The Second Stroke Syndrome…A survivor’s Take. An Update
In June 2020 I wrote a blog titled The Second Stroke Syndrome…. A Survivor’s Take to which I received quite a number of comments \{all supportive\}- which is good for the creative ego, but far more importantly it indicated that my message had struck a chord with stroke survivors.
This week I was in contact with my survivor friend and enquired how he was travelling ‘Good days, average days but I am still moving forward’ was his reply. ‘I now walk and do my rehab daily, and I am improving’ he added.
Quite different from my previous meeting with him.
If you recall, he had the wind knocked out of his motivational spinnaker by an inappropriate comment from a health professional at the time of his discharge.
A clinician at the hospital told him in a brusque manner just before he left that he still has a 60% chance of having another stroke and this took the wind out of his sails”, his partner recalled.
As a result, his partner told me [at that time] He just sits at home, does nothing, watches television, he seems to have lost all the energy and motivation he had when he was in hospital.
My response to her comment \{after my initial shocked reaction\} was if I were him, I would immediately think about getting a second opinion, not on his stroke but on his future medical prognosis and what he could about it.
Then I would use a bit of lateral thinking and think about Think about what this doctor did not say.
Your husband has a 40% chance of NOT having a Second Stroke!!
I suggested that they get a second opinion so they could work together with the objective of increasing the 40% chance of not having a stroke and decreasing the 60% of sustaining another stroke!
In my humble opinion and whilst I am not a health professional, but I do have a bit of common sense between my ears, I suggested that she should consider the following steps-
See another doctor - Seek advice about increasing your 40% chance of not having a stroke!
Get a referral to a physio and a nutritionist. A physio can assist with an exercise plan, a nutritionist can assist with having a stroke friendly diet.
Adopt a positive mental attitude, mix with positive people
Family- Get the other members of the family involved.
A Rehab Plan -Develop and execute a program of exercise, other activities- both physical and mental. Make sure you incorporate specific targets and dates- so you can measure progress.
Take up walking- if possible and get a rescue dog as your companion.
Celebrate - when you reach your goals Treat yourself occasionally with a reward.
Live life!! - Get a copy of the poem “Desiderata,’ pin it on a wall and read it every day!!
What is my point, Thrill Seekers, and Fellow Time Travellers?
My message to Stroke Clinicians- be careful in the manner you communicate with stroke survivors, they are in many instances fractured, vulnerable and sometimes desperate in their hope for a quick and speedy cure or relief to their current situation.
My message to stroke survivors - Never give up there is improvement in all of us. Seek advice, go looking and do not be scared to seek another opinion!
Contact the Stroke Foundation – they can help you in many ways- Here is a link to their website
https://strokefoundation.org.au/
Brian A Beh, Stroke SurvivorLifelong Member of the Hopalong Cassidy Fan Club
Poet, Philosopher and Child of the Cosmos
Winner "Improving Life After Stroke" Category
Stroke Foundation of Australia 2021 National Awards.