Hi, my name is Sharon and I had a stroke in May 2018 when 26 weeks…

Hi, my name is Sharon and I had a stroke in May 2018 when 26 weeks pregnant. I was lucky enough to be Thrombolised and regained the use of my arm and did not have lasting problems with speech. I have been finding the fatigue extreme since returning to work 4 days per week and find it very difficult to concentrate and remain focused. I find it much more difficult to figure things out and think clearly. My main concern however is that I have been having terrible headaches for the past few weeks. I have not experienced many headaches for many months until a sudden onset of them about 5 weeks ago. They are mainly a sharp stabbing pain from the bottom left of my head through to the top left. I am also experiencing other headaches at times that are at the top front of my head. Do you think that this is cause for concern? This is happening everyday. I have recently moved 4 hours out of Sydney to Forster NSW and have yet to find a good GP so any advise would be appreciated. Thank you. I was having migranes on a regular basis approximately 4 years ago and I was told that there was a lot of white matter on the brain. I was also advised to come off the contraceptive pill which I did immediately. I have not had an issue with severe headaches for teh past few months until the recent onset.

Hello Sharon

Thank you for reaching out and I am sorry to hear of your headaches over the past few weeks. It sounds like it has been a difficult time for you with returning to work, the headaches and the fatigue. It's great to hear that your speech and mobility problems have resolved.

In regards to your headaches, I would recommend that you do go and see a Gp as soon as you can, but I know finding a new Gp can be challenging. There’s a good list on the Australian Government website Healthdirect for find a new Gp. You can find this here. We can’t specifically recommend any, but these might be a good place to start.

I would also suggest requesting further investigations with a Gp or specialist to ensure there isn't something else that could explain your headaches. Headaches, or any kind of pain isn’t something that you should have to put up with long term.

It can sometimes be helpful to keep a diary of what you are experiencing. Record the severity of the headaches out of 10, identify or list any potential triggers (fatigue, certain foods, lack of sleep, stress), how long they last and what helps to ease them (sleep, dark/quiet room, Panadol, etc.). You can then discuss these with your GP or specialist.

You might also consider relaxation strategies like meditation and mindfulness and complimentary therapies (in consultation with a doctor) to help manage the headaches.

If at any stage your headaches become very severe, have a very sudden onset, and are not relieved with standard pain medication like paracetamol, please call 000 immediately. These can be a sign of a stroke.

Unfortunately fatigue can be common after stroke, with about half of survivors experiencing it. More research is needed as the cause of post-stroke fatigue is still unclear. It can be difficult to put a time frame on how long the fatigue will last, however there are things you can do to manage your fatigue.

It is important to investigate and manage any external factors that may be contributing to your fatigue. Speak to your doctor about your pain , sleep problems and your mood. Also ask about medications and nutritional deficiencies that may be contributing to fatigue.

When managing your fatigue, it is important to balance activity and rest, exercise in moderation, monitor your diet and have a good sleep routine.

It might be helpful to reach out so we can talk to you more about both your headaches and the fatigue you have described since returning to work You are welcome to give us a call on StrokeLine on 1800 787 653.

Best wishes,

Siobhan (StrokeLine)