Cerebellar stroke experience, treatment, recovery - want to dialogue

@almafe85 That's a pretty terrifying story. I'm sure you realize your recovery journey is only beginning.

I had a lacunar ischemic stroke, and it required nearly a month of hospitalization just to be well enough to travel home. (I had my stroke 350 miles from home). That was more than seven years ago, and I'm still making progress.

Of course, no two strokes alike, and two stroke patients are alike. But stay positive and be sure to reach out here on Connect. Feel free to send me a private message and I'll be happy to help in any way I can. You might also consider finding a local Stroke Support Group. It can't help a lot.

You definitely have the right attitude! As I was told early on, recovery was entirely up to me -- there's not much medically anyone can do in a case like mine, where brain cells are simply gone and can't be replaced.

Stay strong!

My Story

On February 9, 2026, when I was 40 years old, my life changed in an instant.

I was involved in what initially seemed like a minor car accident. I had the green light and was only driving about 15 miles per hour when a young woman who did not have a driver’s license turned left in front of me and hit me head-on. The impact totaled my car.

Police and an ambulance arrived at the scene, but at the time I thought I was okay. I was shaken up, but I didn’t feel seriously hurt, so I declined going in the ambulance and went home.

Not long after I got home, I realized something didn’t feel right. My daughter drove me to the hospital. We waited in the waiting room for about two hours. I felt “off,” but I wasn’t dizzy yet and I was still able to walk.

When I finally went into the triage room, everything suddenly changed.

Out of nowhere, I heard a loud whooshing sound in my ear. Then the entire room began spinning violently. My eyes began moving uncontrollably back and forth. I started vomiting and suddenly could not stand or walk. It was one of the most terrifying physical sensations I have ever experienced.

In the emergency room they performed a CT scan, but it didn’t show anything abnormal. The doctors did not yet know what was wrong.

Two days later they finally performed an MRI. That’s when they discovered the truth — I had suffered a stroke in my cerebellum, which doctors later determined was caused by whiplash from the car accident.

I was immediately flown to another hospital for specialized care.

The stroke left me with severe and life-altering symptoms. I now suffer from serious balance problems and severe trunk ataxia, which makes walking extremely difficult. I also experience double vision, and the vision in my left eye is blurry.

The left side of my face has also become more paralyzed. It was already partially paralyzed from a previous trauma — a gunshot wound I survived during a home invasion — but the stroke made the paralysis even worse.

This stroke has affected every part of my life.

Today, I am in a wheelchair, working every day to recover and adapt to a reality I never expected.

But I am still here.
And I am still fighting.

@jeneanebizzymom
By way of comparison, you might enjoy my video about my warning signs.
https://m.youtube.com/watch

Hi there! I had my cerebellar stroke 2016. Sad thing is that for a week earlier I did not feel right. I had feeling of anxiety and pending doom. I would lie on my left side and do controlled breathing and meditation for 20 minutes. I would be fine then In talking w/ my PCP she asked if I needed to be seen tonight because it might be “anxiety “ Two days later I had my stroke. Puked my brains out. I looked “ so good” no one checked my CT and missed the opportunity to get TPN the clot buster. I did have to advocate for myself because once I was off Plavix I would still get numbness and tingling around my head. My stroke guy kept me on my Plavix but to be aware there was a risk w/ that. I used to tell people I was disappointed w/ my stroke… I didn’t get any unique accents, didn’t become a music prodigy or be able to count cards. Just kidding. I was fortunate and I know that. I was 53.

Hi @gammie1952p - how are you doing? Are you still doing your walking?

What a scary experience!
I can relate. I had an ischemic stroke on Christmas Eve, 2018. I was 350 miles from home, visiting relatives.
I spent 8 days in Acute Care, then 2-1/2 weeks in a rehab hospital before being released to travel home.

It's been a tough journey -- lots of pain, dizziness, isolation, frustration, and hard work.
But it's also been instructive, rewarding, and even successful in unexpected ways. For example, last year I had several appearances on TV telling Dad Jokes.

You can see my ongoing story here, on my YouTube channel, "From Recovery to Discovery". Please take a look.
https://m.youtube.com/@srlucado/videos

@elizabethmm
I had a cerebellar stroke in June 2023. I woke up with vertigo and I felt nauseous so I tried to get to bathroom but fell face first on carpet no hands. I crawled to my phone and texted my daughter who lives nearby. She came over and called 911. That was a Wednesday at 0530. Am o took me across the street to hospital where they determined I had Kaiser so was transported 20 miles to their hospital. The ct scan didn’t show a stroke. At Kaiser I was given tests but Sunday they were going to release me because I was sleeping a lot. I remember nothing. My dtr told the night nurse that I thought it was 1971 and it became an emergency. I was given an MRI that showed hydrocephalus and a stroke. I was transported to LA where a neurosurgeon put a stent in my braid to relieve the pressure. I was in a coma for 6 days and on a ventilator. I had to learn to walk again but I was throwing up even on the vent. I threw up for 4 months. I was moved to a rehab facility for 2 weeks getting PT. Long story short, it’s been almost 3 years and I’m still feeling like a drunk with dizziness that doesn’t improve. I walk every day and am back at PT. They keep saying I need to keep doing exercises to Improve but it feels worthless. I think they waited too long to decide I had a stroke and treat it. My depression makes me not want to be around people as I’m not fun to be around. Im Hoping some other survivor can shed light and give me hope. TY

Hi @johnsons0405aol - wondering how you are doing these days?

Hello @johnsons0405aol and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. How wonderful that you can share your survival story here with others on Connect.

As this your first post, please share a little about your history with the Aneurysm. For example, what type of therapies were most helpful in your recovery? You mention having a few deficiencies, yet. How are they impacting your life?

I look forward to hearing from you!

I was also in my 40’s when I had my Aneurysm it’s a blessing to have survived it’s nice to meet you. I do have a couple deficiencies that I’m trying to cope withbutI’m not giving up.