Hi my name is Allan im 47 years old an I had my stroke on November 13th 2024, my stroke was caused by aitrial fibrillation which I have had for over 30 years, due to the AF I was struggling so my doctor put me on a medication called Flecainide which was life changing I was able to play golf and was back at the gym unfortunately I was told to stop taking aspirin which I had taken all my life and because I wasn’t on any other blood thinning medication they reckon because I was back at the gym my AF kicked up a blood clot which cause my stroke and 6th nerve palsy, I have read so much about strokes but since realised that no two strokes seem the same, I had lost the sight in my left eye but has since went back to normal, I do however suffer from a horrendous sleep pattern and feel I can’t switch off at night, im also demented being stuck at home as I have not got my licence back yet. im really fortunate that I don’t have any problems with my body apart from the extreme exhaustion and I get really shaky legs and sometimes a weakness in my arms when doing simple tasks. I have also found myself fixating on the smallest stupid thing and get really frustrated when it doesn’t get done straight away. I came on here to try and find some solution to the way I’ve been feeling and to see what I can expect going forward. I have also found that having a wee glass of wine at Christmas left me feeling terrible for days. I also had the unfortunate event of going to the jobcenter for an interview (how to take a mans dignity) as I only got released from a stressful job situation on October 31st and the loopholes to just tell someone your not fit to work at this moment is unbelievable, not only have my doctor and consultant said take as long as your body tells you these guys are having me assessed by their own doctor which is shocking I honestly felt like telling them to stick it sideways. im honestly just looking for some advice on here from anyone who has been through a similar situation to help guide me.
It is 7.00 am
I’m an old man, our situations are very different. I completely understand the mind churning night thing. I was awake at 4.00 am, as you were writing here, so it would seem.
I do not have answers and/or solutions. My message is that you are not alone.
Others will come along, some with helpful suggestions, encouragement, others in the same situation as yourself.
I hope you will find out that this forum is a useful resource and will be able to make good use of it.
keep on keepin on
@Bigal1977 hi and welcome to the community. Sorry you’ve had cause to join us but hopefully you’ll find it a useful place to be.
You’re right about no 2 strokes being the same but they do have some similarities.
A lot of people have sleep problems post stroke (i have the opposite problem). If you’re not working then perhaps try not worrying about it too much and take naps in the day. Keeping to a nighttime routine is really important - all the usual limit alcohol, caffeine etc, don’t use screens before bed etc are all good things to do. I find reading a little before bed helps me get to sleep others use audio books or listen to music.
There are mixed opinions on alcohol. I don’t drink but others can manage a small tipple & some have to avoid it completely. Have you tried low/no alcohol alternatives?
As for the DWP/job centre. It is definitely not a pleasant process to go through but stick with it as, if nothing else, they will pay your national insurance stamp which will keep your state pension on track. I would suggest getting some advice from someone like Citizens Advice in relation to the assessment. They have some useful info on their website too. You may also want to look at PIP as this is for people who need help with daily living activities & or mobility issues. It is not an easy process but isn’t means tested. Again Citizens Advice can help with this.
What I will say is you are very early in your recovery journey yet & many things should improve / settle for you. Recovery takes a lot of patience- something I wasn’t good at.
Your emotions are likely to be all over the place right now. Try not to stress about things. Stress isn’t good for stroke survivors.
Sending my best wishes
Ann
Hi @Bigal1977 welcome to the forum 
I have no advice on the benefits front as I too am retired. But there are others here who may help you with that.
And only time can sort your sleep out as you recover. The first 6 months see the most recovery as your brain heals, repairs and mops up the damage done. Hence a lot of the fatigue you may (or may not) have noticed. I can relate to your sleeping pattern, or lack of sleep at all. But it is important to at least go through the motions of your bedtime routine, and lay there with your eyes closed (just shut out visual stimulation) for an hour at least. Get up for an hour or two then try again.
It will come back but it may take a month or a year, there’s no way to measure as we are all different and recover at different rates. This is a marathon, not a race and you’ll hear that term used a lot on here. This is indeed ‘slow and steady wins the race’ I’m afraid. So you need to learn to relax, a feat in itself in early post stroke, but it will come in time as you learn to relax and accept your stroke and to manage your fatigue.
Your in a bit shock at the moment and I’m sure the Christmas break hasn’t helped with holding things up. You probably won’t get your licence back until the DVLA has been in contact with your GP and stroke consultant and that will take some time. I got mine back a year after my stroke but I still wasn’t ready to back to get back behind the wheel; that was about another 6mths.
Hi @Bigal1977 - welcome to this community and forum where I am sure you wil find help and comfort to help you on the road to recovery from your stroke.
Try to stay positive and do not be afraid to ask for help or advice. There are many plenty of people here and also outside who can offer help.
I think it is important to stay patient, especially when you encounter situations or responses similar to your DWP/JobCentre situation. Sometimes outside the stroke community ignorance is rife.
Stay positive and keep coming back here.
Hi @Bigal1977 Allan
Welcome to the community although I’m sorry to hear about your stroke and the difficulties you’re going through.
You may find this article on sleep problems after a stroke helpful - it has some good tips in for sleeping better. You can find it here.
I would also echo what @Mrs5K has said about contacting Citizens Advice about your work situation. You may also find that our helpline might be able to point you in the right direction for advice on this too. Their number is:0303 3033 100
If you need anything whilst using the Online Community please don’t hesitate to tag me using the @ symbol and my username.
Anna
Thankyou everyone for your kind words of support, my eyesight has fully recovered and im feeling a lot better, I feel myself getting anxious going into supermarkets and things, (don’t know if this is normal) I also think people look at me and because I do not have any physical things that people can see you get judged slightly, I also did not prepare myself for 3 hours overnight and be awake the rest, I fall asleep pretty easy but once awake I can’t seem to switch back off, I’ve also noticed I seem to really overheat in bed at night, the fatigue is the one thing that is really getting me down as I feel I set myself a number of goals and things to do and im simply exhausted doing some basic things, I keep telling myself its a marathon not a race but its sometimes a struggle, I do suffer from the brain fog and sometimes completely forget what I was doing, which can be frustrating to others who don’t understand. the only way is up 
Well, if it is any consolation, what you are experiencing is what lots of us are going through.
I can’t promise you a cure or a good method to achieve recovery, but it is certain things will get better, not necessarily as quickly as you might like but given time you will experience improvement. You’ll learn to deal with the after effects which are without a doubt life changing.
Cliche I know, but try to keep your chin up. Life is still worth living.
Hey @Bigal1977 - Pleased your eyesight has fully recovered and you’re feeling alot better. I am not sure if there is such a thing as “normal” when it comes to surviving stroke, but there may be some commonalities.
You seem to be doing very well and I think if you pace yourself, keep monitoring and taking appropriate action and seeking help, be it from healthcare professionals or communities such as this one, you will do well.
Keep up the good work - whatever you’re doing seems to be working well for you.
Takes care and stay strong.
It’s just the stroke effect that’s messed up your sleep pattern, electrical fault in your brain which will repair itself eventually.
Normally: When you’re tired, your body temp drops allowing you to snuggle down under the duvet ready to sleep.
When it’s time to wake up, your body wakes you by raising its body temperature, causing you to sweat and throw off the blankets and wake up.
I’ve gone from no sleep for the first several weeks, to a few hours sleep after lying awake for several some months later. To now, 4yrs on getting 6-8hrs but I can’t get to sleep any earlier than 3am.
And your lack of sleep will be partially the cause of some of your brain fog and fatigue, also maybe a feeling spaciness or punch drunk effect.
The anxiety in the supermarkets is more to do with your brain’s over stimulation. It’s being put under pressure it could do without, it’s frantically trying to clean up and repair and that takes about 6mths. So you are on emergency services only from your brain at the moment.
No one is actually looking at you, it’s just you have come into their line vision. Your trauma is invisible to the naked eye, it’s just that you are new to this stroke and every self conscious of it, so you imagine that everyone is looking and judging. They’re not! 
Stroke brains need lots of quiet time and rest with eyes closed…if not sleeping. Just sit here and there for 15mins or an hour, maybe some soothing music on in the background if you can.
Keep coming back here with your worries, not matter how small or trivial you think they may be, don’t suffer in silence. Talking them through on here is freeing, therefore, heeling for your mind.
Lorraine
Yes keep on and never give up
good evening everyone, im just following on from my previous story, I had my stroke back in November 13th 2024, I have recovered well and got my driving licence back, I have been playing badminton twice a week and golf when I can and I am back working full time, I was just looking for advice as I have been suffering from extreme fatigue almost every day, I try and push through this but struggle, I have also been suffering from sever mood swings at home, the smallest things seem to be very aggravating and I can’t seem to control this, I know its happening but can’t seem to stop the mood swing. I have also found after a couple of glasses of wine have very bad hangovers and im considering not drinking at all. was just wondering if any one else has suffered from any of these things and is this normal.
BigAl - I think it’s time for you to listen to your body wrt drinking alcohol 
This first quote is you now and the second quote is you introducing yourself. Over a year ago you were aware that even a wee glass of wine at Christmas left you feeling terrible. That was your body telling you to stop.
It’s time for you to consider whether you want to carry on having a wee glass or as you now seem to have upped it to a couple of glasses of wine or to think of your health and stop drinking alcohol.
I am not sure what medications you are on, but oftentimes, alcohol and medicines do not mix, but regardless of that, it seems to me you yourself have made the link between alcohol and not being well and if you are simply hoping someone will say, “It’s OK, Big Al, carry on drinking” then I am not going to be that person!! It seems to me it really is time for you to stop drinking, not even a wee glass for the sake of your health.
You are doing amazingly well in other ways i.e. playing sports, back to work etc and all this could start falling apart if you continue to drink.
My advise Big fella is to stop now!
Wrt fatigue - that is here to stay as seems to be confirmed by those who have experienced it, but it is something you can manage by taking rests, pacing yourself, getting plenty of sleep, hot baths, plenty of exercise etc. Do all this, give up alcohol and you may reap the benefits of your hard work to date 
I wish you all the best.
Namaste|
Thank you for your comments I currently take apixaban, flechanaide and atorvastatain, I think you are also right it’s time to give it up completely as my body is telling me that. Thanks for your comments as well it’s appreciated and always good to get help and advice on here. 
You are not a six horse carriage anymore, you’re down a horse or two now. That means you’ve only got four horses to pull that same carriage and still trying to cover the same speed and distance….by flogging your horses to death! Your don’t want another stroke, that could put you out of the race altogether.
Your brain is no longer running at full capacity because of your dead or damaged neurons/brain cells. And what signals used to pass through that damaged area of the brain, are now having to go the longer way around and having to find alternate routes.
Your brain doesn’t have a full team of workers in there to everything it needs to do, it’s only got you! So lighten up on that whip before you drop.
That is why you are always so fatigued. It’s why you are so “naggy”, so full of mood swings. What you are experiencing is what every baby on the planet puts their parents through on a daily basis when they are tired, over tired, over stimulated. Your brain still needs lots of rest.
Try reducing the hours the hours you work or go part time if you can. Take your breaks at work, more if you can, and don’t go on your phone while you take them. Your brain wants some peace and quiet time, boring as that may sound, that is what it needs, not more stimulation. Just sit and close your eyes, plug your ears with some soothing music, not anything loud or with lyrics that has your brain data processing. You want to calm your brain down, sooth it. And just lay off the booze altogether if that is what its doing to you. I think most stroke survivors do, or they try the none alcohol beers and wines instead.
You can reduce that fatigue, greatly, once you’ve learnt how to pace yourself better. Such as, on works days, don’t plan for anything else in the evenings other than say, go for a walk, reading a book. Listen to some soothing music for an hour before you go to bed. I can only give you ideas because because I’ve no idea what your work or home life is. But you are going to have to make reductions in your daily life if you want to beat the fatigue and mood swings.
Lorraine
Hey Big Al - you’re most welcome wrt my comments. I am more than happy to share and offer my thoughts as long as the recipient is aware they are just my thoughts and personal recommendations and do not stem from any professional training or practice. That said, I’d like to think the advice and comments I share probably do stand on par with many you might get from professionals - might sound big-headed and maybe it is, but so what?
As well as giving up alcohol which I say only based on what you have said i.e. I am not anti-alcohol or anti-anything. If it works for you and you’re happy, then do it (within reason and as long as it is in keeping with moral, ethical and legal values). I myself have the odd bottle of beer/stout and the odd glass of wine but it does not adversely affect me, so I am happy to partake. But from what you have said, you should seriously consider stopping. Of course, what you can do is do a trial. For example, if you wish, you can stop for say six months and if you continue to have problems, maybe you can rule alcohol as the cause and if it helps you or you enjoy it you can bring it back, but again, if you don’t miss it or need it then leave it out. You can think about this …
I have one further thing to add and this relates to your medication.
I repeat, I am not a medically trained professional and my advice is personal and my own - it is for you to consider and decide if it may be suitable for you. I am just sharing my own observations and thoughts.
I am not anti-medication per se. It has its uses and helps some who need it, but it is in my view over used and often it is prescribed by professionals who are “ignorant” of the implications of all the things that any particular medication does. This is difficult to explain on a forum like this, but in summary, my view is they don’t always know what they are doing - they do it because they have been trained to do it e.g. someone says they have a headache or they determine someone has a headache so they are trained to prescribe e.g. asprin or panadol. But this is done in robotic fashion and it is a one cap fits all without looking at you as an individual and to see if it is appropriate for you. Having done this, they will then tell you time to take it and go back if it doesn’t work. It’s getting harder for me to get to the point.
I’ll just say it like this.
Please do not blindly take medication that is prescribed for you.
Take time to:
- understand what it is for
- how long it should be used for
- what the side effects are
- what other medications/foods/activities should be avoided whilst taking this medication
- when to review if it is still needed.
Wrt the last point, in my view you should never take anything forever. Doctors will tell you to do this in some cases e.g. statins or blood thinners, but there is a danger in the long term continued use of any and all medications and it is up to you to address this. The doctors will blindly put you on repeat prescriptions and will never or rarely proactively review this. They will only look at it when another problem (often caused by the use of that medication) arises - I have seen it happen to my Mum on more than one occasion and it has cost her dearly. Her health and well-being suffered unnecessarily and it could and should have so easily been avoided.
Please review your medication, discuss with your GP and check if it is still needed or for how long. You have nothing to lose in doing this, but much to gain.
This is just my personal note to you.
I wish you all the best.
Namaste|
P.S.
Big Al - Just seen the note from Lorraine @EmeraldEyes. You should heed her advice, she speaks wisely and from first hand experience, unlike myself, and she is a stroke survivor.
The dreaded stroke hangover, I can’t touch spirits or wine anymore, two glasses and I am shattered, three day recovery, dreadful. Fortunately, I prefer to drink stout which I can merrily indulge in without nasty results.
This is new in your posts, is it not? 
Thought it was a typo until I looked it up and it is txt spk.
@Bigal1977 Bigal1977 firstly, you have my sympathy and im bummed that you been stroked. You face many challenges and difficult days. I cant imagine what life is like for you. . However, you’ll find many folks in here who, like me, might ask, you can do all these things, what’s the problem? My point is not to discount your problems, but perhaps make you aware that many of us are not going back to work, nor will many of us play any type of sport. In fact, many will never walk again. Many dont have the mental capacity to fabricate a clear thought on a stroke forum. Many cant talk. Many cant eat food without a tube stuck in them. Many are wondering if today is the last day of their life. Many cant go 5 minutes without horrible thoughts. Many are hurting so bad that even the thought of a round of golf is overwhelming. Sir, again my point is not to make light of your circumstances. I honestly hope that by you knowing that you got off “easier “ than some, just maybe it will make today a little easier. Congratulations on your recovery, you’ve obviously worked hard and you should be proud. This stroke mess is not for the weak. I hope ive made my point clearly without offending you. 
P.s. my vision never came back. Homonymous hemianopia. As soon as I wake and open my eyes, the problems start. No matter what I can get myself into, the vision is an inescapable issue. The only time I dont think about stroke is when my eyes are closed. That typically coincides with the 3 hours of sleep I average everyday. Like someone else said, I dont fret over not sleeping, it’s not like I have to be anywhere at anytime , EVER! Good luck @Bigal1977 , you have much reason for hope.
Well Rupert - I am impressed
You have indeed noticed that for whatever reason I have now started to include the odd “text shorthand” into my posts on this forum. I am aware I am doing it and I think I know why. This might sound weird, but I never used this text shorthand when using 3G text messages/editors. I was unaware of predictive text etc. and my usage of this technology was so very primitive and it might have been an embarrassment had I been that way inclined!
Quite recently I got back in touch with a friend I went to college with and he was using these shorthands in his messages to me now on his smartphone editor! I had to ask him what he meant as I was not familiar and still am not with all these short hands end emojis - I only know happy and sad plus one or two others. So bec he’s sending me these I am picking up the odd shorthand and so maybe using it subconciously?
Having said all that Wrt is used even in “normal” documents as a known abbreviation albeit written as w.r.t. rather than wrt ? Also i.e. and e.g. which are abbreviations I used at school/college?
So not a typo, but that is not to say all my edits will be error free - there may be the odd typo, though I do pride myself in being grammatically correct and correct spelling (UK and not US when I am aware )
Thanks for the chat - apologies to Big Al for going off subject, but I guess he’ll get used to it.
Sorry Big Al