Dizziness post stroke

Posted by tstrepy @tstrepy, 10 hours ago

My husband had a stroke 18 months ago and has experienced dizziness ever since. It seems to be worse in the morning. It gives him a feeling of uselessness and hopelessness. He is depressed and can’t find anything good in life anymore. This all happened just as we both were retiring. Has anyone else had this happen to them and do you have any advice?

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Scott R L | @scottrl | 8 hours ago

Sorry to hear you're going through this. I've been there myself.

Every stroke is different, but in each case it's a huge shock that takes a *lot* of time to sort out.
In my case, I had episodes of severe dizziness for the first couple of years afterwards. They slowly diminished, however, and are now very rare.

I have learned that certain visual patterns will make me dizzy. Black & checkerboards. Vertical or horizontal stripes. High contrast between light and dark, like someone standing in front of a window.

More importantly, please tell your husband that his situation today need not be permanent. Even after 6-1/2 years, I'm still making progress. I can do things now that seemed impossible not so long ago.

I still have a long way to go, but I focus on how far I have come, not on how far I have to go. (For example, I still have to type one-handed, but I'm getting better at it.)

Also, I practice gratitude every day. I make a list of what & who I am grateful for. I am especially mindful of each improvement, no matter how small. They add up.

You may find it helpful to check out my ongoing stroke recovery YouTube channel, "From Recovery to Discovery". Episodes average just five minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/@srlucado/videos
Somehow, I have been interviewed by some national organizations, including this site:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/newsfeed-post/from-recovery-to-discovery-meet-scottrl/
SilverSneakers:

In a different vein, recently I was even on local TV for a "Dad Joke" I submitted:

As I say, recovery is a multi-dimensional process. It's so much more than physical.
And just so you know, I'm not all that special. I'm just grateful to be alive, so I try to do what I can.
Good luck.