Hi thanks for update and that all sounds very positive and glad report largely in line with your wishes. I hope that it all works out well for you.
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Thank you and best of luck with your issues, hope they are resolved in a manner that works for you.
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@Rocky1 i too am a secondary school teacher and am worried already about returning.
I only had my stroke 4 weeks ago tomorrow but have been advised 8 weeks sick, 4 weeks phased return after Christmas.
I am wondering how you are coping? I started teaching later so have only been teaching 12 years and have just gone 40 this year so have no chance of early retirement. I have purchased some Loop earplugs to help with noise sensitivity/tinnitus but itâs more the fatigue that worries me. How on earth do you do a full day?
My husband keeps saying I should not be worrying about work so early on and he is probably right but as teachers we just canât seem to switch off to that side of our lives.
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Hello @MrsG16 - nice to meet you.
I think your husband is absolutely right and you would do well to heed his advice.
Whenever we are unwell, we should take time out to become well. Your body is telling you to slow down or is effectively trying to get you to recognise you are over working it and so it goes into âunwell modeâ.
Being unwell generally is bad enough, but when youâre unwell as a result of a stroke then it is significantly worse. That is not to say you cannot or will not get better or become well, you will. How well you become depends on a number of things such as the type of help you get or need and also the extent of recovery required to repair the brain that has been affected by the stroke. Your personal attitude and willingness to help yourself may play a big part in your recovery and in your case (and some may disagree) you age is in your favour (my view and belief).
Youâve already mentioned fatigue and if you look on this forum you will see this is a major bug bear for the stroke survivors. As far as I can tell, the search for the answer continues, but there are things you can do. Again, it depends, but you should listen to your body and act accordingly. When it tells you to rest (fatigue) then rest. You can also pre-empt this - plan your day and activities to include rest periods. Youâre a school teacher and so you will know your pupils get plenty of rest periods e.g. in between lessons, play time, lunch time etc. and also, they have a shorter âworking dayâ. I donât know but is a school day 9 - 3:30 with an hour for lunch?
Anyway, I think you might get the idea 
Get plenty of rest, fluids, and exercise, both mental and physical.
Talk to your family - tell them how you feel.
Try not to worry about early retirement.
Why are you even thinking about this - youâve only just started
Apologies if I got a bit carried away, but all I really want to do is welcome you to the community and to let you know it is absolutely not the end of the world.
Wishing you and your family all the best as you travel down the new path.
Namaste|
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@MrsG16 welcome to the community. Sorry youâve had cause to join us but we are a friendly bunch with lots of lived experience.
I echo whst @ManjiB has said. I wpuld also add that I had a stroke & have since returned to work. Your husband is right about trying not to think about work just yet. Take all the time you need before returning. I found it much harder than I thought it would be & I didnât go back for 18 months. The fatigue was awful initially & I found the mental strain really difficult too. It also reminded me of all the things I was unable to do after my stroke.
Having said all of that I am still wotking (albeit part time now) & even on the toughest days I am glad to be back working. It gives me a focus & a reason to get up in a morning. I have a great team around me who support me a lot.
When you are ready to go back a phased return is a must I would say & make sure you have breaks throughout the day.
Take time to recover now.
Best wishes
Ann
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@ManjiB Thank you for your kind reply. I am just taking things day by day as it is very early only 4 weeks ago and as you say just allowing myself to get better.
The only reason I mentioned retirement was that the original person who posted was discussing her retirement I know I am not ready for that yet. Just have to adapt to this new way of life and when I do get back to work, adapt my teaching around it.
Yes students are in school 8.30-3.30 for us with 15 minute break at 10.45-11 and then split lunches depending on which key stage they are eg KS3 get 12-12.40. Teachers having breaks in a school is a lot easier said than done but going back this is something I will absolutely push for! I do not think I will manage otherwise.
Again thank you
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@Mrs5K Thank you for your kind words of reassurance.
It is good to know that people do get back to work. A lot of people mention only managing to go back part time but I am unsure financially if I will manage. I am trying not to worry too much about it at this stage and just concentrate on getting better.
Thank you
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I wouldnât worry until you are ready to thunk about going back. The financial side does play a big part in any decisions you make but health has to come first. It took me a while to adjust to the reduction in income but now I have I quite like having my midweek day off.
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