My stroke

Glenn
Glennon Monday, July 22 2019
6 Comments

I was 31 when I had a stroke, I was at work when I suddenly became really dizzy, hot and sweaty. Which isn't normal because I work in a 3 degree cold room. I thought that maybe it was low blood sugar levels. It wasn't. I drove home, it was about 60kms home, I should not have driven. It was Friday the 4th of February when it happened. I didn't go to the hospital until the Monday. I was admitted to hospital and given an MRI and CT scan. The stroke happened in my left cerebellum. I got to stay in hospital for a week and I had a month off of work and no driving also for a month. I'm fine these days, there aren't any knowing signs that I had a stroke, but I feel like sometimes my memory isn't what it was, I carry around a notebook and pen so I can write stuff down, and it feels like my ability to form sentences has diminished. My mouth has always worked faster than my brain. It's very noticeable for me, but not for other people. But sometime I will say the wrong word or get words around the wrong way. I don't expect anyone to read this or reply, but it feels kinda nice to say it to people that know and understand. My friends and family are great, but they just don't know what it's like

6 Responses

Hi Glenn, thank u for sharing. I think it is important, because people can't know how it is. We need to educate those around us. Agree, it takes time for a stroke survivor to open up. I explained to my loved ones, that for me, every morning starts with: who am I, where am I, what day is it, what do I need to do? Imagine a free climber looking for those tiny gaps to place his/her fingers/toes. Good luck!

Hi Glenn,

I had a cerebellum stroke as well, in December 2018. I drove to the doctor who diagnosed it as  vertigo but 2 days later referred me to hospital. On the previous day I was about a kilometre away from a major hospital but chose to ride my push bike about 15 km home instead as I was unaware of the seriousness of the situation.

Its like a hidden disability and I remember that sometimes prior to my stroke I said the wrong word. 

There is a Podcast coming up on this site titled Hidden Disability that you may find useful. 

Best wishes 

 

Thanks guys, it's fantastic to know that other people know what it is like and can help out. Even if that is just someone to talk to. I'll keep an eye out for that podcast.

Hi Glenn I also had a stroke in the Left Cerebellum, physically I’m as strong as ever, a little fatigue in my left arm but no weakness. My long term memory is amazing but short term terrible at times and gets really frustrating, I do hide it as much as I can and at times it frustrates me like crazy and upsets me that I can’t remember something as simple as what I was saying mid sentence. It is a hidden disability and people forget and don’t truely understand. But we have lived to tell the tale so to speak, we are survivors. 

Good luck with ev

Hi Glenn,

I am 48 years old and fit & healthy as someone half my age. I had a stroke 3 weeks ago, I too did not recognise the symptoms, being oblivious to what happened I didn't see my GP until a week after the event. He sent me for a CT scan and I ended up in the Stoke Unit in POW hospital for 5 days of testing. An MRI confirmed I had actually suffered a series of small strokes, then the bigger one. This totally freaked out family & friends and it hit me hard as I am extremely fit & healthy with zero risk factors. At this stage the doctors have no answers to what triggered the strokes, I wear a heart bug for next 4 weeks to rule out atrial fibrillation, but I feel reassured I am on medication to prevent another stroke.

I am out of hospital and looking forward to resuming life as normal. While I am physically fine, I worry about the impact mentally especially when returning to work, but we'll cross those bridges when they pop up.

Your story made me feel I am not alone, and there is a community of survivors who have been through the same journey. Thanks for sharing your story Glenn & thanks to all who have shared on this post. 

Cheers

Stewart

Hi Glen, My stroke was also in teh cellebrum and not diagnosed unitl a week later (I didn;t go to the doctors until 5 days laters). Education is so important, both in recognising the signs of stroke and also for those around us now taht we live with the deficits and changes. 
It's graet that you've found Enableme...you'll find a great community of people

Toni

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