Hi fellow survivors,
I just wanted to share my journey so far. I was a physically fit 51 year old prior to having an Ischaemic Stroke in November 2019. In fact, 6 weeks before my stroke I had passed my Judo Black Belt grading and then I suffered my stroke at the end of a Tug of War competition where my team won a bronze medal.
I was left with speech dyspraxia, hearing problems leading with having to wear a hearing aid and proplems with my eyes resulting in focusing issues taking several seconds to rectify when looking at different distances. This made even walking slowly and short distancing a nightmare, finally fatigue and painful headaches were my biggest concerns.
Within 2 weeks my vision returned to normal, my headaches disappeared in around 2 months. After 3 months I returned to work, working 3 1/2 days per week. Then covid19 entered our lives and I was sent home to self isolate. After 6 weeks I decided to return to work, slowly increasing my hours, and since then my recovery has been incredible. I now work 8-4 (just 1 hour to increase until i am back to full time) I put on 1 stone of fat since my stroke so since may Itackled that and have now back to my pre stroke weight. I no longer wear hearing aids, my fatigue has gone. My speech is now at about 85% back to normal, but I still say the odd stray word which can be embarrassing especially during teaching students or a management meeting (as i work in a college). I will either laugh it off or just ignore it.
I know that I was fairly young and my stroke fairly mild, but give it time and try to stay positive, have faith and i am sure you will improve. At first I looked at myself as a victim but as soon as I changed my mindset and became a survivor I started to heal.
Kind regards and stay safe
Clarkey
Clarkey , Thank you for a very positive post. I think it is really important to see yourself as a survivor. I was recovering from my first stroke quite well, but had a small second stroke six weeks ago. It knocked my confidence a bit, but I am now back in survivor mode. I have gone backwards a bit, but am now doing some old exercises for my hand and concentrating on my walking gait. So glad you have recovered well.
Thank you John, stay strong and I hope you continue to recover with no more setbacks.
thanks for your positive message Clarkey
Andy
Well done you Clarkey! Great message, thanks. Peace Carole
My husband had his stroke 8 weeks ago aged 57. He was previously fit and well ideal weight and didn't smoke or drink. He has always been what I call a stress head but never had high blood pressure. He woke up feeling strange and his left arm was feeling weak. He instinctively new something was very wrong and insisted on going to hospital immediately. Within 3 hours he was transferred to the local stroke unit and on clot busters. Within 24 hours he was back home thanking his lucky stars he seemed to have no risidual effects. Post stroke he has had no follow ups or any explanations which worries me. He is on blood thinners and statins although he was told his cholesterol wasn't the problem. We have noticed his stamina has decreased massively and although he did return to work 2 weeks later he hasn't been able to do a full day yet. He is a gardener and the heat really affects him and previously it didn't. I have also noticed occasionally he has lapses in memeory and forgets what he was saying although he did have these issues for many years it seems to be worse now. We are both aware he is very lucky but due to having now advise or seeing a specialist we are both scared it could happen again. When he was in hospital I couldn't go in or see anyone so couldn't ask any questions. I made an appointment with his GP who wasn't helpful at all and basically said due to covid he had no idea if he would get any follow up care. The local stroke support team rang ya but as he seemed to have no issues they discharged him immediately. I would be grateful if anyone else has any similar experience they could share with us
sandi
Sandi, Post stroke support varies from one local health authority to another. I live in Worcestershire, which has an excellent Community Stroke Team. I had a second mild stroke recently and follow up has been really quick, despite the virus.
One after effect of stroke which doctors know about is post stroke fatigue. It is little researched but affects many of us. One or two tasks to many brings on tiredness as stroke affects our ability to do what we used to.
when I left hospital four years ago, it was thought my memory was affected and before I left I was put on a waiting list to see a neuropsychologist. Waiting time then was a year, but, due to the virus, it may be very difficult to get an appointment at all.
Stroke can happen again, but his current medication should reduce the chances. I have been a bit unfortunate in that my first stroke was a haemorrhage stroke and the second one caused by a tiny clot.
I hope he can get some support and that your fears of a second stroke lessen over time.
Hi Sandi - I can understand your frustration as my brother has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer and they are having the same problems i.e., can't get to see a specialist, oncologist or even his GP. I do feel that it is time the health system should now wake up to the fact that there are other people in dire need of help and being left without any. I know it's been a tough time for everyone but the world keeps on turning and it is totally unfair the way people are being treated.
GP's are hopeless with stroke victims and have no idea of how we feel or how it affects our lives or our partners/families lives. It's a disgrace yours didn't offer you and your husband any help or didn't even offer to book him a follow up consultation. If he had no idea, then he should have checked and definitely tried instead of leaving it at that.
There is no such thing as a stroke with no after effects. We all know that on here. Heat affects me too. I used to love sitting in the garden but I can't stand the sunshine now. 8 weeks is still really early days and maybe he went back to work a bit too soon...? The fact that he is struggling to do a full day is his brain's way of telling him to take it easy. Could you ring the stroke unit maybe and ask to speak to someone who was taking care of your husband and ask when his follow up is as your GP was no help?
Sorry for ranting on but it makes me so angry that all stroke patients have to scream and shout to get things done.
Hi,
thanks yes I had considered ringing the stroke unit, when Sy was admitted I couldn't find out what was happening as not allowed to go to the hospital. I rang them around 20 times in 24 hours and only got through twice so guess they are really busy. I'm sure he did return too soon which I think was his denial that it had happened and wanting to return to normal as soon as he could. This wasn't helped by the fact no one seems to be acknowledging it either in the health service. I'm so sorry to hear about your brother it must be so heartbreaking. We lost our 24 year old son to cancer and it was bad enough then without all this going on. Totally agree with you the health service need to work on business as normal as this virus is here to stay and hasn't caused the huge workload in hospitals they expected it to hence the nightingale hospitals laying empty. Hope things keep improving for you and best wishes for your brothers care
thanks
sandi
Thanks John, yes we are in Lincolnshire and it is poor support for anything here. I work in community mental healthcare and it's shocking how little support is out there but I am at least lucky I suppose in that I know how to access any help that is available. Although post lock down it seems very little preventative measures. I think he is trying too hard to get back to normal as a denial of what happened which is not possible. Thanks for the reply much appreciated
thanks
sandi
Hi Sandi - Thanks for your reply and I'm sorry to hear about your son. Heartbreaking for you both at such a young age.
It's a nightmare trying to get answers at the moment. I've just seen on the news that Dentists are warning of dental problems on a massive scale (if you excuse the pun ;) due to them being closed. I've been trying to get through my dentists' door since March. They all stayed open during the lockdown for people in pain so all those in pain in theory have been treated and sent on their way so what are they doing now? No hygeinists are working because they don't have the correct PPE. My hygeinist always wears a mask, apron and visor and I am given plastic glasses to wear and I only have a manual clean because of sensitive teeth, I can't stand cold water squirting on them. Maybe I'm being too logical but what more do they need - space suits?
I agree with you about the Nightingale hospitals. Why not admit everyone with Covid into the 8 hospitals built sat laying idle, deep clean all the general hospitals and open for business as usual for non-Covid patients? I'm sure there must be a reason but I'm blowed if I can understand it.
Anyway, I digress! I hope you get some answers for your husband and keep us updated. x