EnableMe | enableme - stroke recovery and support

I am a young 65 year old and new to all of this. I have had 4 strokes in less than a year and after coming out of rehab 2 weeks ago have been staying with a friend. I am petrified of going home and being alone, I constantly worry it will happen again.

My specialist doesn't know what is causing these strokes and doesn't seem very interested in finding out - i have had a mountain of tests, scans, heart monitoring, angiograms etc and when I go for my appointments he asks ME what tests I've had! Even though all my reports and results are on the computer in front of him, I talk about other med professionals sending him reports and then he searches for them in my file, he's not even read them which makes me feel insignificant and not worth the bother.

I am going home tomorrow, I live alone and am so scared. I need coping mechanisms from anyone that's been through this if you can help at all.

Hi Sue,

How are you going? I've just found this site and saw your post. I remember being scared, too, and watched other stroke survivors scared as they prepared to go home.

I hope you're managing okay. It's been a couple of days now.

Your biggest help will be the social worker in your area. If the hospital haven't put you in touch with one, maybe call the stroke line and they can find out, or the hospital where you were staying. Tey can connect you to local services.

Anyway, for what it's worth, I arranged for people to come in and check on me twice a day at first - to help me with breakfast and dinner and wash up, and hang out the washing and make the bed. I couldn't do much at first. I paid them $25 per visit. It's not much, but it was what I could afford - I don't think I qualify for NDIS.

Anyway, thank you for reaching out. I hope things settle down for you soon.

All the best

Belinda

Terrified of going home alone

Leave a reply