Strokes how do i cope caring for my loved one.

[RioDee]

When I first realised my partner was having a stroke it was complete shock. He looked so well He is a fitness trainer everyone looks to him to keep them fit and healthy, this surly couldn't be happening .

I new how anxious and stressed he had become before he had the first serious illness. so we embarked on some very big lifestyle changes, which we hoped would elevate any stress suddenly like a bomb going off the changes had a huge impact on his health. Within four years he was hit with pneumonia, then a heart valve repair followed by two strokes one of which made him have memory loss where he went missing from the hospital he was in.

Four years on we are now trying to come to terms with the changes that have happened and are still happening

One of the things we found so unsettling was his first stroke made him lose his speech among other things. When his voice started to return he could only speak his natural language. Thank goodness English has fortunately returned but not in the same way as before the strokes. He now sometimes doesn't understand what I am saying, I find this confusing and speak to him like a child or like he can not hear me. I feel guilty and try to remember what has happened but quite often it takes me unaware. We seem to quietly just accept it

There are so many different things that we are facing now that we both feel quite isolated We hope by sharing some of what is happening other people can share some of their experiences with us and help us to feel that this is more normal than we think.

[Shreds]

Welcome. This is a safe place to come and share your experiences and fears.

There are a wide variety of carers and survivors here plus a few medics too. I am sure you will feel better and also learn from others. But do have faith, some recovery can take years. Its hard but small incremental improvements should be celebrated.

I am no expert on strokes but do read the book with the story of the Restoration of singer / songwriter Edwin Collins from the band Orange Juice by his wife, Grace Maxwell. It documents changes and outcomes after he suffered strokes at a young age. Certainly worth reading.

[RioDee in reply to Shreds]

Thank you so much for replying and for the reassurance. We will certainly give this book a read. Im sure that as we move forward we will experience and learn and overcome all the challenges that will come Many thanks

[Letsrock]

Hi, Sorry to hear the story and have hope as I you can help mend him by rehabilitation stroke exercises. I have been using them as I lost my right side of body after stroke. Basically, as you said, it is like being a child. You have to retrain the brain and body again, but it will come back. Try these exercises and information ti help you understand as it takes away the worry and will help your husband. flintrehab.com/stroke-exerc... We all eish you the best and are for you. Have hope. Xx

[Jackiesmith7777]

Hi Just read your message . How are you doing five months on ? My husband had a stroke nine months ago . If you read my posts you can see our journey . He gets anxious over little things . For example this morning I said that our son would be cutting the hedge in the front garden . He goes into a sort of panic attack where his clenched fists open and close and his legs sort of twitch and go into a sort of spasm and he sort of talks to himself . It doesn’t last too long and I’ve got used to it now , it’s almost like a mini panic attack . He has aphasia , right sided sight loss and AF which caused his stroke last July . I am enrolling him into a place called twigs which is a community garden for people with mental health and anxiety , strokes etc, they pot plants , make plant holders etc . He was very practical before his stroke . I’m hoping meeting other people apart from the same family members will build his confidence and help with his anxiety . He panicked at first worrying how he was going to get there as he isn’t confident enough to go out by himself because of his eyesight and communication problems but I explained that family members can take him and maybe someone who works there can pick him up and take him on later on maybe if they live close . He is 65. Take care