I had my stroke in 2020, managed to with my partner's help be discharged from the hospital before the first UK lockdown. Fatigue and balance are main concerns, am sure my partner will add a host of other points. Already challanged coping with TBI, Traumatic Brain Injury and what that bought into life. Partner very caring.
Much improved in walking now but do have days when it is a stuggle and depend on using a walking stick which on most days carry with me and do not have to use. Tiredness can be a struggle despite sleeping in the afternoon for a short while by early evening still needing to go back to bed.
Chin up Frankie! I too take Covid precautions very seriously, (essentially I am double- vaccinated, live in isolation in a rural village in Norfolk and use a mask if I have to see my GP) and I am OK so far. You don't need to be 'terrified' of anything to be absolutely resolute about staying safe, whatever Boris says!
I had my stroke 3 months ago and suffer mainly from the loss of pheripheral vision on the right hand side, balance issues and post stroke fatigue. In terms of work the post stroke fatigue is the thing that stops me being able to function while the loss of pheripheral vision and balance seems only to really affect me when I am fatigued. I've been keeping a journal of my fatigue and have discovered this is brought on mainly by overstimulation of my senses. I've started to wear sunglasses while outside irrespective of the weather and this seems to be helping me. It is early days yet but I'm beginning to see return a product life as a possiblity.
Hi I'm Lorraine I'm 66 and suffered a stroke in January have been lucky in that physically not been affected to badly but suffered with fatigue from day 1 to make it worse developed insomnia now I struggle to tell if tired through no sleep or the fatigue any advice on the insomnia would be greatly appreciated.
morning, from speaking to others fatigue can linger for a very long time amd the fact your not sleeping as an effect on your fatigue straight way, your brain is already tired which more than likely brings the fatigue on, from what Iv been told anyway maybe others can also shed some light. Sleep wise speaknto doctor, relaxing music before bed, lavender ect I’ve tried loads and still struggle with a full nights sleep
Hello Loraine, fatigue is a strange one. Resting or sleeping doesn't always help the actual fatigue, but the brain needs a good sleep to repair properly. I have unabating insomnia, used to go to bed around 10 pm, and would fall asleep by 3 am or sometimes 4 am. Now, I go to bed at about 11: 30 pm, as no use being awake for hours in bed. Now fall asleep about 1 am, but still can hit 3 am if insomnia is chronic.
Sometimes, switching medication to evening or morning can help, as sometimes adverse effects of meds can be sleeplessness. I listen to ambient music on soft wireless headband heaphones, and I use lavendar oil, and apply camomile cream. At the end of the day, even if a placebo, whatever gets you off to sleep. Some people like audiobooks but they don't work for me because I end up following the story too intently!
Even though I end up falling alseep late, I get my eight hours because I don't wake until 10 am. Fatigue can arise even from doing very little, or from a five minute conversation to a few hours cleaning. The best description for managing fatigue I have heard was from someone on this site, maybe Colin, mentioning the word "de-stressing". Relaxing as opposed to resting. A relaxing activity can revive or zoning out and doing something that takes the brain's focus away from itself. Meditation works for some. I play video games or read.
Hi Collin , been looking at these machines , do you find nature sounds almost relaxing for sleep or just white noise ? Leave on all night ? Thanks David.
Hi Lorraine- You're still just a few months away from your stroke. That's fairly recent. I had a stroke 3 years ago, I remember that during that first year I had trouble sleeping. I think a lot of it was due to my brain being agitated from the stroke and anxiety over the experience of the stroke. I did several things that helped. I cut out all caffein. I took CBD oil on bad nights( 20-40 mg drops under the tongue). That helped the anxiety, stopped the leg spasms I was having, relaxed me and helped me sleep. I also saw a counselor a few times for a few weeks for the anxiety and depression from the stroke. I can't say enough about how grateful I was to have heard about CBD oil. It was a life-saver for me. A nurse in the hospital told me about it. They can't prescibe it as it's not yet FDA approved. But I checked with my GP and my cardiologist and both were ok with it. My GP said many of her patients use it. I almost never need it anymore. Also, I have a regular bedtime, read a little to get my eyes sleepy, and that helps. I keep a container of cereal in my nightstand. I notice that occassionally when I wake at 2 or 3 am and can't get back to sleep, having a little food helps. Love, Jeanne
Our experience seems somewhat similar. My stroke 9 weeks ago was in the occipital lobe so the main problem is vision, plus the fatigue, and a strange discombulated feeling when I am outside. I have what looks like a soccer ball with bright and dull hexagons in the upper left quadrant, but on the whole can see well except for that area. I had an aura migraine start just a couple of minutes before the stroke hit. My eyes are very sensitive to light, and like you I wear sunglasses most of the time outside and need to pull the curtains to shut out bright sunlight ? . My brain can't seem to cope with a wide vista when I go for a walk - too much countryside, sky, trees, houses etc etc - as you say, over stimulation.This is very fatiguing and I often need a day or two to recover from out of house experiences. I am fine within 4 walls. Do you get headaches or a funny feeling on your scalp or the side of your face?
I do feel fortunate not to have more difficult things to deal with.
I also feel fortunate not to have anything more difficult to deal with and I seem to managing much better since wearing my sunglasses. I'm lucky enough not to get headaches. Funnily enough the funny feeling on my scalp I got before my stroke. It was like someone was tickling my crown from the inside.
My foggy head and discombulated feeling seem to have dissappeared in the past week. I suddenly noticed they were gone a couple of days ago. I'm thinking it may be an added bonus to wearing my sunglasses as I haven't had an episode of true mental fatigue since I started doing this.
I do hope your continued recovery is a smooth one.
I had an ischemic stroke last Nov as a fit and healthy 55yr old!. Tiredness has been the biggest bugbear I returned to work after 3 months but had to quit as too physical, I then had a desk just which was too tiring mentally. I've not worked for 3 months due to a house move and some days I could fall asleep standing up. Over the house move the last 2 weeks I've felt like a new man done loads no problem. Then Mon BAM the fatigue hit me big time just had to sit about and sleep when needed. I have to say the SA have been brilliant with help and support, and I have been lucky I can sleep to reduce the fatigue and then still sleep well at night.
For me, its a constant since my stroke in 2016 and it actually seems to be getting worse, not better. Im now usually in bed by 10 every night and stay there til 10 or 11 the next morning, then by 2pm Im ready for an afternoon nap.
Ive given up fighting it and just rest when my body/brain tells me to rest. This totally goes against everything I would have thought pre stroke. Im only 58 now, but feel 98.
I had a stroke two years ago involving a bleed on the brain.It was a real shock as l was a regular at the local gym- where the Stroke occurred! Two years previously l had run a half marathon at age 70. After hospital treatment etc.and receiving support from the early intervention team l began to learn to walk again with my quad stick. Slowly but surely l began to make regular progress until l was suddenly hit by fatigue. We have all been tired and fatigued at times, but this was different. Too much brain activity, which was simply remembering how to operate my pc or locate a book from a book shelf,could render me unable to walk! At this point l gradually learned that everything l do has to be carefully planned. We have to accept that our life will never be the same. It has often been said that everyone's stroke is different, but we can all make progress. I have become more determined to move on. Purchasing a basic exercise bike has started to improve the strength in my affected leg. Just 15 minutes a day is making a difference. Best wishes and remember, we must never give up.
My fatigue as been at its worst the last 5 days to the point Iv been sick, did over do things the last two weeks and had the normal warnings to rest but carried on. Think il listen to my body going forward
They call that the boom-bust cycle (it's got your nickname in it). I've done it a few times, and sacrificed the following days being virtually bedridden. I like the idea of de-stimulating the brain when it overheats, I have three different methods to do this; the first is rest for forty minutes with an eye mask to block out all light stimulus, the second is Tai chi, and the third is lighting my woodburner. The last sounds odd, but the activity of preparing the paper, the kindling, watching it start up, and then feeding it to a decent roar, seems to be a procedural memory function that empties my brain for twenty-minutes, and makes me feel relaxed. Zoning out, I think they call it.
I've also pushed myself to feel sick, not actually throwing up but dry retching. It's horrible, I hope you find a balanced activity schedule to manage the fatigue.
Typical it’s part of my nickname, yeah I think going forward.l I’m going to listen to my body more as the last 5 days have been awful. Guess it’s the is wanting to be normal again which we then push but the result isn’t always a good one. May look at other things like yourself to keep me mentally going and physically without over being physical
Love, Jeanne