Anniversary

[Franny7]

I haven't come across anyone who doesn'

Yvonne g

esnt remember the day and time of their stroke. Anyone have a positive suggestions for dealing with first anniversary? I am dreading it an di t is getting me down. THANKS for your help!

[moo196]

Hi, could try doing something totally different...distraction may be the answer. Failing that I've tried just going to bed early and that way the day is over with sooner. ☺

[Marinamac]

It will be hard. My stroke happened on my birthday double whammy! Try and do something nice on your anniversary treat yourself. I don't think any of us will forget the day it happened to us. Hope it goes well for you

[Franny7 in reply to Marinamac]

Thanks,sorry to hear about the awful timing of your stroke though!

[huww]

I was told celebrate it like a birthday or anniversary and measure the progress you have made since the stroke-I'm planning my fourth anniversary soon,you cant undo what's happened so I only look back to see how I've come with my rehab.I've still got a long way to go but now it's a case of whats next-can I use the bar b q this summer?will I be able to get a modified car? and so on.Keep on going.Good luck.

[Franny7]

I do try hard to celebrate the progress I have made but the approaching first anniversary has floored me with rueful thoughts that "this time last year all was well". I think its going to be a good BBq summer so I do hope you get that one under your belt!Thanks for your support.

[spider555]

I have a birthday and a stroke anniversary. Admittedly it's slightly with a wry look.

[moo196]

Yeah - my partner of 18 years left me when I had my stroke - so it's always a tough one for me. Definitely don't feel like celebrating it

[spider555 in reply to moo196]

Sorry x

[Franny7]

That's a tough one. I think the idea of some kind of distraction may be a good one. I'm hoping to crack a new milestone tonight though- walk (slowly)to the pub quiz and meet up with two mates....

[Juanicia]

I was going to ignore the first anniversary of my stroke last August, but then my 38 year old daughter wanted to take me out for a special meal, and I only at that point fully understood what a traumatic time it had been for her and my husband. So I accepted gratefully although it felt a bit odd, and then accepted that my survival really was something to celebrate and be grateful for. Good luck, and I hope you will find the day passes easily and turns out to be a happy one.

[Gruff]

I had a mini stroke about 13 months ago and suffered from depression etc. all the usual that I'm sure most people already know, I read several books about Recovery/ Motivation and the only message that made any sense to me was -The only thing anyone can really control in their lives, Stroke survivors or not, is their attitude to things. You have to try to find the positive in any set of circumstances no matter how challenging they are. By looking for any positive, no matter small it may be, for example.

" I no longer have to do a job that I absolutely hated " this will gradually change how you think and subsequently feel about things.

This is not some hippy dippy new age crap, it is a proven technique used by many of the top business people in the world.

Change how you think- change how you feel. Hope this helps perhaps if not immediately then over time. keep going.

[Franny7]

This is very true but hard to live by when there is a negative commentary going on in your head about how much you have lost. I like this site because I don't have to keep pretending everything is fine when I feel bad,

[Tucson]

I've had 3 strokes at different times of year, I've never been big on anniversaries and although if asked I can tell you the dates they don't bother me, they pass without me noticing tbh.

[TonyToo in reply to Tucson]

Did the first one first time round though?

Unless, of course, they were all in the same year. in which case bummer!

[Tucson in reply to TonyToo]

yeah the first one they believed was caused by hypovolemic shock and no treatment given for the stroke, that was in oct 2011 and tbh I never gave it another thought. 2nd one was much more serious and happened on 9/2/2013, I was eventually diagnosed with Antiphospholipid syndrome an auto immune condition which causes blood to clot randomly. I was put on warfarin and just got on with life believing that as I had a high Inr of 4 I'd be safe from any further strokes. Unfortunately on 3/2/2017 I had a 3rd stroke while my Inr was in range at 4. I still don't dwell on it, the dates the strokes occurred are irrelevant. I'm trying hard to avoid another one though.

[Franny7 in reply to Tucson]

It's good that they found the cause and you can do something positive to prevent. Hope you are recovering well...

[TonyToo in reply to Tucson]

That's a random load of stroke related material, no wonder they're not dated nor remembered.

[Hidden]

My anniversary is 6th July. Around that date I will be carrying out nature conservation work with the local volunteer group and, I hope to be taking a driving assessment to get my licence back. Last December I was in a video about active life after strokes and I heard yesterday that it will be released to clinicians in the UK and USA. If you can, try to be positive and look beyond the dips.

[Franny7]

Wow that sounds great. Good luck with the driving assessment- I am taking lessons at the moment. I would make such a difference to be back on the road. I have recently been practising in the suburb where I was driving when I had my stroke! Well done on the film too- that would be interesting to see...

[TA55DAY]

My dad had a bleed on his brain on the 16th February this year and I've never seen anything so frightening in my life, but his road to recovery with the help of the stroke nurses has been wonderful to see xx he took his driving assessment on Wednesday and is safe to drive,the positive effect it has had to his daily life is wonderful to see xx I hope the best to everyone going through this difficult time and hope that you all see the light at the end of the tunnel although at time's it seems a long one xx love and best wishes to all

[TonyToo]

Does the Autumn Equinox count as a significant date, as that's when mine was.