Often getting confused, scared, and emotional

Hi Jason,

I'm sorry about your strokes and the affect of confusion you have been left with. 

I'm glad you found EnableMe.

My stroke was 25 years ago and I can only reflect on moments of confusion which for me did not appear like yours, but the confusion in keeping within the present moment was hard work. Especially if there was a lot to take in, noise, instruction, people talking over the top of one another .

For me being aware of the confusion happening,  knowing that everyone else was witnessing it too was a start. And what this meant for me was enough for me to be determined to find a way to ease this bizarre feeling.

From that awareness came the need to concentrate really hard to bring myself into the moment. And like you say, that caused tiredness.  There was no quick fix, just perseverance and exploring what I felt eased this experience.

Music - I was a big music listener. Classical music was best for what I am describing for me.

Breathing - in these moments, becoming still and listening to myself breathe.

Look to the sky - I know I tended to look upwards, i don't know why, it just gave me peace.

Forwards - Being aware of it happening and then the desire to want to continue onwards. Rest if needed.

Recovery and healing is such a personal thing but there are a lot of common themes which I see have helped others. Have you contact Strokeline to talk to someone? 

Strokeline is a Freecall and is attached to the Stroke Foundation. The hours of Strokeline are Mon-Friday 9am-5pm. 1800 787 653.

There is probably a medical term for what you are experiencing, what I experienced back then - but I don't know it. 

Hope this helps.

Regards

Sue

Hi Jason,

I'm sorry about your strokes and the affect of confusion you have been left with. 

I'm glad you found EnableMe.

My stroke was 25 years ago and I can only reflect on moments of confusion which for me did not appear like yours, but the confusion in keeping within the present moment was hard work. Especially if there was a lot to take in, noise, instruction, people talking over the top of one another .

For me being aware of the confusion happening,  knowing that everyone else was witnessing it too was a start. And what this meant for me was enough for me to be determined to find a way to ease this bizarre feeling.

From that awareness came the need to concentrate really hard to bring myself into the moment. And like you say, that caused tiredness.  There was no quick fix, just perseverance and exploring what I felt eased this experience.

Music - I was a big music listener. Classical music was best for what I am describing for me.

Breathing - in these moments, becoming still and listening to myself breathe.

Look to the sky - I know I tended to look upwards, i don't know why, it just gave me peace.

Forwards - Being aware of it happening and then the desire to want to continue onwards. Rest if needed.

Recovery and healing is such a personal thing but there are a lot of common themes which I see have helped others. Have you contact Strokeline to talk to someone? 

Strokeline is a Freecall and is attached to the Stroke Foundation. The hours of Strokeline are Mon-Friday 9am-5pm. 1800 787 653.

There is probably a medical term for what you are experiencing, what I experienced back then - but I don't know it. 

Hope this helps.

Regards

Sue

Hi Jason,

We are so sorry to hear about your aneurysm and stroke. Cognitive (or thinking) changes such as difficulties in memory, planning, insight, orientation and problem solving can occur after stroke. The short bursts of confusion followed by tiredness that you describe seem a little more out of character and this is likely why your neurologist is investigating seizures. The risk of seizures is higher after stroke, more so with haemorrhagic stroke and also craniotomy. The neurologist may have mentioned there are many different types of seizures and sometimes they are silent or not obvious to the person experiencing them. The EEG will help clarify what is going on. Here is some information on stroke and seizures.

We advise you to continue to follow up with your neurologist. It must be very challenging and frightening for you to experience this. Are you seeing any other health professionals like an occupational therapist, psychologist or neuropsychologist to help with the thinking and emotional changes?

The loss of emotional control that you describe is common after stroke and there are things you can do to help. Speaking to your neurologist and GP about this is recommended as there is medication that can help.

Here is a recent podcast on emotional and personality changes after stroke that you might find useful.

Here is a conversation on our forum with useful tips around managing what is often called emotional lability after stroke.

Here is general information about thinking changes after stroke and emotions after stroke. Our fact sheets are listed in the resources on the top of these web pages.

Sue has also offered some very useful tips that helped in her recovery. Thank Sue :-)

Please don’t hesitate to call us on StrokeLine, our free call helpline on 1800 787 653 or reply here for additional information or support.

Best wishes,

Simone (StrokeLine)

Hi Jason,

Here are a few more comments from the Facebook community:

Janelle Evans 18 months ago I had aneurysm rupture(CVA) and then a craniotomy within 24 hrs as well for a 2nd aneurysm. Fatigue big time ever since. Good and bad days. Confusion is occasional but I do have short term memory loss. I can't recall a word I want to speak plus I have to work hard at concentrating while people tell me things. Vertigo I still get. And sometimes my eye lids flutter for no apparent reason. Emotional very much so. You need someone you can talk to , to empathize with you. It doesn't make everything go away but it does reassure you that all you are going through is ok and this is your journey.

Nathan Baxter Occasional memory loss, vertigo, extreme emotional responses, constant fatigue, insomnia and neurologists have no idea why. It’s been over 18 months now since my strokes and I’ll keep fighting because it’s all I know to do. 

I also went back to uni this year and am studying neuroscience. If needs be I’ll figure it out on my own. Bloody stroke.

Shelagh Brennand Little confusion but emotional yes! Wow! Still cry when I’m happy, sad and at anything but that’s ok! It is what it is. Any brain injury causes so many symptoms so just be kind to yourself. It’s ok to feel like this. We’ve lost the person we were and even though that person may come back better and stronger, acceptance is a huge part of it. We are all here to help you through and this is why the Stroke Foundation are there in an instant to guide you along your road to recovery. Much love and please don’t suffer alone 
Shelagh 

Garry Jolley-Rogers Cognitive fatigue is a bastard. Your neurologist may be right. But I still experience similar symptoms on occasion years afterwards

Marcus Otlowski Fatigue and confusion... common. It will take time. You are not alone.

Di Shorland My dad had the fatigue and confusion. The more he rested and didn’t get frustrated at ‘lost time’ the better he got. Dads stroke did induce epilepsy causing him to have falls, he is on an epilepsy pills once a day, also induced when he looked up, and no issues since thank goodness as we were always worried re follow up strokes. Learn from your body, look for new patterns be prepared to try knew things. Talking about the issues is huge, well done, dad struggled with that

Katrina Cunningham Yes! Especially early on, over time I learned strategies to manage to cope, and you will too. Fatigue doesn’t help, give yourself time and be kind to yourself. All the best.

Graeme Marshall Have most problems with my eyes and face pain. Still shuffle a bit, some days I feel a bit slow. Swim and walk on alternative days. Try to soldier on and hope theres improvement over time

I hope that they help.

Diana 

yes it is come among use , head aches 4 times a day , lose of balance , is quite commen , and of  course the old memory lose , losng a day is commen for me , acrying ,stil on the socalled tablets but thet don't work , aleast you got a family who loves you , most important.