The Second Stroke Syndrome…. a survivor’s tak
Recently in a local supermarket I encountered a friend whose partner had sustained a significant stroke and had subsequently been discharged from hospital after undergoing a prolonged period of rehabilitation.
When I enquired how he was going, she replied - “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.
“A doctor at the hospital told him just before he left that he still has a 60% chance of having another stroke and this took the wind out of his sails”.
My response to her comment \{after my initial shocked reaction\} was if I was him, I would immediately think about going and 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
- what this doctor did not say.
- Your husband has a 40% chance of NOT having a stroke!!
So, you and he/she can 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, I do have a bit of common sense between my ears, I suggested that she should consider the following steps-
- Go see another doctor and seek advice about increasing your 40% chance of not having a stroke!
Ask to be referred 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 more positive mental attitude.
- Get the other members of the family involved.
5.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.
6.Take up walking- if possible, 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’, read it every day!!
What is my point?
To physios/health professionals- be careful in the way 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.
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!