This might seem like a weird question to ask, but I am serious.
I’ve just read a post from one of our regular and long time contributor @Deigh in which he shares some rather remarkable positive outcomes or changes to his life/health as a result of having a stroke.
Have you had any benefits, no matter how small as a result of having your stroke?
I think this is quite remarkable!
Namaste|
I hesitate to say this - but since my stroke I’ve not had any scary anxiety or panic episodes, or depression. Pre-stroke, such episodes had plagued my life but were often associated with adverse circumstances. I’d say having a stroke is a pretty adverse event but all I’ve experienced is what I would term as ‘normal’ low level anxiety and even then, it’s been rare. I was thinking earlier today how wonderful it’s been not having my life ruled by anxiety anymore. It may come back, of course……….which is why I hesitate to mention it! But for now, I’m free😎
Don’t hesitate Trace.
Look at the facts.
Is it or is it not the case there has been a change to your episodes of anxiety, panic or depression?
I am not suggesting that having a stroke is a price worth paying for not having your life ruled by anxiety anymore, but maybe it is? Only you can say as this is something that you have personally experienced.
I just wonder how many other conditions have been “cured” as a result of having a stroke and what this actually means.
My feeling is you have been rid of your scary anxiety/panic episodes and/or depression and I expect you will remain free of the same so you can focus on the things that life throws at you.
Having had a mini- stroke 18 months ago I can say that anxiety doesn’t disappear. it’s all about circumstances which appear throughout life. Even what to some may seem like minor issues can make one anxious. i9n my case having to have teeth extracted- and the genuine fear of 2 more which need to be extracted. It has left me with a feeling that i have failed to take care of my dental health. I think to myself- why me ? As if having a mini- stroke wasn’t enough now i have to face the fact that extraction is a reality. if this seems like trivial to some for me it makes me feel as anxious as anything prior to a mini-stroke.
For me being forced to slow down a bit has been the one positive from my stroke. I used to do everything at 100 mph & had so much going on in my life I now struggle to understand how I fitted it all in. I spend more time at home instead of on the road all the time and I take time for me now too.
It has also.helped me work out what is important and not to sweat the small things so much. I still do some times but I can also leave things that I never would have before.
I have also met some inspirational people on this journey and whilst I would have preferred not to have had my stroke I am glad to have met them.
Short answer from me, in the sense of physiological changes, no, that has been worse than before stroke. Except for one strange thing, I can slice vegetables more finely. Can’t explain exactly why. Used to try before stroke and didn’t have the precision, after stroke, slices became more instinctive, possibly mirror neurones picking up a pathway on years of watching Master Chef. Memory, yes, because I had to retrain working memory and actually enjoyed it. I have a pretty effective working memory now but not when I am fatigued or stressed. So, what was your question?
Psychological changes, yes and no. Certainly have had more downs psychologically, but also been surprised at how having little to no impulse control has made me more social. Before stroke, I kept myself to myself, even in company. I was shy. That shyness has now been obliterated.
I longed for my panic disorder to disappear after stroke, it didn’t. However, this isn’t to say I haven’t embraced the favourable aspects of my predicament. These are aspects of my predicament and not part of my condition. The visual-spatial disturbance, the tinnitus, the nystagmus, the dyspnea and fatigue are all unwanted. I’ve even got headaches now, hoorah.
My tinnitus reduced by 80% - lower blood pressure means less pressure to drive the tinnitus. In fact I use tinnitus as a BP monitor. When tinnitus gets worse I know my BP has gone up.
NB this ‘hack’ does not apply to all sufferers
Ps The next thing is headaches… me too! not one since stroke ; reason lower BP
A great question, ManjiB
Because of the left / right balance of the 2 hemispheres of the brain (I am now more R sided dominance) I can hear a deeper level of ‘hidden’ emotional meaning in any piece of music. Emotional Prosody : I can hear the mood / expression / message more clearly. However I cannot play my violin. When I was in hospital I was shocked that my brain was able to hear deeper into music. This phenomena is well documented in other stroke-survivors.
The phenomenon of a shift in perception of music is a powerful example of neuroplasticity and the brain’s exquisite specialization. is to do with L R cortical balance.
Deep’s excellent comment: When one part of the brain is damaged (in your case, the areas in the left hemisphere affecting your violin playing), it can sometimes “release” its usual inhibitory influence on the other hemisphere. The left hemisphere’s typical analytical, detail-oriented processing might have, before your stroke, subtly “overridden” or “filtered” the right hemisphere’s more holistic, emotional perception of music. With that inhibition reduced, the right hemisphere’s contribution becomes more prominent and vivid. You are hearing the emotional core of the music more directly because the brain region that might have been busy analyzing the notes is now quieter.
Me too ; well spoken, Sir. Life is short - let’s get out there and make our mark !!!
@ManjiB Bing a stroke survivor makes you more aware of what you eat, drink and the amount of stress you let come your way. I changed so many things that I probably would not have if i didn’t have stroke. Being a stroke survivor is not easy its a difficult road one in which i would not wish on my worst enemy. Have an amazing day 
For years I took fybogel and lactulose for chronic constipation. I haven’t needed either since my stroke. How weird is that!
My eyesight is getting better, I was +4.5 but now am +3.0, I think it is still getting better. I can now use the computer wearing my distance glasses, something I haven’t been able to do before.
I also don’t get migraines and pain down the side of the face anymore.
All I can say is that it’s great to know that whilst some of the benefits may not be substantial or what you would trade had you a choice, given the stroke was not something you could [necessarily] have avoided, the fact you all seem to be able to share at least one benefit, I wonder if it might help for stroke survivors to look for such benefits, no matter how small and then to use then to spur you on. I think that is what I would do 
I am hoping there may be a few more members who have also had something good come out of something not so good
There is a well known phrase that explains this, but for the life of me it has completely escaped me - I had it as I started this response, but nope it’d gone!
Every cloud has a silver lining?
For me the cloud was quite small, but the silver lining has been significant. I’ve been knocked out of a very complacent place and been pointedly reminded that I can’t take my health for granted, and that I must make the most of my time with the people I love. I’ve met people here and elsewhere who have given me new perspectives on how to face adversity, and I’ve really understood how lucky and blessed I am. I might feel quite differently if I’d been left with any lasting deficits, but right now I feel that my TIA has taken me in a surprisingly positive direction.
If life gives you lemons, make lemonade?
Different brains, different personalities and different perspectives all contribute to outlook. After stroke, I was thankful for just about everything, after a while that absolute gratitude began to wane. The wheels of the daily grinder began to grind again, I wish I had dopamine reserves that could take me back to that feeling but wear and tear and all that. On a good day, if Bobby McFerrin came to me singing his song Simple Pleasures, I’d give him a hug and join in singing, but on a bad day, I’d tell him to knob off. 
That’s good to know Jonathan or should I say Nessie (though I guess this is reserved as an exclusive for your wife)
Mostly stroke was a disaster to me physically and mentally but I have to accept that a couple of things have worked for me.
Before the stroke I had continual tinnitus buzz in my ear, as a musician this makes playing with others very tricky. This ceased with my stroke and has not come back.
In pre-stroke days I could guarantee three or four headaches a week Some putting me to bed in a darkened room. Usually aspirin would work and I bought them in 100 lots in a bottle and always had them with me. Now, no headaches, just the odd tightness feeling around the eyes. I’ve saved a small fortune in pills over the last eleven years.
There was a third thing but cant for the life of me remember because stroke knocked my memory for six and if I have not written it down then its gone. I rely on notebooks, saving thoughts on computer and my wife who remembers everything!
Deigh Davies
This is something I have thought about a lot since my stroke 3 years ago. Have I benefited? I’m still to find that, but my family has. They see me more, I am there for them but most importantly the silver lining to my stroke is that we have possibly prevented strokes in my daughters. My stroke was caused by a grade 4 (largest) PFO - hole in the heart. Quite a common cause for premature strokes I believe - I was 52. I had my PFO closed shortly after my stroke. But following investigations have led to all 3 of my daughters (the eldest 21) identifying Grade 4 holes and subsequently having them closed. Premature stroke has run in our family - particularly for the females. There is no doubt in my mind we have prevented there lives being altered by what the cardiologist described as inevitable strokes. Indeed my 21 year old experienced a neurological event (possible TIA) when giving blood ages 19. It was probably only a matter of time. So yes my Stroke has unquestionably benefited my daughters - and that helps me reconcile my own challenges.
Funny this should pop up but the other day I realise that it’s a long while since I was plagued with flare up pain in my left side from where I had shingles some years ago, it could be as long as since I had my stroke in August 24, a crumb of compensation maybe. 
