Exactly 5 months post stroke today. Still waiting on pfo closure but plenty of improvement, less anxiety too up until this week. Not to sure what has triggered it. No appetite, weird feelings in my head such as ‘zapping’ or ‘glitching’ sensations that I thought had healed. And tiredness is back that I haven’t had in a few months.
Also ever since stroke I seem to have ent infections every couple of weeks which I never had before which I found quite odd as of my knowledge I didn’t think a stroke could have that sort of effect when it comes to that.
@orla3333 I can sympathise with the anxiety and long wait for PFO closure. I too am waiting, 7 months on (I only just received the letter confirming I have met the guidelines for the procedure 3 weeks ago!). I am sure all of those in our position could do with just one thing less to worry about. I definitely feel as though I have hit a brick wall, both physically and mentally, perhaps it is doing too much but I too have begun to feel more tired and quite frankly, feel like I have less fight in me. Hopefully you can stay strong and the op will happen soon, and another milestone will have been passed.
Hi @Rufus thanks for your reply! The waiting for the closure is the worst. I was told I’d be on the urgent list due to my age as I was due to start university in September but now have to repeat year 14 instead. It was meant to be sometime in March but there was no word of it. Feels like once I do get it it’ll just be a relapse and having to take further time off from school then being in a worse position. Hopefully now that you’ve met the guidelines you will get it soon and that will be another thing ticket of the list in recovery! Take care and keep us informed!
Hi @SimonInEdinburgh should I be worried about the emergent secondary compensations? I only ever had a slight discomfort when swallowing around the time of the stroke but it only lasted short term. Not gonna lie my diet could definitely be better it’s quite hard when I’ve got no appetite but I could definitely try to improve it.
The zapping and glitching in the head I feel is quite hard to describe. It’s usually one sensation at a time then it seems to signal sort of a warm tingle around my head specifically behind ears and back of head around neck. The first time I had ever experienced it was in a nightclub about a month after the stroke (probably wasn’t the best place to be). At that time I think the orb lights added to it and made my vision quite blurry, very nauseous and shaky and I nearly passed out but was fit to get a seat and calm myself it was quite scary.
Since then I have been to specsavers and to the nhs orthoptics who have both said my vision is perfect and not effected my the stroke. Therefore I’m still unsure of what it was and it puts me off going out which isn’t the best feeling at the age of 18😅.
I’ve also got a taylor swift concert coming up at the end of June although I’m excited I always have the thought of what happened in the night club stuck in my head. We are seated at the concert which is helpful but earplugs and sunglasses might have to be considered for that over 3 hour long concert😅.
I’ve never heard of SSRI but I may read up about it. Thanks for your reply and I hope all goes well for you with your gp while trying to manage fatigue.
@orla3333 as Simon has said you can get some re-emergence of your stroke symptoms after time quite possibly because we all start to dona little more & our brain has to adjust to this again.
I’m not sure if it’s the same thing but I get what I describe as brain zaps. It’s almost like an electrical impulse that goes from one side of my head to the other. Sometimes accompanied by a pressure feeling & a involuntary head movement. I tend to get them at night mainly. I did mwntion them to my stroke consultant & he looked at me like I had gone mad. I guess i’m sort of used to them now.
@Mrs5K yeah I think that’s the same sort of pains I get in my head. I’m awaiting an appointment in a few weeks to talk to my go about all these symptoms but I’ve got a feeling I’ll just be told that it’s the healing process which in some cases it probably is.
I had thought that at 5/6 months post stroke that improvement would be slower but wouldn’t get as bad again. I may read into this central post stroke pain and hope that i don’t receive it
I was told I was not allowed PFO closure until a minimum of 6 months after my stroke but more likely 9 months due to the risk of a second stroke and having to stop blood thinners before operation but I also have 2 AVMs that need treatment too xx
I was doing ok in the first six months but keep having decompensations whenever I am tired. Im waiting for various appointments as well which causes us all anxiety… everything takes so long! I also have been having alot of problems with my right ear (my stroke has affected my right side). I think everyone will agree that worry/anxiety causes alot of our problems as it uses alot of energy reserves. Hope you start to feel better soon, be kind to yourself and rest when you need to.