Cerebellar stroke experience, treatment, recovery

I try so very hard to find answers to my problems. I’m sure that my mental state has been a big problem, but after these past 6 years, I’m truly ready to make myself exercise more and get back to the way I felt years ago while doing daily physical therapy. I have been guilty of feeling sorry for myself and instead of getting up and making myself move, I often became a couch potato. Like I told you before, I’m much older than you, so I’m happy to share one very important piece of advice. Always remember things could be worse. Sounds to me like no matter how difficult a situation is, physical therapy can make a big difference. I got outside today and walked 7500 steps... with my cane. I’m exhausted tonight but my husband is so proud of me. He says I need to do this daily. He says he could see more optimism in my face today. I’ll admit I am proud of myself. I plan to go to a big grocery store tomorrow and push a cart until I get all of my steps. I’m willing to make a pact to try harder. I also looked at Vestibular exercises online today. I did try those back in 2018, but my vertigo was so bad then, it just increased my nausea. I’ll take another look at it and maybe it will be a possibility. Thanks for your suggestion. Let’s keep pushing forward.

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.

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.

@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!

Hi there. Does anyone know about stroke and how/ when strokes show up on imaging. I had cerebellum stroke in 2016 via Cat scan they could see it that day in the ER. Yet another stroke survivor stated they could not see the stroke until a MRI 48 hrs later? Why is that?

Are there standards re: like when strokes show up on cat’s or MRI. I was screened in January2026 but was told there was no evidence of stroke issues. With all the AI or self advertising - it very difficult to understand or selecting treatment options

Hi there. Does anyone know about stroke and how/ when strokes show up on imaging. I had cerebellum stroke in 2016 via Cat scan they could see it that day in the ER. Yet another stroke survivor stated they could not see the stroke until a MRI 48 hrs later? Why is that?

Are there standards re: like when strokes show up on cat’s or MRI. I was screened in January2026 but was told there was no evidence of stroke issues. With all the AI or self advertising - it very difficult to understand or selecting treatment options

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.