Hi @IanM your are very welcome, so glad you’ve managed to find to haven of solace, where patience and understanding are in abundance. So never feel the need to apologise for errors as are all in the same boat even with that
I have aphasia but spelling isn’t so bad, but I can have a tendency to miss words out and sometime my fingers can type a totally different word than the one I’m thinking to type. Ahh, it is what it is
Be sure to read the Welcome post at your leisure, several members have put together the kind of things you may experience in the first year. All stroke are different but there are some basic similarities in all stroke warriors. There’s a lot of useful advice and support in there to be had Welcome - what we wish we'd heard at the start
Maybe you could get your wife on here too as this is also a site for carers, their need is just as great as ours. It would certainly help her in her understanding of what a stroke entails if she were to read the welcome post too. And it might give her peace of mind to be included, just to know what can be expected going forwarded My hubby would hover, especially when it came to using stairs, but would never intervene unless asked. It the best way to relearning if you have to fend for yourself as much as possible. I wish you well in your recover
Hello @IanM
Welcome to the forum. I’m sorry you had cause to join but you have landed in the right place
This is the place to celebrate your victories, ask for support, rail at the world for the unfairness of anything, just generally let it out or ask questions because stroke support forums seem universally to be totally tolerant.
Reading the posts on here and searching them (some details in the welcome post emerald has pointed you to) is the best way to find out that everything your experiencing is normal to some of us and some things are normal to all of us. Again as emerald says your wife needs both support & her own understanding. Again there are resources on here some of which are signed posted from the welcome.
Last thought here…
If you’re having a repeated TIAs two questions are in my mind One are your meds right? And two has the underlying cause been found. And the caveat I had multiple strokes that I didn’t realise were strokes and neither did my GP in the proceeding years to the one that put me in hospital. If I knew then what I knew now I would be rather more of a nuisance to my GP until I was taken seriously and I would take my meds seriously which in typical male fashion I didn’t with lasting consequences
Hi @Seerahjane. Nice to see a lady give her age . I’m male 67. Well done on your progress. I had to learn that putting my feet on the floor out of bed (another health emergency) was progress. I was looking for great things and ignoring the small.
I had to go and collect a parcel today. My wife had to come with me. I was scared I would collapse. My legs shaky like yours. My head in a fog. I managed and am trying to hold on to that. For 24 years I was housebound more or less with agoraphobia. Finally 3+ years ago, I was able to go out again. I’m scared all that will come back again as my confidence is getting less. Anyway my arms too are not quite functioning. Strain try to write with a pen. It’s no point saying it’s not hard, Sarah, but I’m still here. It’s only early days yet. I’m glad I came across this forum. Don’t feel on my own now. Hope you improve albeit slowly. Kind regards, Ian.
@emeraldEyes Hi, thanks for that. My wife has the heavy end and there are times when I make it difficult for her. If I’m trying to do something through a sticky brain and she try’s to help I get frustrated as I lose my ‘‘path’’ of thinking to complete a task. She’s signed up today . @Deena .She always depended on me to see to bills but our account is a shambles at the moment as I can’t cope with our finances just now. I used to work for one of the big banks but service now is terrible. You try to speak to someone now to get help but decisions are made by an emotionless computer system. No one is either able to think or make a decision anymore. I’ve given up. I feel sorry for all my fellow sufferers of stroke/TIA. The last thing you need is a fruitless ‘grilling’ and hours of waiting for a reply. I certainly haven’t had a good experience. Maybe someone will point me in the right direction or comment. On the bright side I have a £5 note in my back pocket and they won’t be seeing it.
I had my stroke almost 8 weeks ago and compared to many on this forum I was lucky not to have impairment to my physical movements. I found the whole experience of the stroke terrifying but made a good recovery in hospital and can do all the physical things I used to do. What I have found very difficult is the loss of motivation as previously I could not sit still and was on the go all of the time. I just wanted the old me back again and became very tearful at losing this motivation and energy. The occupational help I received was great and the nurse explained that it would take time for my energy levels to return and that I should rest when my body told me to do so. This I have done and it took me six weeks or so before I could get through the day without an hours sleep to recover from just reading, watching TV or walking. I find walking and being out in the fresh air uplifting but even so from time to time this emotional flood overwhelms me and I just cry for no apparent reason. My wife has been brilliant in supporting me but I worry about the impact this is having on her emotionally also. I have a list of jobs I need to do and I just need a magic pill to give me the drive to attack those jobs in the way I did pre stroke. Nobody can tell me when this feeling will pass and that it will take time but in the meantime I just feel so down about the whole thing. Anyone who has had similar experiences and could share how they managed their way out of this situation would be very helpful. To everyone else I wish you all the very best in your recovery process.
Hi @ColinH
Welcome to the forum although sorry you’ve had to cause the join.
It’s great to hear that you escaped much of the physical impairment that many of us battle.
There may be a small irony.
People are going to say to you “you look well”
Youve yet to learn perhaps what your reply will be “that’s because you can’t see what it’s like on the inside” or some more diplomatic (or more impatient!) phrase?
If you’ve escaped very lightly you may have a full recovery - I’m sure everybody here has their fingers crossed for you that that will be the case. More probably the motivational and emotional will be between permanent and fading over time. If they fade expected to take some months.
Also be aware that while stroke has a dramatic effect in the first few hours it keeps on the life-changing potentials ‘up it’s sleeve’ that come in at various stages - like for example the 4-month possibility of developing central stroke pain, the random aches, med side effects, replacement of recovery fatigue by fatigue for life and other things that we here can point out have been in some of our futures but not whether they will be in yours .
Much of what has been said by the community to previous new joiners is gathered together in the welcome post tap the blue text
Personally I agree with any concern about family & spouses. I think they bear the brunt and have much less support from the system so encourage your wife to seek and to take a support and listen to advice wherever she can find it
I dare say others will be alone to say welcome. I hope you find this forum something you can navigate because when you do it will be a valuable resource during the long road ahead
Hi @ColinH welcome to the forum, I’m sorry I missed your post but better late than never.
Your brain is still healing and repairing, it neither needs nor wants to be motivate to do much more so it just won’t let you, it’s as simple as that I’ve found.
Your brain is putting all its effort and reserves into recovery right now and it doesn’t care how many menial jobs you have on your to do list. They are of absolutely no importance to your brain as none of them are as life threatening as a stroke! So it’s just disconnected your motivational button for now and will not reconnect until it is sufficiently recovered enough to spin more than one or two mental plates in your head Normal service of said button will resume some time in the next 4mths or so
That’s how I look at it now anyway, when I think back to those first 6mths post stroke And the crying is quite normal too, it’s a combination of shock and relief! You’ve been through a life threatening experience and you’re still here to tell the tale. It too will pass as you get further on in your recovery and get over the shock of it all. Just go with it, it’s part of the healing process
Hi @tricia3 I had a look through the forum posts for you as I did read your story . . . and I’m still waiting for the part two of it
And it was actually in Share you story
(Whereas this post is the ‘About the Share your story category’…confusing I know )
not very good with technology. do you feel cold today, its 11 on computer , i have to put heating on, still have pressure in head dont know why, is it the bp tabletslaying down, i have arthritus in l;eg
I still get that pressure from time to time from driving. I usual find taking my glasses of for a minute helps…not while I’m still driving of course Try it and see if helps relieve it.
Although, when I think of it, driving probably does raise my blood pressure a tad. Do you have a BP monitor, if so you should maybe start taking your a couple readings a day for week and take them to your doctor.
I’m off to strength & balance class this morning so that should warm me up Its currently 9C here but I’m further north from you I think.
we had an offer on bungalow but was too low she upped to252. its 14 here sunny and warm in somerset, i cant drive. i did yoga on saturday, first time for a while
Hello everyone, another Dave here, just joined, had a stroke on 20th oct just gone, i a locksmith trainer and was getting ready to go to big lock show when a had pins and needles down the right hand side, ignored them thinking that theyd go away but they didnt , about 3 hrs later a phoned my partner , she phoned a ambulance and after some tests they kept me in for 4 days. been home about 6 wks and things are coming along ok, very slowly , but ok, can walk , but most of time i drag my foot, can talk ok, and my right hand does what it wants most of the time lol. hardest thangs are the little things, like getting dressed, writing ur name, eating , want to get back to were i was pre strkoe, driving and training people again.
Welcome @daveymitch to the best club in town that nobody ever applies to and takes everybody
Your early in a journey that for most of us no matter how lightly we get away with it is still a long one. Rarely is stroke a detour on the path you were on but is teleportation to a new path not just for you but for all around you.
You should expect that there will be much improvement, but there will be some setbacks along the way - it isn’t generally a smooth path
Very likely others will be alone to say hello and suggest some guidance sources very soon. you’ll find most of your questions have been asked and debated Previously If you master the magnifying glass above you’ll be able to find them but even if you can’t just ask
You can rest assured just about everyone on this forum…both stroke survivors and carers…have been through that particular hell and come out the other side…some are still in it
Hi @Holliebear80 and welcome to the forum.
Now breath! Slow and deep, in through the nose and out through the mouth.
I myself suffered 2 TIA’s (which are mini-strokes) 3 years ago. And I’m pretty sure your mum is going through exactly the same thing as you are right now, so start talking…better out than in
Yes, she’s not out of the woods, there is always the risk of another stroke. That’s something all stroke survivors have to live with. But if we take care of ourselves, healthy diet, regular exercise and keep taking our medications, it all reduces that risk.
Is your mum on any medications yet? The standard ones are usually Ramipril for blood pressure, Atorvastatin for cholesterol and Clopidogrel for thinning the blood. Has she any follow-up appointments with the stroke team yet, there should be something or they will maybe phone in a few days.
You can find support and information from the Stroke Association Helpline on 03033033100. So it might be worth giving them a ring. They can also help you find local support groups for carers if you think that would be of help.
Also check out the Welcome post some us put together. It covers a lot of what can be expected going forward and some useful links.
One thing you can be thankful for, she came out of it pretty well from what you say. But her brain still has to heal; just because there’s no visible wound doesn’t mean there isn’t one…you just can’t see the wound in her head. She may be experiencing things like brain fog, she might get tired frequently or fatigued, headaches, balance might be slightly off. All these are also covered in the welcome post. And it might also help your mum to let her have a look through to see if there’s anything she recognises or can relate to
I’ve found my time on this forum has helped me to both rationalise and desensitise myself somewhat from those fears. I’m calm about it, don’t even get an odd pang of concern, but we’re all different, unique
As it’s a bit late in the day for some on here, I’m sure you will get more responses tomorrow.
@EmeraldEyes has said just about everything I would say - Perhaps with one or two slight omissions…
Yes you probably are suffering from exactly PTSD
You should seek some help.
You can try Headway or start with your GP.
The other thing to say is that even with a transient attack the stroke damage will take a while to clear up - hence the brain fog, fatigue etc that is likely to follow and will take a considerable amount of energy that you can’t see being spent - don’t worry if your mum is quiet and restful for some months.
Yes, I’d say many have it and it’s just the same as when pregnant mums have it on their baby bumps…only it’s on the neck instead, quick and painless. Youtube is great for showing that sort of thing if you care to take a look.
As far as exercise goes, she can do as much as she can or in other words, as much as her brain and body will allow her to. Do you have the number for the stroke nurse, it might be worth giving them a ring as your mum could probably do with home visits from OT and physio. Although they might be waiting for the results of all her tests as they are not all in yet. Failing that ring your doctor and get his advice.
I’d be loath to give any specific advice on exercise as I’m not a medical expert and your mums medical condition hasn’t been fully investigated yet. But she does need to stay as mobile and active as she can to prevent things like muscle wastage, fluid build up and such.
Then in the drop-down box select Red Group.
If they proved to be too easy then return to the link and select Amber Group. You have to see how her fatigue levels are 2 days following her exercise before you know whether they were to demanding in terms of energy available
I’m glad you feel better by having posted
I’d also suggest that you don’t view yourself as a passenger. You have a role as carer and that can be extremely demanding especially as it goes on and on. This is a place for survivors and carers. Together we are all #StrokeWarriors or #StrokeThrivers
Most of us who have otherwise unexplained I ischaemic strokes get neck ultrasounds to check the cartiod arteries - are not too clogged. If they are then an operation to scrape them out is sometimes suggested depending on risk.
Salt can be a factor in high blood pressure.
it also makes things taste better for some people and taste is a component of being encouraged to eat - eating is important for healing energy - so lack of salt isn’t necessarily a good thing - being risk factors/ diet where is
Ahh, it is what it is 
My hubby would hover, especially when it came to using stairs, but would never intervene unless asked. It the best way to relearning if you have to fend for yourself as much as possible. I wish you well in your recover 
. I’m male 67. Well done on your progress. I had to learn that putting my feet on the floor out of bed (another health emergency) was progress. I was looking for great things and ignoring the small.
