New to stroke

Hi Lizzy,

Welcome to EnableMe as you being to navigate life after your stroke.

It's a good question you ask about returning to work and a lot of people want to know about this same question.  Everybody's situation is so different, their impacts from their strokes and what that means for them.

Have you called Strokeline to talk with them about your questions?

1800 787 653 Monday -Friday 9am-5pm.

All the best

Sue

Hi Lizzy,

It's  a good idea to go make an appointment to see your GP in the first 1-2 weeks after being discharged home from hospital. This is a good chance to ask any questions that you may have since leaving hospital, and allows your GP to review things like your blood pressure and medications. 

Regarding return to work, we have a great section on return to work after a stroke in EnableMe:

https://enableme.org.au/Resources/Work ;

Please feel free to give us a call on StrokeLine if you'd like to speak with our health professionals (phone 1800 787 653, Mon-Fri 9am-5pm AEST). 

Best wishes,

Katherine (StrokeLine) 

Thank you Katherine for your helpful reply. Everyone here have been very helpful. I'm sure I have more questions to come as they arise. I really appreciate people's input and the sharing of their own experiences. Fantastic site

Regards Liz

Hi Lizzy, I found the support of my GP very helpful after my stroke particularly if you were in hospital life myself  seeing specialists who you may not see again for a while depending on their follow up requirements.  The GP can assist with any questions and provide a lot of support where needed as you recover.  I went back to work in a staggered fashion - as I couldn't drive for six weeks I started back 1 day, then on 2 two days and gradually built it up to 5 days again.  Now back to full time and 4 months post stroke it can be tiring some days but I try to "take care" of myself and not over do it.  For me going back to work was helpful and something I needed to do and I was surrounded with people  to talk to and it has helped to keep my mind busy. Its an individual thing but with the support of your GP as well to give you the okay to go back to work may be  the start of getting back to life as it was.  All the best in your recovery Lizzy.

I had my stroke 6 months and 8 days ago. After a month in hospital, the only specialist I have seen is my GP. This has mainly been for paperwork! Medical certificates for work, medical certificates for driving, statements for return to work etc. 

You need a good relationship with your GP, and even tell them the little things as many things don't work the same anymore.

I restarted work at 4hrs/day, 4 shifts/week, working from home. (In IT) The fatigue is amazing! Good sleep is essential, or I slur my words, and typing (with two left hands now!) is more difficult. All these little things are impacted when I get "tired".  Starting to go back to work at work 1d/week next year. I have a 1hr commuteon a bus and 20min drive to public transport.

The HR dept is a bit of a problem, and has stated that they will no longer support work from home next year.

I also have community rehab called CARS. They are fantastic. My coordination has improved, along with my speech. As time went on, different problems were addressed.My shoulder is the latest problem. And still the Bilateral weakness.

I have found that pushing my self too hard just gets me exhausted. Consistent effort (have to do my rehab exercises EVERY day) and time are the key. Did I mention the fatigue. Different to mental or physical fatigue.

Good luck

Hi Steve,

Thanks for sharing your experience of stroke and how you have navigated all that is required for you to return to work , the mention on CARS , they sound amazing !

What do you do that helps your fatigue ?

🙋 Sue

G'day Sue,

A good nights sleep is essential to may normal functioning, as is a bit of light exercise to help re calibrate my right side (more impacted), After a 4 hr work from home shift, my ability to concentrate and think through complex issues is slowed, but sometimes I feel fine and it is only when I woble up the hallway I realise that the fatigue has taken hold, My speech is slurred and balance impacted.

Lunch and an hour in the recliner and I feel good to go, and have sometimes gone back to work or a walk around the block (3km, big block!). I am certainly not able to do another 4 hrs.

Sleep is alot harder now, even when tired. Using Fitbit to quantify my sleep, and on the bad days can see I have not had my 8hrs.

Steve