly can..
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@Gilly23
I fel your pain as I am on the exact meds that you are. I have gained and enormous amour of weight, This is from the statins as they affect your get up and go. I never took meds in my life until I has a stroke. I am hoping when they are reviewed they will be reduced with eventually to nil. They interfere with my life,I am not allowed any mors tattoos until meds are reviewed and clopidogrel reduced of replaced. Tattoos were my thing 
I wish you good luck for the future. 
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**thank you and that’s very encouraging. Good on you! You are doing exactly what I had planned for myself until I got tripped up by this, understatement! I had planned to grow old fit and gracefully, the best version of myself I could work on.
I know you have all been here or a version of where I am. The shock and the fear play havoc with recovery because they cause so many negative symptoms. My go to place would have been the swimming pool to relieve stress, I am hoping by next week when I see the doctor he will say that’s ok. Even just to get in the water would be fabulous now.
I agree re the medications, I will be asking lots of questions when I eventually see someone to ask. My own GP has spoken to me twice via text and said they are there to support me?But nothing to say how? I haven’t had the energy yet to push it.
I am struggling sleeping, I go to sleep but struggle between 2-5, thinking of everything and nothing. I am normally a good sleeper. Is this something else that will pass?
Thank you re the hypnotherapy, that’s a good idea and one I will consider.
Stay well and active, you sound like you have done amazingly.
Thanks again for your support and kindness. Gilly.
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It’s so nice to hear from you Gilly. It’s early days and the exhaustion is normal. I’ve never had a problem sleeping. On this score I could teach you a system over zoom that I’ve found very effective to help sleep. Is it something you would like? If so as one strokee to another it would be my gift to you. Don’t know how this forum works to exchange details. Getting in the water sounds perfect to me both from the health and morale point of view. When I trained 40 years ago I thought, if I can talk, I can work, and that’s what I keep on doing. Even when I was in a heap on the floor I could talk to the para-medics, so I feel very fortunate about that.
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Hi @Gilly23
I identify with a lot of what you were saying and expressing. I was a healthy 62year old, no warning signs then just over 6 months ago a terrible head, dizziness, nausea, sick etc etc. I’d had a cerebellum stroke, artery blocked in back of brain.
I am now operating OK but with residual physcal issues down my left hand side, but considering I couldn’t stand and walk when it first happened that’s OK and I’m hoping will continue to improve. I did all my rehab and more even though it was really difficult and I didn’t feel like it. I can now run (done some Park Runs) and play tennis now. My balance still feels iffy, especially if I’ve been overdoing it.
The mental challenges are if anything bigger, I get a lot of brainfog and mental tiredness, particularly if I do too much, so one of my biggest challenges is to stop trying to do everything…I was very active.
When I first had the stroke I remember the nausea, it was very debilitating and I thought it would never go, like living with permanent travel sickness. I was advised not to take anything for this as it could impact my rehab, they said it would eventually go, which it did after 4-5 weeks. But it was horrible and once it had gone, I felt a lot happier, my mood lifted.
I’m on the same drug regime as you, they can’t tell me why I had the stroke despite loads of tests etc.
Try and stay positive, put yourself first and look forward. Don’t do much - I know from experience that trying to do too much too soon isn’t helpful in the long run.
Take care
David
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Hi David,
You have done fantastic. It’s such a shock isn’t it? I am still having tests, ecg halter this weekend. I am not sure it’s going to show anything but I am trying to see it as progress towards closing this chapter, well it will never be closed but maybe a new chapter.
I am 4.5 weeks now and my nausea is improving, so that was interesting to read. It makes sense though doesn’t it, an explosion in our heads has got to throw everything out of line. The hardest for me at the moment is the headaches, tiredness and the angst of it all. I was incredibly lucky physically and I feel from the bottom of my heart how hard the physical stuff must be on top of this for you and all the others hit.
I am itching to exercise but I hear you and others telling me to be patient, I am listening! And I am appreciative of the advice. I just keep saying , one day at a time and I am sure you have all felt this, when I open my eyes in the morning, I am grateful… beyond any words.
Keep going David! I was open water swimming the night before this happened, that’s played through my mind as what if a few times. But on a positive note , I heard from one of the fellow swimmers that he had a stroke 8 years ago, similar to yours and he’s just about to do the Guernsey to France swim. Determination and the amazing human body hey.
Thank you again. All the messages I have had have made such a difference in this upside down place I have landed. Gill
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Hi Manny,
Thank you for your kind words, offer and encouragement. This site shows the good in the world doesn’t it. I think the rules are against sharing personal information but I will take your ideas on board and look for a hypnotherapist when I feel stronger. I have downloaded the calm app and I will try some of their ideas. Nothing to lose.
Warmest wishes Gill
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If you want to share some personal details there is a direct messsge facility you can use.
If you click on the 3 lines (top right on my phone - may be elsewhere on a different device) , it comes up as an option on the list there.
You are discouraged ftom sharing then on the open platform as they can be accessed by anyone.
Best wishes
Ann
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