Hello I joined a few days ago and have been lurking reading other posts but thought I’d introduce myself now. I’m 70 and I had my stroke mid August, I was out walking with my sister and we’d just climbed a hill, I wasn’t even out of puff and was exploring an old deer house, I jumped down from it and the next thing I knew I was falling, I just thought I’d lost my balance and was more bothered about the pain in my hip and knee where I’d fallen but my sister saw that my face wasn’t right and knew what to do and got help quickly, the ambulance was soon there and took me to hospital in Durham. As soon as I got there I was scanned then given the thrombolytic treatment (clot buster) the consultant warned my sister gravely that it might not work or could cause a bleed and he then sent me on to Newcastle RVI in case I needed surgery. By I got there though I was just about back to normal so after a short time of observation I was sent back to Durham and only kept in for two days. I had a repeat scan before I was let out and the consultant told me that when I was admitted as well as the clot that caused the stroke there a another clot sitting at the top of my totally blocked right carotid artery but that it had dissolved away with the treatment. I was very, very lucky that day and came home as normal as I was when I left home on the day I had the stroke the only effects at the time were extreme fatigue which isn’t anywhere near as bad now and I have a bit of trouble hitting all the keys properly when typing. I’m on blood thinners for life and statins now, though my cholesterol wasn’t that high, it’s come down as well, my BP is within acceptable figures and after a recent 72 hour heart monitor I still haven’t had result for but I think I’d have heard by now if they were worried.
I actually feel a bit of a fraud calling myself a stroke survivor when I’ve got off so lightly but it was a significant stroke and but for the clot buster it would have been a far different outcome, especially with the second clot poised there for action. My main problem or reaction is fear, every day I’m frightened of it happening again, I think maybe because it struck with no warning at all, I spoke to the consultant and he said of course it could happen again but usually a completely blocked carotid is less dangerous than a partially blocked one, and discharged me to my GPs care. The fear when it comes over me is awful I feel as though my chest will explode and I know that’s not healthy or good for my BP. I’ve been reassured though to read some posts on this forum that say it does get easier. My late husband died after a massive stroke so I suppose I know the full horror and that is feeding my fear. Thank you for reading my first post.
Hello @Catlover and welome to the forum 
So glad that you’re that you survived and live to tell the tale 
What you are feeling is shock! You have just been through a life threatening trauma! Of course you are going to fear another one along with a whole roller-coaster of emotions.
How are your hip and knee? I’m assuming because there was no further mention of them, that all is good apart from bruising perhaps?
This whole recovery progess is going to be a bit of a roller-coaster ride too. Certainly over the next 6mths as your brain does its mop up and repairs, so there will be days and bad. But thats to be expected. The main thing is to get plenty of rest, even if its just 15mins sitting with your eyes shut to give give your a rest periodically during the day.
I look forward to seeing you around the forum
Lorraine
Stroke Improvement Group
Hi and welcome to this community. We are a merry band of stroke survivors and their families and carers. We have all suffered different types of strokes and are all on very different roads to recovery.
The fear of another stroke is perfectly normal, I’m 7 years post stroke and still worry if I’m feeling unwell, although I worry less than I did in the early days of my recovery. Try to rest and give your brain time to recover from this trauma.
I hope your knee and hip have recovered from your fall. There is always someone here to offer advice and information, so feel free to jump on here and ask away if you have any questions and I look forward to hearing from you on your road to recovery.
Regards Sue
Hello @Catlover 
Welcome
I won’t repeat what others have said because it was good advice but I’m sure you don’t need it twice
If the anxiety doesn’t subside on its own and first of all consider that your medication is now protecting you where you didn’t have that previously, You will now be aware of your risk factors and hopefully keeping an eye on them.
If anxiety is still a factor then be aware that a stroke causes damage that needs to be cleared up. Clear up messes with your brain chemistry. Irrational but no less worrying anxiety is a typical consequence and can be dealt with by knowledge and by meditative techniques and ultimately by pharmaceuticals.
Very much wisdom for every question you’re likely to have in the backlog of posts here so using the magnifying glass to search for them is a good way of finding useful information if you can’t find it post and ask and we will sign post what we can recall (and most of us have poor short-term memory now!
Nice picture of your ginger what is he or she’s name?
Here are Beryl the Barrel Duchess of Underfoot (inside) and Three Fang Tyger Ninja Cat (outside)
Caio
Simon
SIG
Hello @EmeraldEyes thanks for your reply, you’ve actually helped me a lot already by naming this fear I have as shock, you’re right and I hadn’t thought or realised that of course there would be reaction to the dreadful shock of that day because I am physically unchanged I hadn’t considered the mental impact so thank you very much. As for my hip and knee they were already gammy before the fall I have osteo arthritis but managed by taking ibuprofen when necessary, now of course I can’t take them with blood thinners. Some days I would sell my soul for an anti-inflammatory. I was badly bruised by the fall but the hospital could find no breaks, my knee is worse than it was quite painful at times and a permanent limp but I keep it going by exercise biking every day, usually only 2k but at all adds up by the end of the week. I do usually have a lie on the settee after lunch and go to bed quite early to read. Thanks again for your reply xx
@Susan_Jane Thanks for your reply and the welcome and reassurance that this fear is a normal reaction, I’m so happy to hear you are 7 years post stroke but I understand the worry must always be there, hip and knee better than just after the fall but they were painful before so the fall just added another layer of pain, I just mentioned to Emeraldeye some days I’d sell my soul for an anti-inflammatory but can’t take them now with blood thinners, thank goodness for good old PKs. Thanks again for replying much ppreciated xx
@SimonInEdinburgh thanks for your reply it’s reassuring that the meds are there to hopefully protect against a repeat and I am trying to change things that may have contributed, I don’t want to take meds for anxiety and actually I think talking to my sister and posting on this group has helped a lot, it’s better not to bottle things up for sure.
I must confess the cat in my profile pic is not mine it’s one I got off the net many years ago when I first got my email address but I did have a ginger for 15 years called Felix, he was a wonderful cat and I always called him my first husband we love each other so much, over the last 50 years years we’ve had ten cats the most at one time was four. Now we only have the one and she was abandoned by her owners family when she died, she’s a tabby and white and has assumed total control. I love your cats’ pictures and their names, ours is called Pussy Whiteface 
Thanks again for your reply.
I’m glad sharing has reduced your anxiety. I’m with you on finding non medicated ways.
Tyger (tiggs, twigglet…) was a stray that adopted us over 2 winters more than a decade ago! Beryl a rescue with her brother (Baggie) who died 10yrs or more ago.
We’ve had had about 10 or 12 over the years.
I hope you continue to feel better. Be aware that the will be ups and downs just normally day to day AND there will be backward steps (also normal but a jolt when they happen) that come on suddenly or slowly & ebb back to new normal. Look out for the 4-6+ month stage when 2ndry things may emerge
Progress takes constant ( gently persistant not excessive) effort. Rest is key, specially sleep.
Njoy the w/end
Caio
Simon
SIG
Just a thought
May be a tube of diclofenic ammonium to apply topically? It IS still an NSAI but at least it isn’t systemic like pills. it’s also NOT something to stroke whiteface after applying!
Also don’t confuse physical recovery from 1) affected cognition) emotional range & balance 2) knock on effects Eg PTSD &| the grieving cycle
Ciao
@SimonInEdinburgh can you expand a little bit on the 2ndry things that may emerge please and thanks for the idea of a topical cream, oh no nowhere near cats for sure. Your last point is good, because I’m as I was physically before the stroke I do feel a bit of a fraud and I think I’ve brushed the emotional effects under the carpet so to speak as though I’m not entitled to them because of my physical recovery
I have osteoarthritis in both my thumbs and hips. I had one hip replaced 6yrs ago, and the osteo is only mild in other hip.
But I do take a calculated risk for my thumbs. Despite being on blood thinners, I will take one ibuprofen along with two paracetamol occasionally when pain is pretty bad. But that’s usually when I’ve doing something paricularly hard on the hands and heavy duty😊 So maybe once in a month I might take an ibuprofen.
But otherwise I just manage on paracetamol when necessary. Ibuprofen thins the bloods too which is why they say don’t take them without speaking with your doctor first
And I’m 4yrs post stroke; it was 2 TIA’s on Christmas. 
I had a stroke about 19 months ago, and like you have minimal physical effects - so have a bit of ‘imposter syndrome’. They couldn’t find any reason I had a stroke. However, I am left with fatigue, which has improved over time - but is very frustrating. I also suffer with anxiety. Initially it was mainly about having another stroke, but that anxiety has got much better. I put faith in my medication, and just getting on with life seems to help. However I did have a few visits to A&E in the months after the stroke, worried I was having another - this is quite common in stroke survivors and the staff in A&E have been very good and never seem to mind. I still have anxiety but this is mainly around travel (I had a stroke whilst on holiday abroad) and health issues - I’ve turned into a hypochondriac!
In my area there’s a psychology department attached to the stroke unit, so although I had to wait, I’ve had psychology sessions that have really helped. Even while I was on the waiting list, a psychologist called me every few weeks to see how I was doing. In the meantime I was able to access CBT sessions which also helped. It might be worth finding out what is available in your area.
I have also found this forum very useful, along with zoom sessions that are regularly held. The lived experience of other stroke survivors has given me such reassurance that what I’m going through is not unusual - even though everyone’s story is difference. I also found the Stroke Association Helpline useful when I needed reassurance. In addition, my local Stroke Association co-ordinator is very good, but very busy.
I hope this helps - my advice is reach out and use the support that is there. It can take a bit of finding but I’m sure you’ll find something that helps.
Chees
Nigel
@EmeraldEyes I used to put up with it as long as I could then take ibuprofen three times a day for three days but daren’t touch them now. I mostly manage without paracetamol, just treat myself to a couple now and then It must be hard with painful thumbs hands are involved in most activities, Christmas is not a good time to be ill xx
@Pinch thank you for replying it’s good to know you also have the imposter syndrome (though not good for you of course) and understands the anxiety I haven’t looked into it but don’t think there’s a lot of emotional support available around here, but I am finding this forum very helpful and it was the Stroke Association support desk that told me about it. I did have one scare only a few days after I came out of hospital when I fainted and a niece who was in the house at the time phoned 999, the ambulance crew gave me a good going over but weren’t worried and I’ve been ok since. Thanks again for your help.
Hi
I think @Pinch is referring to ‘our’ Thus. from 1pm uk time on https://bit.ly/StrokeCafe as he was a regular attendee (but these days now life has normalised his new normal he’s a welcome visitor ) your very welcome any/every Thursday @Catlover
Like him I went to a&e several times in the first year & I’ve been last month - my 4th year PS[1] and they are always “you did the best thing”
A stroke causes death of tissue. The neuro immune system will clear up the damage & in so doing affects brain chemistry; with all sorts of potential ramifications. The process maybe takes 6 months-ish when again there will be possible chemistry changes. All of them affect stuff. the non physical is arguably more affected than anything else after the initial deficits.
The nastiest emergent change is something called central post-stroke pain - fingers firmly crossed that that doesn’t affect you - If it does there’s good conversation about it but it’s moved off this forum. A communist post stroke emergent emotional challenge are the effects of PTSD and grief for your old life - emotional healing comes after acceptance.
I hope your day is going well - We are having a quiet sofa day after the snow of this morning just made everything slippy! I’ve filled all the bird features in the garden and now watching a snooker with plenty of logs in my log burner and two sleeping cats
Cs
Post Stroke ↩︎
Hi @Catlover just popping along to say hi & welcome to the community. The club that none of us really wanted to join.
It’s good to hear that the clot buster drug did its magic for you. You have still had a stroke though so you shouldn’t feel like a fraud at all.
Anxiety/fear of another stroke is common and for most it eases over time. You can only lower your risk so far & your meds will help with that along with being as healthy as you can.
Best wishes
Ann
Yes, the Thursday 1pm zoom session that @SimonInEdinburgh refers to is the one I was referring to in my post. I found it very useful to discuss things with others who were going through a similar journey. My advice is to give it a go one Thursday (Simon has posted the link), everything is really friendly and supportive.
Cheers
Nigel
Yes, I’m on enough pills as it is so take painkillers when absolutely necessary.
And yes, the thumbs are a pain but I do a lot of working out down the gym and that does actually stave off the worst of the pain. They particularly like fingertip pushups against the wall. But they certainly don’t like this cold wet weather we’re having 
@SimonInEdinburgh yes a warm “at home” day yesterday but this morning all the snow has been washed away. It’s hard to take in all the neuro stuff really, most of it just goes over my simple head, but I’m grateful for all the help I’ve had so far here. I don’t do zoom but maybe will look into it sometime.
@EmeraldEyes fingertip pushups sound like a version of hell to me! Bravo you for tackling that with painful thumbs to start with. I do my exercise bike daily, 3.2k a day 2 miles and that’s enough for me