Today has been a bad one, by the afternoon I am always tired since my stroke in mid December. It is all so frustrating having been fit and active before, now a short walk and a couple of chores and Im done. No follow up at the stroke clinic until March isnt helping. I cant stop the tears today. Has anyone else experienced this emotional roller coaster?
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I find that this is often the case with me. The last few years post stroke have been a learning process. I have learned how to plan my days to allow for this fatigue. My general plan is to do any physically active jobs in the morning then more sedentary activity (such as this) after lunch. If I am out all day (eg. hospital appointment) then I find I need the whole of the following day to be set aside for relaxing sedentary activities.
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All sounds very normal based on my and lots of others experience on the forum.
Not all bad days,can be turned into good days so naybe just accept this one and look forward to tomorrow…
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@Ktrean60 yes it seems what you’re experiencing is normal for most of us. I usually do most of my activities in the morning then rest in the afternoons. Like @sunnyday if I have to go out then the day after is always a resting day & often the day before has to be too.
You will probably find on some occasions the need to rest comes from nowhere. Just go with it & hopefully the next day will be a better one.
You are in very very early days yet. 2 months after my stroke I found I was sleeping most of every other day. It should improve for you over the coming months. Stroke recovery requires lots of patience…something i’m rubbish at but have learnt I need to be.
Hope tomorrow is a better day for you.
Ann x
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I completely empathise with what you describe. before my stroke last year, I was very fit , running 10k+ most days and am now limited to just long walks as my ‘exercise’ (as advised by my cardiologist ). In my case it is the frustration at not being able to do what I could previously (and having put on 12kg in the year since my stroke) which weighs on me emotionally. I also find that this has made me even ‘grumpier’ than I was before and so has had an effect on my family. I am having weekly sessions with a psychotherapist to talk these feelings through, which I find is a great benefit.
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@KeithP63 hi, welcome to the forum, though I’m sorry you’ve had a stroke, it’s a club no one wants to join.
Emotions can be all over the place following a stroke, it’s good you can go out for long walks, though I appreciate it’s not the same as being able to run.
Yes, talking with a counsellor/psychotherapist is good, it certainly helped me.
Wishing you all the best
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@Ktrean60 sorry you’re having a rough day, yes emotions can be up and down following a stroke, I could cry at the drop of a hat for no apparent reason, it’s getting easier now. Fatigue is difficult to manage, pace yourself, hopefully it will get easier to do more as you become stronger.
Stay positive, best wishes
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@KeithP63 welcome to the forum but sorry you’ve had a stroke.
I was a runner pre-stroke too. Used to run 5 - 7.5k 3/4 times a week. Now I struggle to walk. It does take some accepting doesn’t it. Glad you’re getting some help with your emotions & maybe in time the cardiologist might give you the ok to run a little again.
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@KeithP63 welcome to our forum sorry you had to join us.
Walking should help you lose some weight and if you try a protein diet (cut out carbs) you should see a few kgs drop off you. The weather as it changes will help as you can get out more.
With kind regards keep going and talking to us Loraine
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@Ktrean60 you’re not alone, we all feel low like you experienced this afternoon.
Don’t dishearten tomorrow should be better. Have a good nights sleep and be kind to yourself. Watch a feel good film or a comedy tonight to left your spirits.
Keep talking to us and March is not that far away, it’s February on Wednesday.
I had a 2 hour nap this afternoon as I felt exhausted so treat yourself to naps. Kind regards Loraine
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Hello @KeithP63, It is very frustrating, especially when you have been used to doing more. It is a big adjustment.
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Thank you Loraine, you always give good advice. I need to be less impatient and accept the situation I am in now.
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I having been feeling exactly the same way. My stroke was on New Year’s Eve yet in the past few days I have been bursting into tears for no good reason! I can’t seem to get a hold of my emotions. It’s worse whenever someone is nice to me or sympathetic - it just reduces me to sobbing!
Last night for the first time since my stroke I slept better than usual and for the first time the headache I’ve had every morning since the stroke had gone! It felt like a weight had been lifted. It’s afternoon now and I’m very tired again, my headache has returned but only as a shadow of its former self. Clearly sleep is what I need, though getting it is very difficult. (My husband has dementia and I have restless legs and back pain)
I’m told being emotional after a stroke is normal. I’m hoping this phase passes quickly! Though my overwhelming feeling at this stage is gratitude, I am thankful that I have survived the stroke relatively unscathed, compared to so many, especially my own closest relatives!
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@Songbird1 welcome to our forum but sorry you’ve had to join us SS.
Emotional is normal it does get better, I’m 23 months on now and I get tearful when I’m low . I used to cry a lot in my early days. I’m glad the headache has improved.
All I can offer as it’s early days for you is rest, sleep and plenty of water. Do you have someone to help you with your husband? As you need time to recover. Paracetamol can help with the headaches too though I’m not medically trained.
Keep going and I wish you a speedy recovery kind wishes loraine 
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Hello @Songbird1 welcome to the forum and sorry you have had a stroke. It is very hard to balance rest and activity and most of all getting enough sleep. I think the emotional effect is huge so its no wonder we are sometimes reduced to tears. I spoke to a lady from my local Stroke association group and she said the mental effects of a stroke can be under estimated and can affect you even if you have few physical effects. I am trying short meditations over the day which are helpful. She also said it is important to pace yourself and not overdo things (something I am not very good at). It sounds like you have alot on your plate already without stroke recovery. This is a good place to talk and get advice. Sending you best wishes for your recovery x
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@Songbird1 Hi sorry you’ve had a stroke.
Being emotional in the early days is OK and for some, usual. I was emotional and cried at the drop of a hat.
Pleased to hear your headache is a little better and you’ve had a good nights sleep.
Best wishes
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@Songbird1 echoing other comments it appears very normal to lose control of emotions post stroke. I cant watch sad adverts, or charity appeals or aeeing hospital programmes on TV etc.
Very strange but very normal after a stroke… tissues are always close by and i was deffo not an emotional bloke before my stroke in may 22.
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