Before you quit the hobby I would hope you read this:
I had multiple strokes on 7/17/2005. I have had many more mini-strokes since then. Mini-strokes are usually not damaging but if you have too many they will and do as mine have.
Sleeping is your brain's way of taking over to heal. Your brain heals most when you are asleep. Extreme fatigue, confusion, etc are all very normal following a stroke. I would sleep between 18 and 20 hrs a day but as time progressed, I slept less. Severe headache usually is a precursor and will continue for a while after; it too is normal.
I have limited vision in my right eye, limited use of my right side and still have limited stamina 5 years later. Numbness may or may not go away, only time will tell. It will take time to heal. Healing will be a process for the rest of your life. You have a great deal of input into your recovery.
The fish hobby is my distraction and is limited to freshwater only. Having fish has helped me greatly.
Along with the physical problems, I am overwhelmed easily, can do only very basic math, have memory problems, have speech problems and reading comprehension problems. Following direction and being able to grasp abstract ideas is also near impossible. With dedication and hard work, it is getting better. As you learn to understand your limits you will find ways to compensate for them.
You will never be what you once were. It is a physical impossibility. You will need to adjust and find what you can do. Start out with easy projects and then work up to more complex as your brain allows. Push your limits but within reason. If you don't, you will never know what those limits are.
You must continually challenge yourself and do things that will force you to think and use your mind. It is hard work and will exhaust you but it will also help to heal.
No one is able to understand what you are going through and will go through. Nothing compares to it. The only people that can understand are those that are survivors. Counseling and support groups will help you to find ways to compensate. Both physical and mental rehab really do help.
Feel free to drop me a note with questions.
Most of all be a SURVIVOR! Plant that thought in your head and hang on to it.
I AM A SURVIVOR - 07/17/2005 to present.
excuzzzeme, each person effects from a stroke can vary depending on the stroke and the persons present conditions before the stroke, for I already been dealing with other disabilities before the stroke and now im worst off and everyone is saying I need much rest as possible. But of course at first I didn’t want to admit to these things right off, or I best didn’t want too acknowledge them whatsooever. Im even more disoreantated then ever before, I even most the time type two words or more and then im disoreantated again to what im trying to say, this process is extremely slow going.
Im 72 years yuodng and I was hoping that I can do this hobby to the very end, even at times I pause trying to remember what I trying to say and later I look up on my monitor and see that my finger had typed thousands of the same letter and I disnt evem know pf it until I came out of ot. I tried to type this as fast a I can so um surf that I made a great numbwr of mistkes. I might be good enough in time, im not sure how that wilk go.
Seeing that you undwestand my position perhaps better then most in the fprums, you should also know that not all return to normal befopre the stroke. As well, im wilh stress and high blood pressre medicarion. But worst of all this is the strong numbness I fell thru out my skulll, it is what has me feeling very concern to whatis to come.
But most og all, I wish to be able to fend fpr myself, I have no wish for some one else to dress me or feed me, if I cannot do for myself, im sorry to say this, but I would rather deparrt and be done with it. I do knoow however that I can still at this time have a prety good life and it is why im to take up other more simple hobbies like oil paintung and photographing, but I thing ill be oil painting more then picture taking.
Anywsy, im 72 of age, and really, im seeing this is no other choice that I could make. I cannot carry heavy items even more so then beforee the strpoke, im sorry if I made any typing errors, but I do need to close this message, I realllly need to lay down.
budddy
