Fatigue

@LMS1 welcome to the forum. The fatigue can be overwhelming can’t it. Some times it’s easy to work out what’s bought it on but others it just seems completely random. I’m only 4 mths post stroke so early days for me but hoping to get to a level where I can manage more activity & return to work…I’m 49 so got a lot of working years in front of me yet. Thanks for sharing your experience.

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@Loshy hope your chest infection clears up soon. Take it easy & rest loads . Sending hugs :hugs::hugs:

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Hi , similar to me? Over 2.5 years. Shuffle around bungalow OK, outside walker 10 mins or scooter , 30 mins . Bed 2 or 3 hours a day . Bed again 9.30pm. Chronic fatigue, no improvement. Only time I have BOUNCE :grin: ,First thing am ,shower, make breakfast & later, pot of coffee , then going down hill for day . Maybe we will improve, NO ONE KNOWS, particularly specialists . Good day today, achievement, gone through endless, to do lists, my way now , (with voice recorder) & reduced down. Good speaking David.

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It is ten and a half years since I had my stroke and I still get fatigue. Having said that I used to go to bed in the afternoon when I was tired at the start.
Now I don’t go often. My husband and I do scottish country and since it has started up again I feel I can do more of it with getting so tired. We also have resumed our daily walks, weather permitting. But I find that doing a mile and a bit and sometimes two miles is more than enough for me.
But to be realistic I am now 74 so can’t really expect to be jumping about!

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That should read scottish country dancing.

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@Cara_phoebe Scottish Country dancing sounds great fun. :sparkling_heart:

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It is good for exercise and for your brain. I began to do it about months after my stroke and kept going.

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That should read 4months aftermy Stoke though I had to tell people I had had a stroke because I did not look as if I had had one which was quite frustrating.

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That should read stroke.!

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I accept that fatigue is a necessary product of my stroke, my wife explains it as being my brain still trying to get back to its old status. She may be right, in the meantime I find the best solution is to give way to it and just plan my days around its whims. Fighting it can be disastrous, as I’ve found in the last two days while trying to complete a project and fighting the heat from a weather situation that doesnt want summer to leave and maintaining daily temperatures in the 26C area.
Deigh

Hi Fiona, Like you I had no idea about the effects of a stroke before having one. Although I have been very lucky and it wasn’t a major stroke I find the fatigue very difficult to deal with. I had my stroke in late December last year and like everyone else on this forum I experience really tiring days and others when I feel “I am getting better”. Usually I end up sleeping nearly all the next day after a good one! Also, I agree with everyone when they say you have to pace yourself and it’s not just the physical activity that makes you tired, but the fact your brain is working very hard just to have conversations, meals with other people etc. Unless you have had a stroke I don’t think people realise this which can be really frustrating. I too have been watching Emmerdale and it is fantastic they are exploring this story line. Hopefully it will give others insight into what it is like to have a stroke (I was just as guilty as everyone before I had mine). This forum is really helpful and love to everyone one of you who are struggling with coping with life after a stroke. You are all very special people.

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@Pontwander no issue with you asking. I guess I did feel a bit like my stroke symptoms were recurring. I started to get some strange sensations in my head (not unusual since my stroke). I felt very dizzy and sick and really felt like I was going to faint. I had to sit still for rest of day and if I tried to stand up my balance was all over the place. I spoke to my OT about it and she felt that it was because I had done too much that day.
Hope this helps.
Ann

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@Pontwander I didn’t think at the time that I had overdone it but seems I did. I had done a little bit of housework…just 1 room & then I took a couple cups of tea to my husband in the garden. It was probably 40 metre round trip each time. I’d also done some of my exercises. The OT said that it was the furthest I’d walked since my stroke & that I needed to rest a bit more…I think I am determined to get back to “normal” - well a new normal - that I’m maybe trying too hard at times. I do get a bit frustrated at times that things aren’t going as quick as I’d hoped.
I’m trying to find that perfect balance between moving forward but not over doing it. I’ve not sussed it yet :grin:

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This is something I am still learning some 4 years since diagnosis. That point of knowing when to rest is not easy to determine. I managed to go in a taxi this morning and did some shopping at a supermarket. I have learnt that tomorrow I will only manage quiet indoor activity. For me, planning a few days ahead is the key to condition management. I also have learnt to expect the unexpected - that makes planning more difficult!

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@sunnyday well done on managing your shopping, I’ve not been able to do that yet. I too find if I have a day where I venture out (usually hospital appointments) that I have to have some quiet days before and after. Am hoping this changes over time. I am sure though there will always be days where we’ve accidentally overdone it and fatigue hits us.

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I’m finding it really difficult to break this boom / bust fatigue cycle. I went out for an hour on Monday night for a bit of tea & woke up fatigued on Tuesday. I then had to go to physio Tuesday and yesterday I felt awful & had no energy to do anything. Today I still feel shattered and have a fuzzy head. Seems like it’s never ending at the minute. I don’t have another physio session until May now & I have to limit my interactions before my orthoptics appointment on 28th April so really hoping this gives me the chance to sort my fatigue management out.
Happy Easter :hatching_chick: to you all. Hope you have a lovely time. :heart_eyes:

Hi @Mrs5K , it is difficult to deal with (as we’re all learning).

I’m finding it hard to juggle work and excercise, with the latter usually being neglected. Like you, it’s a bit of a viscous cycle. The less excercise I do the less fit I become. But unfortunately it seems the fatigue doesn’t completely fit in with fitness (sic). A conundrum I’ve not yet found the solution for :weary::triumph::exploding_head::hot_face:.

Over the last 8 months I’ve lost 2 stone & whilst it’s nice to lose a few inches round the waist I wouldn’t recommend the stroke diet! I wasn’t overweight before but I’ve lost a lot of muscle (which is difficult to build back in your 50’s).

Damn this stroke🤬.

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@Ingo66 I haven’t started back at work yet. I do worry how I’m going to manage work, fatigue & exercise. I suspect it’ll be the exercise that’ll be neglected too. I have also lost best part of 2 stone. I was a little but overweight but despite being less active now I’m still losing weight. I might have to treat myself to a Easter Egg to help :rofl:
Take care

Ann

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Hi Ann @Mrs5K , you’re definitely allowed an Easter egg or two!

Have a nice break
Mark

@Mahoney thank you for sharing your experience. That’s what I thought would happen. Not surenif there is any way to avoid it really.

I shouldn’t be eating chocolate really as got high cholesterol but after a difficult week I’m going to treat myself :rofl::rofl:

Ann x