Grief is one of the hardest things to get used to after stroke. For the first 12 months, I couldn't even look at photos of me pre-stroke. I hated the person I was and wanted desperately to be the person I used to be again. Where did she go? Will she ever come back? It is just as if someone took my life away in one fair swoop and said 'this is it girl. Get used to it.'
Progress does happen but painfully slow. No-one quite prepares you for any of these feelings. You just have to plod your way through. Physically I am 95% what I was and am very grateful for that but I've had to work damn hard to get to this stage and it took me 4 yrs. Emotionally, I still miss the old me. I also find noise (especially traffic and people who whistle!) unbearable some days and also bright lights, flashing images - adverts and films are the worst.
Hi Dave keeping a sense of humour after a stroke is vital( for some of us !) loved your comparison to orangutan. After my stroke a year & bit away I referred to myself as a Sussex zombie. When I read everybody’s texts I realise how lucky I am. Had a bleed on right side resulting in permanent (?) loss of periferal vision on left side & processing skills. Limbs& speech
All shipshape& Bristol Fashion. But depression & anxiety manage to kick door down some days.Hey Ho worse things happen at sea & you can’t walk back. Most days can keep busy but find lack of motivation has got to be worked on.One thing I must get my head round is understanding is that all strokes are different, ok some have similarities & also you have to take on board what peoples lives were like before stoke. In early days I thought naïvely I could go back to work & drive again. Now I realise that survival was great & now I have to get on with life . Pds. My surname is Strike , so Strike got struck! Have a good Christmas.
Had my TIA SEPT 2018 Fatigue dizziness still a problem Exercise regularly but am careful to not overdoing things as it really takes it out of you Have totally given up Alcohol on the specific advice of consultant
Like others mentioned some days great other a struggle
Count myself lucky as met a Gentleman who had just had a stroke and was really struggling We have to plod on
Hi , sorry late reply / few bad days! Giving up work, can be difficult. Self employed builder, kept me fit , possibly a must, if you are to survive? How is your mobility now. Feel my orang outan? Moving around shower room are here to stay, for a while . Therefore considering upgrading the cheapest plastic grab rails, (thought, would only require, couple of months. 2.5 years on , now realise, was TOO HOPEFUL. ) but SO GREATFULL, I Can move on my own . Enjoy your Xmas David.
Hi Dave . Accept ! Was told, easier said than done. Thought I’d conquered it after a year ! No. It’s gonna take time. Getting motivated I find a stumbling block Was a self employed gardener most of my life. Was able to dig out a runner bean trench a few months after coming out of hospital & sow & plant some veg plants on hands & knees . Move depression along by sawing logs but need to be doing other things . This New Year there’s going to be lots of resolutions! This is where this site is so marvellous, wealth of experience shared. Hope 2022 is an improvement the World over , Boy do we need it.mananaged to put myself in gear & go out find berried Holly. That lifted spirits. Will make a wreath tomorrow, bit late but should be on door by lunchtime. Keep your Pecker up & stay well. Best Wishes Pds
Hi David how has Christmas gone so far ? I was dreading it but got my act together just in time & by resting more . Hope I can keep it up. But when you’ve always been very active like you ,easily said than done . Was told at start of this journey “Baby steps, Baby steps but it’s not in our nature! Have to keep reminding myself . Keep your Pecker up as they say hereabouts.
Hi Bill , just over a year down road but up & down like YoYo. Have a garage that needs sorting out . Makes me feel queasy just looking at the chaos. Motivation is a main problem with me. Got to put myself in gear on a good day & start . What helps me is an egg timer set for 5or 10 minutes activity then 10 minutes rest. Otherwise wacked for rest of day. Hope you enjoyed Christmas & kept well Pds
Pds - I don’t use an egg timer, but maybe I should. I find myself doing the same thing as you. If I putter around for 10 or 15 minutes, then I know I better sit down and do a crossword for a few minutes. I guess the brain just gets tired making the body do stuff in its injured state. Jeanne
Thanks for your message. * agree about the AF it is very unpleasant I dread it happening and always try not to do to much as that seems to set it off. But like you I worry about my husband doing most of the work. The stroke changed my life completely I was always doing dancing keep fit yoga walking and it all came to a stop. Norma Jean.*
I havent spoken to you colin for a long time having problems with this new site. You sound llike me when you said about the trains any movement outside helps with the boredom . I always look to see whose lights are still on when I go to bed . I sometimes think I am going balmy. Hope your cat is ok Colin. Best wishes Norma Jean.
Hi my names Joanne, I had my stroke in April 2020 in the left basal ganglia at the age of 53. That day changed my life. As I went from a strong active person to a person that carnt’t walk far so as a result I had to give up my job. symptoms that are horrendous most days are fatigue, migraine, muscle aches in neck and shoulder, nerve burning, sensitive to light and noise is horrendous I feel like my brain is so heavy but I try to live with it the best I can but sometimes it can get the better of me so the last 2 week i changed my way of eating and i feel a lot better than I’ve ever felt in the past 19 months People, don’t realise , what us stroke survivors go through. As they just see, that person from the outside. But inside it mentally challenging.
Hi Joanne-- I know just what you mean. Here are some things that make me feel better. Little snacks throughout the day, so my blood sugar doesn’t drop. Drinking lots of water all day long. 1/2 cup coffee in the morning helps “clear” my head and remove “heavy feeling in head”. (Previously I did not drink coffee.) A glass of wine in the evening before and with dinner. ( I mix it with lemon or lime sparkling water-no sugar. Gives it a champagne quality. This also dilutes it, so I get 2 or 3 glasses of my treat throughout the evening. I sip it slowly to relax me, and it doesn’t hit all at once to make me tipsy.) I know someone else who gets regular massages. That helps with the tingling and muscle pain. I had leg spasms that kept me from being comfortable and sleeping at night. CBD oil drops under the tongue helped that. when they hit. It takes about an hour to take effect. (20-40 mg). Also, I had to learn not to do too much on days that I felt good. I used to try to squeeze everything in on a good day, which made me feel worse. Now, I pace myself and enjoy feeling good instead of working myself into not feeling good anymore. I still felt pretty bad at the 19 month point. But I feel so much better now (3 1/2 years post stroke). Things will continue to get better for you. Keep your spirits up. My best to you. I’ll remember you in my prayers tonight. Jeanne
Thank you so much for your advice. It means a lot to me. Just a question. Does anybody’s body stiffen (seizes) to where your brain won’t tell your legs to move. Mine happens at tea time when I’m really tired.
Hi there, I too use the 10 minute rule. This helps you not to get exhausted and are forced to stop at 10 minutes and rest. Funny enough it helps if you do not rush but take your time and do a good thorough job. Get into all the corners and clean. The aim is not too clean twice, do a good job so you are truly satisfied even if you go back another 10 minutes to complete it. Take it in stages, don’t rush cos adrenaline is not our friend and makes you much more tired. Hope this helps someone. It takes longer but well worth it!
Totally agree with the last line, other people have no idea how much effort, time and energy it takes to have a good day having had a stroke! Thank you so much.
There some really good advice here my problem is with feeling so sleepy all day even 2 years 6 months post stroke I do have insomnia but even if I do get a bit of sleep still sleepy literally all day and can’t nap either . Problem is I still try and pack so much into my day as I’ve always been very hyper active can’t see and end to it at the moment . Hope you carry on with your improvement all any of us can do is persevere and stay positive.
so the last 2 week i changed my way of eating and 
i feel a lot better than I’ve ever felt in the past 19 months 
People, don’t realise , what us stroke survivors go through. As they just see, that person from the outside. But inside it mentally challenging.
Jeanne