Hi. I had a stroke seven months ago. My balance , reading, slight speech issues, spatial awareness etc were affected but these have improved a lot. My main problem now is fatigue. I can do very little without having to rest for eg. I might potter in the garden for ten minutes or so and then have to lay back in my chair to rest. Some days I get up and know it’s not a good day because I walk into things, have trouble finding some words and shake. If I want to go to a shop I will take a wheeler so I can sit when I tire. I guess I’m hoping others might say this is what has happened to them and it’s not unusual. I spend my life thinking maybe I’m lazy or not trying and worrying what people think. Thankyou for reading this ……
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Hello @SusieCl - welcome to the community.
Whilst I myself am not a stroke survivor, I have been a member of this community for a while now and I can say that your experiences are not so unusual, so you are not alone 
There is a section on the stroke association website Post-stroke fatigue and tiredness which you may find useful.
As well as that there will come along others like yourself who will happily share their experiences and offer you tips on what you can do.
Wishing you all the best.
Namaste|
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Hi @SusieCl welcome to our community. Sorry to hear of your recent stroke. Unfortunately post stroke fatigue seems to affect most stroke survivors and in the early days of your recovery it’s best not to try and do too much too soon and as time goes by you will learn how much you can do and when to rest.
You are definitely not being lazy and try not to worry about what other people think. I was given a good piece of advice in the early days of my recovery. "Every stroke is Different and everyone’s recovery journey is different, so try not to compare your recovery with anyone else and don’t worry what other people think ".
We are a merry band of stroke survivors and their carers and families and between us we have a wealth of information and advice to offer, so feel free to ask away if you have any questions or just need to chat.
I’m 8 years post stroke and still have good days and bad days, as stroke recovery is a roller-coaster and can sometimes be a case of one step forward, 2 steps back.
Best wishes and regards
Sue
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Thankyou for your replies. Wishing you a good day 
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Hi @SusieCl & welcome to the community. As others have already said fatigue is very normal after a stroke & whilst 7 months may seem like a long time it really isn’t in the world of stroke recovery. I am 3 years on and still suffer although I can do more now before it kicks in. Pacing, planning & prioritising is the way to manage fatigue but even then yiu may still get it wrong. Build up your stamina steadily over time. Find a level of activity you are comfortable with & stixk with it for a while then increase it a bit & see how you get on. If you need to reduce again you can but if not do the same again. You already seem to have an idea of your current levels which is a really good start.
Best wishes
Ann
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Yogurt are definitely not alone . I believe on the online stroke
association activities we will be discussing this with a visitor online soon. Fatigue is a major thing most of us have no matter how much sleep we get, it goes beyond sleep, do you find that? I get days where the days pass me by and I’m too foggy brained to engage, it’s really an awful feeling isn’t it
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Hi @SusieCl
Welcome to the community, I’m sorry to hear about your stroke and that you’re struggling with fatigue.
As the other members have mentioned this is common after a stroke so it’s important to pace yourself.
As @Sue1958 has mentioned we have a professor coming to talk to our Online Activities members on the 10 April about fatigue. This might be helpful for you to come along to. Online Activities offer a wide range of virtual sessions you can choose from. Learn about the effects of stroke, share experiences, take part in exercise groups and social quizzes. If you’d like to join, you’ll need to sign-up by filling in a short form which you can find on the webpage I’ve linked to.
If you need anything whilst you’re using the Online Community, please don’t hesitate to tag me using the @ symbol and my username.
Anna
Hi Susie
Fatigue is a common side effect and in my experience it will improve over time as you learn to work around it.
I have learned to pace myself and tend to do things in short spells,taking regular rest breaks.
I am now 15 years down the line from a small stroke in 2009 which left me with damaged eyesight and with balance and coordination issues.
You will learn to work around any issues that you have,and avoid doing things when you are less able .
Plenty of help available on this forum.
Good luck on your journey
Tony
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Hi @SusieCl and welcome to the forum. I sure the many who have replied have put your mind to rest now regarding the fatigue. But don’t just accept that as the sole reason. I too still have mild fatigue, but some months after my stroke I had a routine blood test to test my nutrient levels and they found I was low in folic acid. I was prescribed a high dose of folic acid for 2 weeks and I found it reduced my levels of fatigue by half. There are a number of nutrients which present the same symptom if you are lacking in them B12, Iron are two other I can think of. So it’s as well to get this checked with your GP first; just tell your symptoms of fatigue and that will probably be enough to order a blood test. That’s if you can get an appointment of course.
Lorraine
Hi susie unfortunately fatigue can last longer than 7 month’s. Jan 23 i had mine and i still get affected. Its great you’ve found this forum! There’s always someone to give reassurance. Welcome! Anne
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@SusieCl Fatigue is very common but for some reason not as well known as all the usual disabling effects of stroke. I’ve had bad fatigue coming upto 2 years now. It’s very frustrating because you can’t ‘see’ it. But it’s very disabling, you are definitely not alone. Keep going!
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I am five months and still think I’m ill and don’t feel like doing much, so I’m pleased to hear of you! My speech was bad and I have dispraxia so I’m so clumsy I make such a mess in the kitchen when I cook. I’m like a messy teenager.
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Hello @Helen2 - welcome to the community!
Isn’t it nice to know you are not alone?
Messy teenangels grow up to be not so messy adults .
Just how nice is that?
The best cooks tend to be the messiest cooks, at least that’s why I think
Namaste|
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As @ManjiB said, messy teenangels grow up and that’s exactly what you will do 
Welcome to the forum 
All that will improve over time, I haven’t chipped chipped a cup or plate for a few years now and I’m 4yrs post stroke 
Recovery takes years, not months, of slow improvements but you will get there if you’re prepared to put the work in 
And @ManjiB, my two kids are 22 and 24 and still messy when cooking and I have to clean up. When my son decorated the kitchen with batter as a toddler, that should have been warning enough
But their food is worth it and I get a couple of nights off from cooking 
Lorraine
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@Helen2 just popping by to say hi and welcome to the community.
I was clumsy pre stroke & even worse now. My hand sometimes flings things acrossca room all on its own. My hubby has had a few near misses
5 months isn’t long in stroke recovery terms so I am sure you will start to feel less ill as time moves on.
Best wishes
Ann x
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Hi @SusieCl …. I’m nearly 7 years post stroke and I still occasionally get what I call my ‘down’ days… better at managing and coping with them now… I found it was better to listen what my body was telling me and on those days I took things easier… I know it’s frustrating but it’s early doors and the fatigue should ease a bit. Stay strong…
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I am a devoted advocate of the above.
If only more of us did that
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Hi @SusieCl
Fatigue is very common. Some days you can have a good night sleep and still wake up fatigued. I take folic acid as suggested by someone on here. I’m 9 months post stroke, I also am suffering with a frozen shoulder which put back my stroke recovery due to the pain.
However, I started yoga in January mainly to help with the shoulder but I’ve found that it’s also helping the stroke affected side by strengthening the muscles and improving balance. I take a class once a week and then do some online 10 min classes occasionally. I’ve also taken up HiiT training, again 15 mins sessions. I find the more I do the less fatigued I am. I no longer suffer with fatigue like I did in the first 6 months.
I would really recommend searching out Dr Elyse Newland’s post stroke videos on YouTube. She’s a stroke specialist and has some invaluable advice.
Good luck with your recovery.
Linda
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Absolutely, and I’m 9 months post stroke and still get fatigue, nothing has shownn up for me in my bloods, I tend to go with it and make sure I rest…not sleep so much as find a quiet place put earplugs in and rest away from it all…works for me. I guess we all need to find how to deal with it. But yes, it is normal hun x
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Ah, so that is what I do, thank you for giving it its proper name, I’ve just always circuit training
Lorraine