5 days ago I could not have imagined that today I would be writing about a stroke, Well I am! For a couple of weeks if not months I had a few dizzy spells, even while driving which scared the living day lights out of me, but within minutes they went, but over the last 10 days I had been having headaches and light headedness together with feeling week and unsteady still thinking it was something I will mention to the doctor next time I see him. Then last weekend I had another episode this time I was unable to move, I don’t remember much more as I fell unconscious and came around in A&E only to be told I had a stroke, which I did not understand what it actually meant and didn’t for 24 hours until I asked a nurse. So although I’m at home resting and being supported by the hospital team, I now at a stage where I don’t know what to do , having to give up stuff I do every day and work for at least a month is so worrying , I contently feel down and angry with myself , plus still having a numbness in my face is not helping. I now know I’m not alone even though it feels like it, so my question is , how do you cope? Im 68 male w,ork for a rescue company, and run a small creative business
Welcome. Sorry you have had cause to join us. I don’t think any of us expected this. Please come here if you have any questions or if you want to rant. There will always be someone here who understands. We are all here to support each other.
Thank you for replying to my question, have so many questions that need answers, may be I’m just inpatient, have the hospital team coming tomorrow I’m sure they will help, but how do you deal with all the emotions form ups and downs to feeling alone and guilty ? not even sure why I have all this going on in my head TBH .
Thanks for listening though and I do take comfort i’m not the only one lots of others are suffering too .
regards, Mac
Can I ask what sort of stroke you had? This forum will be helpful as you navigate future prospects and sense of self. We are all here to support each other.
Hi Rups Im told I had at least 4 TIA in the week leading up to a stroke which left me with numbness and speech issues
@MacMcNamee I feel for you as I had a similar experience last November. Regarding coping, no one can tell you how to cope they can just share there own experience of how they coped. I till feel angry and I had all the warning signs, but never thought I would even have stroke. I led a relatively clean lifestyle. Occassional champagne or prosecco, but I was not a drinker. no smoking, no drugs. But stroke hits anyone anytime. Through peoples stories on here you will learn your own way of coping and accepting, although it took me over 6 months to accept. I have been back in full time employment since March of this year. I came back to my job that I have been doing for 20 years. It’s not been easy, but it was my choice. Nurses and doctors unless they have has a stroke have no idea what it is like. If you want something you will achieve it, maybe not to your standards but you will achieve a variation of it. I believe in positivity and surrounding myself with positive people. My Chiropractor is like medicine without the drugs. He uplifts me so much just by talking to me. Contact me anytime. I don’t do sympathy, buy I do empathy & positivity. 
Hi @MacMcNamee
Welcome to the community, I’m sorry to hear about your stroke and the TIAs you’ve had. It is always such a shock when these things happen and can take a lot of time to adjust.
I hope your appointment goes well with the hospital team, it’s always good to write any questions down that you may have. There is a wealth of knowledge on this community so you can always bring any questions here too, there are always members that are willing to share their experiences here.
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
@MacMcNamee Hi & welcome to the community. You started your post explaining how you didn’t think you would be writing this. I think we all echo that sentiment. It turns your life upside down in no time at all & that takes some getting used to. But you will hopefully come to terms with it in time.
One thing you learn early on about stroke recovery is that it takes patience as it often takes longer than you expect. But there is life after stroke. Sometimes a different one but can be good all the same. It took me 18 months to get back to work. My advice is don’t rush it.
Hope your appointment goes well.
Best wishes
Ann
Thank you Ann, I guess I like many other before me are still in the processing mode , and dealing with it day by day hour by hour
Thank you Anna, I will try and keep a up to date account
Hi IreneFC I know know after reading your own story we all have the same feeling and thoughts, I take comfort in how you have found some comfort in talking to someone 
Do you know what part of the brain you were struck?
Hi , actually not sure, I think they did tell me but cant remember, and I don’t see it in any of my notes, but I will find out , if it helps, my left side is the one causing me issues
I’m wondering if it is cerebellar due to your dizziness.
I will try and find out, meantime I will find out what it is, thank you
Having just looked up more information, the symptoms are 100% what I have. even now the symptoms still remain, but without the vertigo
There is a lot of emotional drag post cerebellar stroke, hope you are doing okay.
Hi Rups, is it normal to still have tingling feeling and numbness in my face after 2 weeks ?
Rups is moving house at the mo so might not pick your message up for a while.
2 weeks is very early in recovery terms & I would say it is very normal to have tingling and numbness still at that stage. Recovery can take a long time and is usually measured in months rather than weeks so try not to worry if you’re still having symptoms.
Thanks Mrs5K, I was unsure, I am worried but you have eased my concerns thank you