Hi Chris and welcome to the group. I had a mca stroke on the left side of the brain 13th January this year the day before my 59th birthday. This group has helped me realise what im going through is normal
Happy happy birthday for tomorrow Lorraine!
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Happy birthday Lorraine. Referring back to my post about doing what I want to do now, I have taken up golf. Doctors advised exercise, didnt know what I could do at my age. Used to think golf was a boring, pointless game, but absolutely love it now. I get to spend some good quality time with family and friends on the golf course, people I want to be around, having laughs and time with people I care about that we never did before.
As I said before, do what you want to do and put the important things/people in your life first and last. Funny that it took a stroke at 58 to make me realise this.
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Happy Birthday for tomorrow Lorraine 
. Hope you have a lovely day
Best wishes Sue💐
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Shwmae Chris, croeso. I always enjoyed my own company but after stroke, I feel I have really got acquainted with myself, almost like being shut in a room with my own brain for a year. I hope you enjoy engaging with the forum and I look forward to reading more of your thoughts.
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It was the “at my age” that got me 
Your only 58, use it your advantage and not your handicap 
If you’re fit enough for a round of golf then your most certainly fit enough to get yourself off down to a gym and give your muscles a good all over stretch and a work out. After all our arteries and veins have muscular walls to be maintained too you know 
I see men and women a lot older than that down there every other day. And it’s not all about the treadmills and spandex clad fitness instructors having you jumping around doing fast paced aerobics For me it’s about relative strength exercise and balance to go the distance. A year ago I didn’t even have the strength to push a hoover around, now I’m lifting virtually my own body weight and managing six mile hikes…and I’m soon to be a 61 year old woman in a couple of weeks 
!
And yes, I do still suffer the fatigue we all do, and I do have a drop foot and weakness down my right side and the pain down my right thigh. But, a certain amount of what we can and can’t do is also mind over matter…pushing your mind over the matter of your body’s limitations Having enough want and will to do it!
And actually, if you’re not already doing so, you should have a few warmups and stretching exercises before and after your golf match anyway. Golf can cause (uneven) tension to build up in the arms and shoulders as well as the legs and that’s where you get the pulled muscles and tendons among other related problems
Use it or lose it as the saying 
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Hi Chris my husband had same type of stroke as yourself july22 he’s just got home after 9 months in hospital. He too says its really tiring,mobility limited but he’s determined to walk sensory issues are a problem too Like yourself he was always busy liked going for a run and walking not sure about the running but hopefully the walking will return
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Hi I hope Chris is on the road to recovery. Lynne. 9 months is a long time to be in hospital so i hope he was well cared for and os glad to be home. One step at a time as the old saying goes. I wosh yoy both the very best of luck x
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I had my stroke 4 months ago just turned 40 a week ago and you’re right it’s all about me now! Forget what others think just worry about you!!
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Welcome and sorry you find yourself here. There are some lovely people on here snd alot of helpful advice. I understand where you are coming from, like you I was very lucky and recovered physically very quickly. However I am struggling with the fatigue, some days worse than others but it is a real burden. Like you I was fit, healthy and active so having a stroke was a real shock. I am almost four months on now and walk every day and on good days going back to the gym.
They assure me the fatigue will improve with time.
Wishing uou all the very best
Karen
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Hi , Chris , I am also a newcomer and can compare many of my experiences to yours . I had my “small” stroke last July just before my 80th . From being a lively youthful( so I thought) elderly woman I now find myself a tottering old crock . I look well and have little to show of the stroke . No visible disability . The disability is in my head which permanently feels heavy , fuzzy and spacey .Hard to describe . I find socialising extremely tiring and so avoid it . I’m not lonely and quite happy with my own company . I know my friends and family find this hard to understand and it is indeed almost impossible to explain - to myself and to them . At risk of being a bore it is best just to keep to myself .I do ask myself though , when am I going to turn a corner and start to feel normal . I have had a few challenges in the last couple of months : the death of my 98 year old husband and the challenge of the funeral and big social event afterwards . Those events brought on a recurrence of severe fatigue
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Hi Chris, reading your post is a mirror image as to where I am. Had my stroke four and a half years ago aged 53, fit as a fiddle and full of life then boom…everything changes.
Like you, friends and family think I am fine, just a bit forgetful, get a bit tired etc when really things are not easy.
I can no longer tolerate people or things that are unimportant and often speak my mind. I do not mean to upset people but it is what it is.
People cannot understand why I am always tired and do not socialise, it is what it is my friend and I think sometimes you do have to think of yourself.
I just take a minute to think that yes I was lucky, there is always someone else worse off.
Take care.
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Hi Chris, my local council does an active health service for people with limited mobility and/or chronic health conditions. GP referred then you are assessed by the instructors before you start and you get regular checks with the team. I’ve been doing since my stroke (4 years next month) Covid excluded and made huge difference physically and mentally. I do aqua twice a week and a very gentle weights class all tailored to what I can do not what I can’t….a nice change. It is also a concession so cheaper than regular sessions. Maybe your council does similar.
Same as Binty, same as.
Hi Chris looking at your story and it’s almost like a reflection albeit it took a little longer for my eyes and physical strength to come back at 37. I’m nearly 6 months since my stroke and looking to return to work soon. I get exactly what your saying with the forgetfulness and fatigue, I’m left with the same two as you. Look fine on the outside but you know your not the same and there are limits to be aware of, went out for a pint with a friend a month or so ago and I just wasn’t with it, felt alien, not as quick with comebacks, get tired etc but I noticed it where others don’t. Crap luck for both of us, but definitely gives a new outlook on life and care less about the what it’s. So we both on a very similar track mate and honestly I feel like there’s less time to waste and just enjoy what’s in front of us.
I agree with you 100%! I also posted on here about the tiredness etc and looking outwardly as if there was nothing wrong physically. I tell people I’ve had a stroke and 4 TIAs and they look at me and say that I look well and I have to answer that I’m glad of being able to move around etc but it’s difficult to explain the tiredness and fatigue I feel inside. The way I just loose thought in mid conversation and the frustration when I can’t get the words out and the anger/upset that comes with that feeling. I used to be so outgoing and, though I’m learning to be that way again, I’m just glad of what I can do and what in trying to do step by step. I’ve had to re-evaluate all I do but I’m determined to fight on!
Lorraine - Happy Birthday! It was my 65th on the 5 April so I think I’m close to your date? 3 years post stroke and 4 TIAs within that time frame but I’m glad I read these threads as it does help me evaluate what I’m all about!
Best advice I was given in the early days about trying to explain the head to others, don’t!
You just waste time and energy and get frustrated. Best to say “somethings missing and leave it at that”
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Hi Chris and welcome to the forum. I had a left lacuna infarct in February 5 years ago and like you it came completely out of the blue. I had retired when I was 60 and two years later I had a stroke during the night, I woke up totally confused and shocked by what had happened. I had an episode of high blood pressure a couple of weeks before and also had my thyroxine medication reduced around the same time so think this contributed to it.
I have some short term memory loss which is improving although there are some big gaps in my memory since the stroke. I find remembering peoples names so annoying but can usually get there by going through the alphabet a,b,c,d etc, usually get there in the end.
Fatigue is a real problem but I find if I only do one strenuous thing each day, whether it going shopping or out for a walk, I don’t have too much fatigue. The fear of another stroke has mostly gone now I’m on medication to help prevent this. Hope you continue to make good progress and stay well
Ann
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Hi Lorraine, I’ve had a few struggles with short term memory again since I had Covid which has kept me from replying to others posts but much better now. Hope you are keeping well. I think I read that you were going to take a step back from the forum, hope you’ve changed your mind.
Stay well, Ann
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I think you have summed up what it’s like very well.
I do like solitude more now which confuses my wife sometimes. welcome to the group
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