You are still very early days post stroke, you’re barely 2 months aren’t you?
So yes, you are still at that very heightened stage for mental fatigue because your brain is working overtime to mop up and repair the damage as well as maintain functionality as best it can. The is exhausting on the brain! So do reassure Bill that, in this case, it really is not him, it’s just you that’s making you cranky My family understood this pretty quickly because I’m normally such an even temperament
You can and will get better, onwards and upwards, stay positive
Thank you,Lorraine. I appreciate your words. Bill is very understanding as I am a normally very positive and even keeled woman . Patience I am working on. All the best to you.
Lane
Interesting correlation through the different stories. I am almost 3 years on and cognitive overload is something I have to anticipate and manage every single day - it’s just my new way of being. Its the source of my ability, or not, to do what I want and the source of my unpredictable (and somewhat frustrating) fluctuating fatigue. I have found that giving in to the indicators your brain is giving you that you are overloaded and learning to accept that that is just the way it needs to be right now helps me rebuild my stamina when I need too. Preparing as well before a social activity or something important by resting my brain helps me be my best in that specific moment and enjoy the activity. The giving in to the signals and accepting that that is what it has to be right now is by way the hardest thing to really action - not just for me but also for my family and friends to accept. If my brain won’t do it then it just won’t do it. And like you Lorraine - certain environments are just not as enjoyable anymore. Sadly I use to love a good book shop - now alas the overload of my brain tying to take in all the beautiful books and new titles has me leaving for the exit in under 3 minutes BUT - I now enjoy as much as I can those 3 minutes!!!
A lovely analogy (sparkies)! I too have suffered these sensations after being overloaded. My analogy is based on ‘Apps’ (like on your phone). I see every activity as an app - some drain your battery more than others.In the early days after my stroke, it was any physical activity (e.g. walking which I had to re-learn), then just watching live entertainment (e.g. a music concert)) but these days (3+ years on) its social interaction. Any get togethers, chatting in rehearsals, family visits - my app gets drained really fast and I have to re-charge (a kip for an hour or so!). At first, other people couldnt understand it - how can just chatting exhaust your brain - now they are more aware of that, and plan my day around that.
But certainly in the first few months, shopping was a disaster - people, noise. lights! And because the stroke impacted my walking, I found walking in a shopping centre a nightmare. Having to weave in and out to avoid people. I was imagining the control unit in my brain was making a thousand re-calulations every few minutes in order to guide me around these ‘human obstacles’.
Its not as pronounced now but I still avoid crowds as much as possible.
So it does get better over time.
I suffered a stroke while abroad last year, a spinal stoke at the base of my neck.
While I feel very lucky to have got away with so few symptoms I still feel like I am not making further progress
My main issue is fatigue, I have a stressful job as a company director which I have drastically reduced my hours having had 4 months off work. I started again back in January and felt ok ish to start with but gradually the fatigue is returning very strongly.
I also have numbness down my left hand side which seems to getting worse. Anyone have anything similar
Hello Rick - This is just a quick welcome message.
This is a wonderful forum and many of its members have been through what you are going through and soon they will start offering their experiences and suggestions to help you on your journey.
You may already have done a search on the subject of fatigue - there are a lot of posts and also there is information on the website.
I don’t have anything specific as I am not a stroke survivor.
Welcome to the Online Community, I’m sorry to hear about your stroke.
Great to hear that you’re back at work. Have you read the information on our website about Fatigue, it may offer some helpful tips on how to manage this. I’m sure there will be others along soon who have also returned worked and are managing their fatigue which may be helpful for you.
In the meantime, if you need anything whilst you’re using the Online Community, please don’t hesitate to tag me using the @ symbol and my username.
Hi @rickforsterphoto and welcome to the community. So sorry you’ve had cause to join us but you couldn’t find a better place to answers, we are mine information on all things stroke related, you just have to know where to look
Just key in “numbness down my left hand side” into the search bar above and you will find many posts on this symptom.
Fatigue is an issue for most stroke survivors, and some of the lucky ones, it goes within the first 6mths. For the not so lucky, such as myself, this can go on for years and then there are still others for whom it is more extreme. It actually brain fatigue due to activity and stimulation. The brain tires regardless of whether the body does or not and it’s more commonly seen in babies as their brain are actively growing and developing daily. That’s why they do things like cry for no reason, tired but sleepy, irritable, impatient, etc etc etc. You could say we have reverted back to our infantile years
In saying all that, I am only an expert in my own stroke recovery, which is 4+ years. And I am fortunate that I’m retired, so I can better plan for and manage my fatigue, so I don’t suffer for it so much.
Unfortunately, a high stress job is not conducive to managing your fatigue or to avoiding another stroke. But it might help a tad to take periodical breaks, 5-15 minute here and there, of some quiet time where you can close your eyes and just out everything else. This high stress job may very well be what brought this stroke on in the first place. If you have another stroke, it could be far worse and you won’t be fit to work, you’ve gotten lightly so far, it was a warning.
@rickforsterphoto hi & welcome to the community. Sorry to hear about your stroke but hopefully you’ll find the community a great place to be.
As someone who has returned to work after my stroke in a less stressful role than yours I can say that fatigue is still an issue for me. I too have reduces my hours but have deduced that unless I give upbwork i am going to have to live with the fatigue. I’m not ready to give up yet.
Make sure you take regular breaks through your working hours. I try for 10 minutes every hour.
It does get a bit easier as time goes on so give yourself some time but also be honest about what you can achieve at this stage. You may need to reduce your hours further in the short term & build them back up gradually.
Hi Emerald!
Interesting . I can definitely relate. My ability to cope with sensory input has also been affected. I’m 5 years on now. Subconsciously things can give me brain fatigue…normal everyday stuff like food shop, car driving, socializing it all unfortunately takes a toll on my brain fatigue. I pick my days and where I go sometimes, what I can handle on that given day but it’s not always possible. I love it when your fatigued and people say “I’m tired too” . Kind of like saying “everyone’s on the spectrum and a little autistic”. I digress, thanks for sharing your experience.
Hugs,
Dan
Hi ! It really helps to know that others have the same experience especially regarding too much mental stimulation, lighting, noise people etc as a form of fatigue.
Hi ! It really helps to know that others have the same experience especially regarding too much mental stimulation, lighting, noise people etc as a form of fatigue.
I wonder if this hyper stimulation from too much talk, sounds, light etc.,will ever go away, or if it is a life sentence. Anyone have the sense it is fading or has faded?
Trooper
I like to say it gets better, I have noticed my recede over the past 4yrs since my stroke.
But I think it is a combination of recovery from my stroke and the better management of fatigue. Recognising the things/events that bring it on and some forward planning is the key to better manage it.
For instance, we’ve got an 18th birthday party coming up in a couple weeks, so I won’t go to the gym the day before and I won’t go shopping in the morning of that day. In fact, on the actual day, I will do no more than wash up a few dishes, may a little light tidy around or do wash load, nothing more than that.
The party is a 1½ hour drive away but I won’t be driving, I will mostly keep my head down reading or doing a puzzle. I certainly won’t be looking out the windscreen too often as that can lead to information overload thus brain fatigue.
It’ll be dark by the time we drive home again so I will likely have my eyes closed to avoid strain from lighting.
The following day will to relax and recover, starting with a lie in in the morning, breakfast, potter around, water plants, maybe go for a short walk or whatever, just nothing that requires too thought to tax the brain.
But I can do it that way because I’m retired, I’d probably find it harder if I was working. For those who have to work, even just part time with this, the pressure build up is that much worse, and I can only sympathise with them.
@Trooper i have had no easing of my symptoms since my stroke 3 1/2 years ago. I still find noise, lighting, talking exhausting. I try to manage my fatigue as being fatigued does make it worse but it is very difficult to manage because I work.
I hope one day it will ease but in the meantime I just try & make the best of it.
I find overstimulation sets me rifht back too. I can only take short visits from friends and family. Also i can only wear my hearing aids for a short time before its overload. I havw to do things so slowly now too, to avoid overload, an these wretvhed seizures.
Thing will hopefully improve, it justakes a long time
Pam
Pam
My family understood this pretty quickly because I’m normally such an even temperament 
BUT - I now enjoy as much as I can those 3 minutes!!!
and you will find many posts on this symptom.
. Kind of like saying “everyone’s on the spectrum and a little autistic”. I digress, thanks for sharing your experience.