Originally posted 10/23/21
It has been three weeks since my stroke. The only lasting effects seem to be fatigue and continued speech and language issues. Cognitively and physically, I am fine. According to the research, fatigue is normal for 3-6 months after a stroke, even if it is minor. Low energy times are my new normal—at least for a while. Exercise and caffeine are going to continue to be my friends 😊 Speech therapy twice a week and at home activities have helped my speech immensely. I now have a daily routine of reading aloud to help my speech fluency, naming as many words as possible beginning with the same letter or in the same category to improve my word retrieval, and writing letters, texts and emails to help my spelling, grammar and context. To those who have been writing and texting me, please keep them coming—every text, email, or letter gives me and opportunity for practice.
The emotional toll my stroke has taken has surprised me. I feel like my brain has failed me. I realize that this is not accurate or rational since my brain has been damaged—this truly is not my brain’s fault. However, I have relied on my language and communication skills for innumerable tasks both personally and professionally. I am not myself without my ability to communicate. Another effect that has surprised me is the constant fear of another stroke. 25% of stroke survivors have another stroke within a year. That statistic applies to the general population—it is a little lower for people under 50 at their first stroke (about 18%). That is a low number, but still statistically significant. I had no pain with my first stroke, I was just talking one minute and not talking the next. The weakness, pain, vision changes, or any other typical symptoms weren’t present. If I were to have another, would it be as difficult to detect? I have had migraines for most of my adult life, and it is not uncommon for those migraines to have a visual aura or slurring of speech associated with them. I had my first post stroke migraine about a week ago, and I was rattled. Will my body fail me again? Will it be worse this time? Will I be alone? I am hoping that, with time, the anxiety I feel will go away. We’ll see.
I know that I have so much to be grateful for in this. My family was with me and knew to call 911. The ER doctor and the neurologist on call acted quickly, giving me the best change of a good outcome. The stroke was localized and contained thanks to the speed of treatment, causing minimal damage. Many people are not as fortunate. I truly am so, so thankful.
(And, just for reference this post took me about an hour—and was still edited by a friend)