Hello everyone. My first post here so wasnt really sure where to post. Been reading posts for a few days now tho and lovely advice.
I had a TIA 5 weeks ago at the age of 41, pretty scary experience isnt it, but thankfully on medication and some lifestyle changes (diet) to help avoid again.
Im worried tho. All the time! Due to the tia i cant drive so working from home and alone lots - so my worry is what if it happens when im alone what would i do? Im also worried about things i took for granted. This morning while cutting my nails i worried about cutting myself, on thinners so if i bleed itll be bad (etc.). Im also having horrific nightmares most nights and waking up at 230 3am most days so the lack of sleep isnt helping.
Will this pass? Is this my head or affect of medication i wonder.
S
@Steven1983 Hi & welcome to the community. Sorry you’ve had cause to join us but hopefully you’ll find it a useful place to be.
Firstly all you’re experiencing is pretty normal. We all worry initially about it happening again & what happens if i’m on my own. This is pretty natural after a major medical event. The anxiety should reduce in time - 5 weeks is no time at all. As long as you’re taking your meds & eating healthily, reduce alcohol intake, exercise & don’t smoke you are doing all you can to reduce your risk. You could always get people to check in with you. I work from home and my colleagues just send me a little message every so often to check i’m ok.
We do tend to bleed more on thinners but i’ve cut myself many times & wholst it’s worse than it used to be it’s never horrendous & very easy to deal with with plasters etc.
Nightmares/vivid dreams are also fairly common. I had loads initially but they settled in time. I still get them but nowhere near as often.
You’re still early days give yourself time & most of the things you describe will settle.
Welcome, although sorry you’ve had cause to join us. Hopefully you’re now on the right meds and can make some lifestyle changes so you are at less risk of a full stroke than a lot of people. You should be able to return to driving soon.
A little worry to ensure you take precautions can be good, a lot of worry will ruin your life as much as a stroke.
Janet
Hi Steven, sorry to hear of your TIA at such a young age but welcome to this community. We are a merry band of stroke survivors and their carers and families. There is always someone here to offer advice and information, so just ask away.
It’s early days in your recovery and all of your worries and concerns are perfectly normal following a traumatic event. I definitely over think everything since my stroke 7 years ago, although I was always a worrier even before my stroke.
If you are working from home, is there someone who could check in on you, so that you know someone is around if you need them.
Another website you might find useful is DifferentStrokes.co.uk A UK charity providing a unique service for young stroke survivors.
Hopefully your anxiety will ease as time passes. Look forward to hearing from you on your road to recovery.
Regards Sue
Hi @Steven1983 and welcome to the forum
It’s only natural to worry after something major like that. Even when I broke my ankle a couple years prior to stroke, I worried about it happening again, about falling flat on my face whilst trying to get around on crutches. It will get easier in time, 6 months from you’ll wonder what half the worry was about. Yes, it could happen again, just as you could be run over by a bus in the morning…or maybe not as you’re working from home
We’re all on blood thinners same you. I was out cutting back the roses on Sunday, I’ve cuts up and down my arms and even in my scalp…don’t ask I just let them bleed away and clot, when I was done I wiped them a bit of tissue. I’ve had quite a few cuts and scrape since my stroke, but unless you chop your finger off or cut a major artery, you’ve really very little to worry about.
You can always test it out by giving yourself a pinprick to see just how much you bleed. And if you do have major cut that won’t stop bleeding, you go to A&E or call an ambulance.
I’m 62 now and my stroke was TIA nearly 4yrs ago and nothing since. It took about 18mths after the stroke before I was able to drive again. I’m out each day doing various fitness programmes, shopping, walks, etc, life is reasonably normal now just at a much slower pace. You have youth on your side and with the meds and changes to lifestyle you’ll hopefully do just fine.
Hi @Steven1983 welcome to the community, I’m sorry to hear about your TIA.
As you’ll be able to see from the replies so far, everything you’re experiencing is pretty normal which I hope is some comfort for you.
If you’re interested in learning a little more about TIA/stroke and want to talk to other stroke survivors you might consider joining our Online Activities - we run a specific programme called Me and My Stroke which people often find helpful. By clicking on the link you can sign up to Online Activities if you wish.
If you need anything whilst you’re using the Online Community please don’t hesitate to tag me using the @ symbol.
Hi everyone
Apols for no individual replies but hope ordeals in a&e and cuts to the head are all ok!
Ive had a reflective week, I’m lucky in that my employer is good about me working from home but decided next week ill do two days ‘out and about’. I think itll be good for my confidence and pre this TIA i was working home 1 or 2 days and out 3 or 4 so want to get back into that routine asap! Home alone is nice for a day or two but all day everyday is a bit much. Waiting for my partner to come home every day for company is strange. Also have a holiday soon so least i have things to look ahead too.
I think im just a bit freaked out by the whole thing. From zero health problems at all, other than a few too many gins at a weekend amd way to much cheese Im healthy. Nightmares havent really stopped and not sleeping well at all so will keep an eye on that, but think holiday will help that. Also a bit worried that my pills freak me out and the fear of bleeding hasnt gone. Dentist in a few weeks so thatll be fun!! Not.
Reading these post has been super helpful. I can see time is a healer (and like another post i known, I’ll worry at every creak or pain etc) but I just need to adapt slowly.
I feel exactly the same. I have roped in a friend to have a permanent Zoom meeting going, we chat a bit between working and keep cameras on. It feels like I am not working aline. Try that, see if it helps reduce your anxiety. In fact we have another chap joining us this week.
What a brilliant idea that is Phil, such a simple idea but it keeps you in touch with those you work with when you’re working from home, it must give the impression that you’re all together in the office. It makes you all more connected I’m sure.
Hello
I saw your username and thought wow same as me 1983 41 years
First ever stroke a cerebellar infarct with a haemorrhagic component in August just gone , no health problems before , i now suffer with terrible nightmares and insomnia , i glad you mentioned it as thought it just a me
Just try to read up as much as you can and rest when you need
My mind is stuck in August i cant seem to realise it now november , short term memory complete gone also
I hate taking tablets but it a prevention and i never want another one, worry is bad for your health , talk kn here with us all
I just let them bleed away and clot, when I was done I wiped them a bit of tissue. I’ve had quite a few cuts and scrape since my stroke, but unless you chop your finger off or cut a major artery, you’ve really very little to worry about.