Stroke

My strokes were about a year a part. I did about six months of in house physical therapy with home therapy afterwards. I am currently functioning pretty well. My blood pressure has been below the norm (110/70) with the help of blood pressure meds and no blood thinners including baby aspirin. I feel light headed most of the time, but have learned to live with it. Also, since having the strokes, my wife said that I have become mean. I am on anti depressants which she says helps. I have a Fitbit and walk 10,000 steps a day. I also try and lift light weights. I have also made arrangements with a local neurologist who I hope will keep me current on any new procedures regarding a cure. I also check the internet regarding work being done on finding a cure. Other that that I keep my fingers crossed that I don’t have anymore strokes. As I have mentioned before I have been told by the people at Mayo, Rochester, MN that past experience suggest that I will have a ten percent chance of having another one each year. As I like to say I have a ninety percent chance of not having one. Hope I may have helped you. Good luck to you in a long future!

Jump to this post

It is good to hear that you know that the opposite of 10% is 90%. Not everyone figures out that if we are told that we have a 50% chance of rain today that we also have a 50% chance of not having rain. Have you noticed a difference in your stride after using your Fitbit? When I am rested, in the morning, I have a longer stride than at night when I am tired. I hope your experience with a neurologist is better than the one I had. Neurologist try to prevent strokes not work with those of us with strokes. If you can find someone who works with post-stroke victims please share what you can. When you said that you "feel light headed most of the time" is that the same as dizzy? Half of the meds I take can cause dizziness. I had the choice of taking an antidepressant or talk therapy. I would rather talk with someone than take another pill. My insurance covered both.

I knew when I was in the hospital that once I was sent to rehab if I did not take over my own care that I would not fully recover. Before my strokes I had purchased a copy of "My Stroke of Insight" by Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D. and knew what I had to do to recover from my strokes. As soon as I was able to reread the book I did.

The only person I know with a stroke is not "high functioning". He has given up, never tried doing things and does not appear as if he wants to. When I knew him before his stroke he was not very active, so I guess he has not changed. The first thing I wanted to do once I was in rehab was knit. I knew that knitting would get my right hand, arm and body back to working together. I did lots of knitting and all the knitting that I did helped with my keyboard skills. The keyboard skills helped with spelling, spelling helped with writing, writing helped with reading and…. I am progressing forward and ageing backward, at least I feel I am going backwards in somethings. Like forgetting things as my friends are forgetting them, it has gotten to the point I cannot blame things on my stroke anymore, when it is my age.

Thank you for letting me blow off a little steam.
mlmcg

Jump to this post

I must be in the wrong place, I cannot believe that in the last 2 years I am only the fifth person to add something to the Mayo Clinic Connect stroke profile. I have had the privilege of living with 2 strokes for almost 4 years, that just not seem possible. When I was discharged from the hospital they did not know if I would need Hospice or Palliative Care. I cannot qualify for any more therapy because I am too high functioning. I live by myself and do not drive.

What I would like is another high functioning stroke "victim" to share what it is like living with a stroke or strokes. Is there anyone out there?

mlmcg

Jump to this post

Yes, I am a high functioning stroke victim. I had my stroke about 1 1/2 years ago. I was also born with Cerebral Palsy. If you need daily assistance, contact your local United Way information and referral service, call a local In Hpme Assistance Agency, or ask your doctor for a referral. Assuming that you have insurance, contact your insurance company and ask for an evaluation for personal assistance.

Jump to this post

I know that there are high functioning stroke victims, I knew there just had to be. Thank you for being one. I must have found a very determined person who not only had a stroke but was also born with CP. If you were determined to function with Cerebral Palsy you would also be determined to function with a stroke and CP. Congratulations! Now if more people would not give up on themselves when they heard someone say "You had a stroke" or if the staff would not give up on then either. That way more people would become high functioning stroke victims and not chair bound, or bed, for the rest of their lives.

As long as I do not qualify for physical therapy anymore, sometimes I find it hard to leave my chair. My body reminds me to stretch in the morning, or sitting in front of the computer as I am reading something. I am still having trouble with my balance, not the kind where I might trip and fall – because my inner balance is very, very good. The balance I have trouble with, is when I am walking on carpet with lots of people or things in my way. My home is stroke friendly, I have areas that I do not go into very often so my walker goes with me. Walking on sidewalks with bumps and cracks requires a walker or an escort. Getting in and out of cars is very challenging. Some cars are very low then some are very high and some are just right. I have even gotten in and out of trucks. When you depend on others (wonderful friends) to drive, you take what you get. Today it was a low car, when her husband drives me it is a high car. Getting in the passenger side, or the back seat, is nothing like getting in the drivers side. On the drivers side you have the steering wheel to help, there is nothing on the passenger side or back seat to help. Even the seatbelt is on a different side. Between age and two strokes I do not plan on driving again, I've give away my car.

The insurance I have is one I wish everyone could have. It is only in limited places but very popular where it is. If a doctor request something for you, you get it. Cosmetic surgery is not covered, unless it is for medical reasons. Breast reductions they might do if it causes your back pain but if you want to have your breast enlarged you have to go off sight and pay for it.

mlmcg

Jump to this post

As far as helping you to get in and out of cars, look on the internet for car swivel cushions. You can even do a car seat swivel cushion rating and reviews search so you can compare the cushions and see which one might work best for you. They mostly cost less than $30 and are portable so you can move them from car to car. For your husband's car, it can be modified with a handle to help you get in or there are automatic car seats that will extend out from the car and retract once you are seated. They are expensive but your insurance may pay for the modification. I would also contact your local Center For Independent Living and see if they can provide assistance.

Jump to this post

Welcome. You're among friends here. I had a well known friend who was able to recover from a stroke and even walk a half marathon after he did that. His story is very inspirational and I read it not only because I knew him personally, but also to help me cope with my fears of having my own surgery (which was spine surgery at Mayo). I'm talking about Pete Huttlinger, a gifted musician who was born with a very serious heart defect which ultimately caused a stroke later in life. He and his wife Erin wrote a book about his journey which talks about his struggles and victories and his choice to embrace the advances in medicine that saved his life several times. He was the first person to have an accessory heart pump installed and with that assist, he did train for and complete a half marathon. Pete was a skilled composer and performer and toured with John Denver and a really nice guy. His book talks about how he had to relearn how to play the guitar after his stroke and his thoughts about looking for the positive things in his life. You can find out about him on his website and there is a lot of YouTube on his music performance. I would recommend checking him out.

Jump to this post