Hi Darren, my experience is of small strokes with subsequent A and E visits when worrying medical events followed after quite some time.The duty doctor advised that post-stroke care is the GP’s responsibilty. I find that there is a varying level of knowledge about the impact and management of Post-stroke amongst the GPs at the Practice I attend. If you find one there who is helpful/knowledgable, you can request an appointment with them whenever a new problem arises. But mostly I think there is a lack of GP education in the management of Stroke. It could be they don’t believe recovery is likely but that doesn’t mean it isn’t. This is my personal experience.Other people have done better. I have co-existing conditions so that makes everything more difficult for everyone.
Hi Gnasher
Welcome and just wanted to say glad that you are doing well, more so glad that you have had a fully positive experience which has set you well on the road to recovery. Also glad you have access to support which is vital.
Please take things slowly on returning to work went too fast myself and got bit badly but learned well from this, best of luck.
Hi DarrenC, nice to hear your story and hopefully you’re getting more good days now.
I had my stroke in February 2023 went to A&E had a CT scan and they confirmed it, they sent me home with loads of tablets and an appointment at the Stroke clinic in 3 days time. My Stroke clinic was a total waste of time, did the checks, BP, heart rate, said it was a 6 month wait for an overnight BP machine and I’d be quicker seeing my GP for one. They gave me some leaflets about after strokes but no information about what to expect afterwards, made me an appointment for a MRI brain scan and promptly discharged me to the care of my GP.
My GP has been wonderful any questions I asked she answered to the best of her ability and if she didn’t know she found out for me. She organised a lady from the community, what I would call Occupational Health to help me with any aids I needed, I’ve now got a selection of walking sticks. Unfortunately that service in my area only lasted for 3 months.
I had my brain scan 2 weeks after my stroke which showed I’d definitely had a stroke and not a TIA but it took the hospital 8 months to inform me that. In the beginning I felt ok but gradually I was left with my right side head to toe numbness, my right ear I thought had lost hearing and my balance was totally off, I couldn’t walk in a straight line and just looked drunk. And not forgetting the fatigue which at times is overwhelming.
So many months down the line and a few years older, I’m now 74 but I presume you are much younger because you said you were at work? I’m still having to manage the fatigue, it comes and goes, my hearing is not lost the lady said it’s just the messages from my brain now take longer but I have got Tinnitus. It affected my eyes and so I’ve had my Cataracts done. Over the months my numbness has changed and it’s mainly around my joints but throw in Arthritis and I’m finding it’s rather painful especially because I’ve got muscle wastage too.
My best advice is to do what you can when you can and don’t overdo things, pace yourself, do a job and sit down, that works for me. Rest up the day before if your going out, I’ve managed this year a long haul flight and a visit to Poland, I even managed to walk round Auschwitz.
I send my very best wishes and hope you are able to find a way through this difficult situation and remember you are not alone.
@Gnasher Unfortunately we do not all get treated the same after a stroke. You were very fortunate. Lovely that you took your dog for a walk. However as a stoke survivor, no one cane tell me I can do it, Only I know if I can. My wife encourages me over lot of things, but only I can make the decision if I can. I never tell anyone, you can do it, go on, course you can. I have said the same to my chiropractor. Everyone can say, “you got this”, but only I know if I have. I wish you well for the future. Good luck and take care. We will never ever be the same person after a stroke. I am one year on and I am still looking for who I used to be, but I know she is gone forever.