I am a Brazilian jiu jitsu guy. Age 49. Two weeks ago I suffered an episode after training. It was about 8.30pm and they guys where having a post training chat. I wanted to join in but couldn’t speak my words out loud. I said them in my head but nothing came out.
I was a bit disorientated and embarrassed so I went to leave. I tried to say goodbye and I heard it come out as jibberish. By the time I had got to the locker room my speech returned. In the car driving home I noticed I had lost the feeling in my hand. Being a first aider I knew what was going on but for some reason I couldn’t admit it. I decided to go to bed.
I work an early shift so I drove to work and got a brew. I realised how bad my hand was. I had movement but no feeling. It was decided I needed to visit the hospital. As it was early it was fairly quiet and they was very good tbh. Ct scan within an hour,
You will know the rest but my tests came back ok. Slight problem on my right side with movement but not major. High cholesterol as normal for me.
It was thought I had a TIA so I went home with medication. I took the week off work and had an MRI on the Friday. Any way I got a call Wednesday last week and the consultant said I have had a proper stroke ! clear on the MRI. Massive surprise as I have no paralysis. Doctor signed me off for December.
Anyway the feeling in my hand has thankfully returned and all I am suffering now is pretty severe tiredness / fatigue. So far I think ive been lucky. I still need some heart tests yet. 24hr ecg and echocardiogram
Yesterday I went to give my blood tests. The lady got 16 tubes out !. Anyway I only went and passed out after 10 ha ha. I thought I had been choked out in the gym. I was quite grateful to wake up to 2 pretty nurses instead of sweaty blokes !.
They managed to complete them once I had recovered. In my defence it was over 25 degree in the room and I had just come off an 18hr fast. Not ideal ha.
After 2.5 weeks off work I am now thinking I might not get fit enough to make it back. The fatigue is really limiting what I can do Atm. I know its early days but to be honest I am not sure I want to put myself in that stressful environment anymore. I have a fair amount of savings and I completed a level 3 diploma in massage therapy in September and Reiki level 2 in June. This may be a blessing in disguise for me really and give me that push to start a new career that I can work around my health.
I realise I have been majorly lucky. I think being a fit guy and having never smoked and quitting alcohol 13 years ago may have helped me. My partner has been amazing throughout this. I always knew she was a Diamond. She helped me loads last year when my dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer and we had to care for him.
Thanks for reading and any advise would be welcome.
The best advice is give it time. Your brain has suffered a major trauma and needs time. Recovery is a marathon, not a sprint. Fatigue is common. You’ll have to pace yourself and learn what triggers the fatigue.
Hi @Fatpants, welcome and your story chimes with me. I’m working my way back to recovery and too was involved in martial arts JKD slightly older at 51 when I had my stroke and not in a different manner mines is left arm/ hand but after a year getting there. I’m lucky to have only had minor fatigue but enough to know it zaps the life out of you.
As @Janetb has said this is an endurance event not a sprint give you a chance to heal and listen to your body, I didn’t and had a setback but learning how to make it better now.
The tests, feeling tired and possibly anxious or stressed are all still going to come finding how to manage this is a bit of trial and error and personal to you, Take your time and heal well and hope you get back t the mats to roll once again.
@Fatpants Good luck for your future and you are sensible to change careers, I should have and didn’t. It was not your fitness that saved you, it just was not your time to go as i survived stroke, but I am an overweight female who had not been to the gym in a while, so it was not my time to go. Every happiness and success for your future to you and your partner.
Hi. Gotta love Bruce lee. Yeah its frustrating when I have a good day I almost feel normal. I have to remember not to over do things. I am counting me blessing atm. Enjoying the time off and the chance to take stock of my life and decide on what future I want.
This could be a blessing in disguise really. I have been thinking of a change for a while. Perhaps the universe has sent me a message.
Hi @Fatpants, 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 and your partner will find this a useful place to be.
As others have said try not to rush things and listen to your body as your road to recovery begins. Fatigue and anxiety are common following a stroke.
Another website you may find useful is the Different Strokes Charity which helps younger stroke survivors and their families to reclaim their lives. Differentstrokes.co.uk
Good luck with your recovery and I look forward to hearing from you along the way.
Thanks For sharing your story and welcome to this community - i dont think any of us wanted to be here and there’s a massive spectrum of strokes and recovery- what I personally want to say is everyone here seems to me to be special and an inspiration.
Like you my stroke(s - 2) both were relatively minor though still a massive shock. And like you I count my blessings. You appear to have a very positive attitude - the change of work may be wise but you will know best for yourself. Dont be surprised if you have doubts or worries at times please don’t hesitate to share them if you do. Whatever your experiences it’s a new chapter of life.
Just please know this is an amazing community (well i believe so) and a mine of information when you need it. Look forward to hearing more of your news going forward it would be nice to hear your progress.
Welcome to the community, I’m sorry to hear about your stroke.
Fatigue is very common after a stroke and it’s important that you pace yourself so you can manage this. We have some information on our website about fatigue which you may find helpful to have a read of.
It sounds like you’ve got a good mindset and also some great support from your partner, which should help with your recovery too. There are many people that switch things up a bit after a life changing event like changing careers, keep us posted on this as it’s always great to hear survivors progress.
I hope you’ll find this community useful and if you need anything whilst you’re using the Online Community, please don’t hesitate to tag me using the @ symbol and my username.
@Fatpants Hi and welcome to our community, its a good place to be support for yourself and partner. Such a shock for yourself to have gone through this, perhaps the universe was saying something? But like everyone else here has said its a brain injury and you need to remember the brain is remapping itself and in doing so can exhaust us. Fatigue is hard to get used to in the way that you are so physically active and fit, you will just need to try take some time out for yourself and find out what helps you in your own fatigue.
Not a fan boy of Bruce himself but his thinking and idea of taking what is useful and using this is what I took at every stage of recovering. Served me well, as a good teacher of the art that with the idea of being told to do reps away from class got me through physio on my arm and hand. AGain very best for your rehab.
Hi @Fatpants & welcome to the community. I was the same age as you when i had my stroke. It comes as a shock doesn’t it.
Fatigue is a big thing after a stroke and you are right to take your time before returning to work. I returned to the same employer but to a different role which I am glad about.
Advice for fatigue, it’s constant on the forum, as we all seem to have it. I would keep in mind avoiding the boom-bust cycle. That means on good days, don’t overdo it. Recognise what brings on the fatigue and don’t push through it, the brain can’t heal adequately if it keeps on needing to start from scratch. I’m five years on cerebellar stroke, and fatigue still knocks me for six, having said that I ignored the boom-bust cycle early on and fear I am now living to regret it.
Thanks for this. I have overdone it again today. Had a walk down the river but was into the wind on the way back. Went a bit light headed. Then had an unexpected social outing. Early night again!
It’s certainly a challenge not to push when you feel ok. I am learning slowly. Thanks
I too consider myself lucky. I had November and was having the clot bussting rug withon the hour my stroke on 18th November and within thouhr I had my clot busting drug with the result that I was discharged from hospital the next day and now I have only vision problems to contend with. I saw the NHS at its very best and all praise must go to my lovely husband who recognised the signs of stroke and called the ambulance immediately. He saved my life.
Although they was fairly quick for me with the scan. I have to say I was there for 10 hours and didn’t even get a drink. The anti clotting tablets where given just as I left (should have been earlier imo). My blood pressure had shot up to 197 by the time to leave. I had to wander around the hospital looking for water. They didn’t even fetch any water to take the tablets with. I was also 24 hour fasted by the time a left. Pretty poor. They wasn’t even that busy.
I think of Peter Cook’s remark, “I’ve learned from my mistakes and I am sure I can repeat them exactly”. I still have trouble adhering to my own advice. Only yesterday, I went hell for leather doing stuff because I felt good, today I am paying for it terribly. Oh the joys of fatigue …
Hello @Fatpants ,
Welcome to this site and I am sorry to hear of your Stroke.
You sound like a healthy person with doing your Reiki and Massage therapy.
Also not drinking any alcohol will help you with your recovery.
Healing takes time, we are all so different as we navigate our recovery journeys and unfortunately fatigue is ongoing. Set ahead times to rest, not always easy after leading an active life I know!
Have you tried meditation and Breathwork ? I have found this so helpful.
Having a daily/weekly routine can be important too.
From personal experience try to accept your new “you”. It takes time, and be kind to yourself always.
Enjoy the rest of today 
