Hey all. Used to be a frequent member here, I had a stroke last September 5th at 33 years old.
I was fit and healthy, likely caused by a sports injury but to date I have no official cause.
Well I’m basically 100% now, my main symptom was vertigo which has almost entirely resolved and only comes and goes when I’ve had a busy week of work and working out etc.
And my right hand felt ‘clumsy’ but I’d never really notice this now.
In the year I went private to get further testing to try and find a ‘why’. Ultimately they suspect a small PFO but the neurologist doesn’t think that caused my stroke, as it hit my brainstem which is ‘unlikely’ for a PFO. Don’t ask, I don’t know how that works.
I have yet to have that investigated further or closed… even with private medical cover.
Ultimately I’m here and doing well, I’ve worked with the local chest heart and stroke a bit and they are running a campaign in the media this year on me to raise awareness about BEFAST and young strokes. So I’m doing my best to ‘give back’
Definitely the most frustrating thing has been people asking ‘was it a proper stroke?’ Or the patronising ‘did anyone mention the term TIA?’
I’ll try to pop in here more frequently to offer any lived experiences should anything relevant pop up but if you’re reading this and you’re a young stroke survivor feel free to comment or message me
Hi @matt_d13 good to see your update & pleased you are doing well. Your post will give hope to many especially those starting on their stroke journeys.
Good on you for giving back. Be good to see the media campaign.
Try & ignore those people who ask whether it was a proper stroke etc. A lot of it is because they don’t understand stroke well enough. I had someone tell me at work the other day that I didn’t sound like I had a stroke.
Look forward to seeing you around the forum a bit more if you have chance.
Hi Matt - Congratulations on being basically 100%. That is just wonderful and good to know
I have read your post and pretty much all of your historical posts, and I am neither young nor a stroke survivor, but I enjoy reading about people’s experiences on this forum. It’s great that members make time and effort to share their experiences and knowledge which is always going to help others.
Personally, having seen what I have over the last few years, it is my belief and conclusion there is no need to think of stroke survivors in terms of their age, type of stroke or any other criteria to “pigeon hole” them. All stroke survivors experience emotions, stress, success and set backs to varying degrees and they are all different. It’s always good to know what might be possible, as in your example, but at the same time, I think we have to be aware that we may not necessarily achieve the same level of success or recovery as others. That is not to say we should not aspire to that but nor should we feel disappointed or upset. Just as in life where we all achieve different levels of success, health, wealth and happiness, so it is with stroke survivors.
@matt_d13
You are the first stroke survivor who has made 100% recovery that I have ever known. I am so happy for you. peoples brainless comments on the TIA or what size was the stroke are so ignorant and uneducated. My NHS informed me a stroke is a stroke, we dont record them on size. Good luck for the future, Irene
Most of the time. As I say, I still have recurring symptoms if I’ve had a really busy few days of work & overdoing it at the gym. But it’s minor and not common.
I just turned 61, so not a young pup, but I remember your posts.
The why is interesting ; but ultimately will remain a mystery?
However, the whole ordeal my have alerted you to our vulnerability, even when we think we are invulnerable, as one should feel when young. The wisdom you have gained will make a difference later on in life, for now you must enjoy your freedom and health.
Good to hear from you Roland. Hope you’re keeping well!
I will have to accept it was just one of those things, have my theories but nothing will be concrete and it is what it is. Just hope it doesn’t happen again lol.
I’d say most days I’m 99% better, if there is a way to grade it.
99% is music to my ears, Matt
I remember when you came across the benefits of creatine. Did you ever come across a supplement called Urolithin A in direct support of mitochondria?
It’s certainly a potent electron donor - mine arrives tomorrow
Today I made my first batch of Magnesium Bicarbonate !
I didn’t! I tried magnesium for a while but I don’t think it agreed with me, and the juice wasn’t worth the squeeze.
I know with certainty that creatine helps me - I primarily take it for my brain now, which is crazy!! I took creatine for muscle recovery before and while I definitely still note the benefits in this capacity, it is amazing the difference I feel neurologically taking creatine vs not
Hi Matt
Good to here you are doing well. I took had a stroke in the stem cell and still no idea what caused it. But getting on with life is a great achievement after any stroke,I’ve had so many visitors saying I look great and they didn’t know what to expect. Not enough knowledge about strokes for professionals or awareness of affects for general public and that included me before the stroke. Well keep going and all the best for the future
Russ
Hi Matt, so glad you are basically back to ‘normal’. I think I remember your story. I was 35/36 (can’t remember) when I had my TIA and after lots of investigations they found a large PFO. I had previously gone to the Dr regarding breathlessness after exercise and he listed to my heart and said it was fine. I believe that a larger PFO can’t be heard with a stethoscope.
Whilst awaiting my surgery for over a year I had a full grown stroke affecting my Basal Ganglia at 37.
For around 3 days I couldn’t talk, although I could hear and during the stroke when the ambulance arrived I heard that they first thought I had a fever because I was sweating profusely and shivering. Luckily my mum was there and told them I had TIA history. I can remember everything and the one thing that sticks in my mind was that the ambulance paramedic did not speak to me for the whole hour long journey, I guess he presumed that because I couldn’t communicate there was no point and I wish that he had just given me a few reassurances along the way because.
The stroke ward was a terrible place to recover and I wish I could do something for younger stroke survivors in the ward, even talking to someone, it was a very lonely place to be, especially when you can’t communicate.
There’s so much more I could say but this post is a bit long now!
I’m 70% back to normal now but have up and down day’s just as anyone would but do feel like I don’t belong anywhere.
Caty - Thank you for being so considerate about the length of your post, but rest assured that no post is ever too long, so if there’s more you want to say, go right ahead.
70% back to normal sounds good and I am sure you are still getting better day by day
Having up days and down days is fine, why should you not? Feeling you don’t belong? What makes you say such a thing?
Are you saying you don’t want to belong to a club that will have you as its member?
I remember once, my friend said to me
“Cheer up, things could be worse!”
I did, and they were
There you go, my feeble attempt to lift you spirts
I had the one year anniversary of my stroke yesterday. It was a bit of a hard day for me as I remember every detail exactly as it happened. I had my stroke at 68, but am very healthy and fit, work full time, and go to the gym at least 4 days a week. I walked out of the hospital after 4 days on my own 2 feet. The neurosurgeon told me I should have been disabled due to how serious the stroke was, but that for some reason God decided to intervene and I walked away mostly physically like I was before the stroke. The brain fog, fear, and trauma were bad for a very long time, but I have learned to deal with it all and feel like I am finally healing. I am one of the luckiest ones and I could not be more grateful. People ask me all the time if I am sure I had a stroke because I look so normal. Yes - I am very sure and I know I will never be quite the same again. I am so glad you are doing well and giving back. I try to do the same as well. Enjoy every day as each is a gift! Wishing you well!
I would like to congratulate you on your first anniversary post-stroke.
It is great to know how things turned out for you and we don’t necessarily need to know why or how, though of course if we did it would be celebrations all round
Things happen and we don’t always know how or why. How we deal with these things is important and if you were fortunate to come out of a stroke incident relatively lightly, it is indeed something to be grateful for. Well done for dealing with the mental side of things having come out with little or no physical difficulties.
Hi, just wanted to chip in to ssy wrll done too, I find inspiration from your post in the way you have managed to get back to being fully fit again.
I’m a little older but eould br considered fully fit as still involved in martial arts training at 52. Training in jeet kun do 2-4 times a week and gym sessions too.
I have gave up trying to understand the reasoning behind my stroke, the subsequent revelation of misdiagnosis too. Rather than focus there looked at recovery since day ine. I hsve made mistakes but learned a lot too,in fact tore a new one at recent hospital admission and headed all the advice. So in terms if recovery I have git to about 85% the rest will come in timeand willing to wait on this as well as work on it.
Matt you you should be proud of your achievement and it doesn’t matter what others think ,all of us hete have been affected by stroke and know the pain it brings not just to us as individuals but the people around us. Like you because I seemed fully “normal and recovered” keot veing asked was it really a stroke? Yes it was my lucki, determination and dexire to recover was as resl ascthe event, and everyone who has suffered this knows it’s true.
Wishing you well for the rest of the journey.
It is really good to know how well you are recovering but I am interested to hear about your vertigo. It has been five months since my stroke and I am leading a pretty normal life although I pretend to a lot of people that I feel more normal than I do. My main problem is vertigo/ light headedness and I wonder how other people deal with it. Do you just soldier on through it which is what I try to do or are there techniques or exercises to reduce it?
