Hi. I had my first stroke in august. I am just home after my 2nd. It started early morning again woke feeling very confused and unable to use my phone. I couldn’t work it out I knew what the phone app looked like but couldn’t work out how to open the app! Obviously i worked it out and phoned for an ambulance. I then called my niece I was confused over my illness had to ask about my first stroke.
After a while memory returned by which time I was in a&e. The stroke nurse didnt think I’d had a stroke (2nd) and CT was inconclusive. It took most of the day but eventually was admitted the Drs thought I may have had a stroke. After talking I was given the option of an mri (on day 2) and this clearly showed the 2nd stroke (& also the first).
So im now home after 2 days. Only change to my meds is aspirin for 3 weeks as well as Clopidogrel. I am anxious-will there be a 3rd? Is that it? Luckily this 2nd seems to have been mild but im scared that any more what the outcome maybe.
I am resolved to get on with life but obviously it’s a worry. Any stories or advice out there please?
You are now taking all the right meds so are doing all you can to protect yourself. It is natural to be anxious but worry can destroy your life as much as a stroke would. Life still has a lot to enjoy so don’t let stroke define you.
My level of anxiety as it relates to subsequent strokes seem directly related to the amount of effort ive put into recovery and lifestyle. In other words, ive done all i can do. That, and the passage of time has really helped.
It sounds like you have every reason to be on high alert. I’ll bet most of us went to the hospital for false alarms after the first stroke. I know i did. 3 times. Things should settle down on this front. You sound determined. Thats a great place to be. Good luck.
Hello @Baldrick - I am really sorry you’ve had a second stroke so soon after your first stroke in August.
I seem to remember you had similar concerns after that and you were worried about the possibility of a second stroke. I think that @Janetb is absolutely right in what she says about you being on the right meds, doing all you can to protect yourself. She also says it is natural to be anxious but worry can destroy your life as much as a stroke would. Life still has a lot to enjoy so don’t let stroke define you. Again this is absolutely right.
This does not make it any easier for you as I remember we gave pretty much the same advice the first time round.
All I can say, and this is my belief and observations from all the messages shared on this forum, is that there are no crystal balls that will show you what will happen next. Sadly none of us knows what will happen and there are no magic shields or barriers you can use to protect yourself.
Stroke is evil. It is a law unto itself and all we can do is deal with the consequences. You know you did everything possible to prevent a second stroke. I am sure you were given advice, medication and information after the first stroke and I am sure you will have diligently followed it. I really hope that until the second stroke you were comfortable in the knowledge you were doing and had done all you can to prevent a further stroke and I hope that this had at least help to reduce the amount of worry you you had prior to that.
So where are we today? We are exactly in the same place as we were when we discussed the worry you had after the first. The advice is still the same - please do not worry about having another stroke.
Why you should not worry:
you are doing and have done everything you reasonably can be expected to do to prevent another stroke
worrying about it will make no difference other than make you uncomfortable
you have survived and come through two strokes already and this makes you stronger - when you fall and rise up again, you rise up stronger
stroke will not beat you - you have shown that.
Focus on the first part of this and the second part will go away.
I wish you peace of mind and strength to live life to the full.
You are correct i did all i could to keep and stay well but here I am! Sounds like you also.. day 1 over its early days again. Thank you so much for the advice. I’ll post again & try not to winge too much!!
You are right - stroke is evil. Totally. The big fear is it will take all and it can if we let it. Today I am here enjoying my family and they are enjoying me. Truly I am blessed.
Yep I did all I could and was doing so well. Exercising. Getting back to normal. U like all on here have wise words. Thank you for them i will follow all the advice. Thank you and everyone.
I will say how i do hopefully it all adds to the pool of knowledge here. Have a great weekend.
I’m so sorry to hear that, @Baldrick, it must feel like an enormous setback. Glad to hear that it was relatively mild, though, and maybe that’s a good sign. If there has to be a third, and I hope there won’t be, maybe it will be even milder, like aftershocks following an earthquake.
It must be horrible to be back to square one with the anxiety, too. Please do come here and whinge if it helps. You have a very sympathetic and knowledgeable audience.
A thought: smart phones have emergency SOS functions that can call 999 for you. I have mine set up to send a message to my wife as well. It might be worth familiarising yourself with that, just in case.
Alternatively you could get an old-fashioned dumb phone and a cheap pay as you go SIM and keep that nearby, if you think it is easier.
Wishing you all the best, and hoping that you never have to call another ambulance.
That is all very useful. It was all set up but I’ve never thought to use it! Im an Idiot! I will update it with medication etc today.
Ive been looking around for something simple with a push button - such as “your stride” (watch style) which is expensive but at what price peace of mind? Is there something similar which is recommended? Im not too bothered about an ambulance call; my niece is round the corner and she can do that if necessary (hopefully it will not be!) . Ive just purchased a cheap device from Amazon (£17) as a starter! It seems to work around the house ok.
Another alternative may be to splash out & get an Apple Watch? Or similar? Can anyone advise re the emergency function please (on Apple Watch or other device) and how easy it is to operate. Maybe it’s all on the Association website and i haven’t found it?
I am probably massively over reacting and overthinking this - the answer is likely very simple.
Finally, thank you for your thoughts if there is a 3rd (heaven forbid) and that the severity may well be lesser still. Whilst I hope there is no recurrence that is a positive thought and I thank you for that. There is probably more information about 2nd and multiple strokes but I can’t find much on it yet. Im probably looking in the wrong place.
Thank you so much for good practical advice and to everyone else who has taken the time to write. Every message is a massive reassurance. Have good weekends everyone.
@Baldrick sorry to hear you have had a 2nd stroke. Sadly for some this happens. It doesn’t mean there will be any more though. All you can do is be as healthy as you can and take your meds and try and live your life as best you can. Anxiety is normal and should settle in time.
Good to hear it hasn’t set you back too far though.
Setting up the emergency stuff on your phone is worth doing. No harm in being prepared.
Very comforting words like all here. I realise theres not guaranteed to be a 3rd but it really helps to hear it said. (Not guaranteed that there won’t be either i know🤷♂️). As u say Just be healthy and keep up the meds.
I’ve managed a bimble to the park and will endeavour a second in a bit. Strangely though I am weak, the fatigue is not there yet! I’ll just have to take each day as it comes as we all have to and also be careful not trigger the fatigue.
The phone stuff, I’ll post on here as I find things out. I don’t remember being aware of this first time around maybe I was too worn out to be conscious of it🤷♂️. Probably obvious to most but not to me it seems. Anyway hopefully it will help others.
I hadn’t seen the MyStride device before, but used to work in the personal safety alarm business so was interested to see it. Most of the subscription services are focused on linking you to a 24 hour response service, which probably isn’t what you need as you have your niece nearby. For anyone who does need that sort of service, Age UK have a partnership with Take Care that looks like a good alternative.
For a simple device that just calls a relative or friend there are plenty to choose from on Amazon. They’re basically just mobile phones with fewer buttons, so don’t forget that you need a SIM to connect them to a mobile network. Setting them up isn’t always that easy - some require you to send a text message, others connect them to a computer and you have to install some software - but when done they’re very easy to use. Make sure any you buy can do 4G calls though, as 3G is gradually being switched off. Also, make sure the SIM you put use isn’t going to be disconnected if it’s not used for a period of time.
I have an Apple Watch and I think it’s brilliant, but they are very expensive. The SOS alarm works by pressing and holding the side button, then sliding the SOS control on the screen. Once again, this is to connect you to the emergency services. You can make calls from it too, though, so calling a relative is easy, and you can use Siri to place the call by a voice command.
I think there is a small percentage of the stroke population who are likely to have a second stroke and, perhaps, you have fallen into that percentage but it doesn’t mean you may necessarily stay in that percentage. I guess it depends on what caused the initial stroke and if the risk of that can be managed; lifestyle, meds, bp, &c. Managing the stress and anxiety can be a pleasurable addition to life if you find the preferable methods that appeal to you. I’ve lost count how many times I have worried I was having another stroke. It’s natural, and when it doesn’t happen, it helps, by small degrees to reduce that worry, not cease it but make those times fewer.
The worry is always there u r correct. Sad thing is, I’d just about stopped worrying I was doing so well. I really was feeling so good and reasonably fit again. It’s hard to say what I’d do differently but anyway here goes. Start building up again. Fingers crossed.
Thanks so much for your thoughts and support. It all helps.
I know you are correct and yr words help - thanks. My wife always said enjoy every day she was so right. It’s day 8 after the 2nd stroke again ive been lucky and minimally affected though I am still building up and feeling weak. Im starting to think about contacting DVLA i hope they won’t want more than the 4 weeks but time will tell.
It seems to be hard to get info about 2nd strokes or maybe im looking in the wrong place? Or expecting too much? Maybe it needs a complete section to itself on here (& another for third etc for those who need it). Apologies if there is one but I haven’t found it (yet).
But you are right I mustn’t let it dominate. It’s a beautiful day outside and when Halfords have been (not that I can drive the car obviously) I’ll take a walk to the park. Want to go further but better not (yet).
and strength to live life to the full.
