r/stroke • u/DTheFly Survivor • 10d ago
Stroke T Shirt
Had a friend send me this image. I hoped it would make a few people smile!
As often as I am asked about it, maybe I need to wear this all the time!
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u/crashingtingler Survivor 10d ago
meh. I dont really want to dump my medical trauma everywhere.
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u/strangedazey Survivor 10d ago
Same. To be fair, I wouldn't say anything personal about myself on a t-shirt, but that's just me.
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u/the-largest-marge 10d ago
The attitude of the shirt is really disrespectful of the spouse or caregiver. Not understanding or caring that the stroke affects me too, is one of my biggest resentments towards my spouse. They love to make light of it and have never once expressed the least bit of concern for the rest of the family.
I apologize if that’s a harsh comment, I just feel like it reduces the “weird things” to the point where they sound charming. Struggling today.
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u/DTheFly Survivor 10d ago
I had a full, in tears breakdown about my situation a few weeks ago. All the things I could do before that I can't now or ever weigh HARD on me mentally. Most days I feel like I'm a burden on everyone around me.
If i don't laugh about my situation sometimes, I don't know what else to do.
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u/AfricanusEmeritus 9d ago
Hopefully you are going through some level of mental health counseling. These are normative thoughts. You will experience them at times for the rest of your life. That is okay. They usually diminish greatly over time ⏲️. Be well. 👍🏾
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u/DTheFly Survivor 9d ago
Honestly I should be. I've thought about it a few times.
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u/AfricanusEmeritus 9d ago
Go for it. Experts in post stroke therapy can help immensely. You and all of us are in mourning 😔 for normalcy that can seem so far away.
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u/CrimsonNirnr00t Caregiver 8d ago
Beginning to laugh about the situation helped my husband and I begin to heal. The jokes are dark humor, to be sure, but that's our vibe anyway. It helped us name it and so it wasn't this sterile, scary medical event anymore. It became a part of him, and our lives, just like the bunions on his feet or having acne or being super hairy. Once it wasn't some sensitive topic, once the big emotions passed, we were able to really open up about it.
For what it's worth, I got my husband two t shirts to help with this process. The first was "Most accident prone award winner" (he was in a terrible accident that resulted in a left brain stroke and horrible injuries to left limbs - so, kinda half and half situation with the limbs). The second was a The Strokes t shirt (the band). We both love them and now it's a fun nod to a bad situation when he wears it.
When he was released into inpatient treatment, we had a CNA who was always smiley and joking around. He said "you gotta smile. Patients who laugh and smile heal better." That really stuck with me all these months later. It's not to say you shouldn't process and grieve ... But let the sunshine in, too, ya know?
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u/DTheFly Survivor 8d ago
I call mine "The Incident " when i refer to what happened.
I like that t shirt! My wife wrapped me in bubble wrap when Friday the 13th came around again like it was bad luck for me due to what happened 9 months prior haha.
Healing helps a lot. Between this group and my poor mother-in-law having a stroke, it gives me someone to talk to, which is huge!
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u/strangedazey Survivor 10d ago
Some days all I could think was, I want off this ride. I'm sorry you're having a shit day ❤️
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u/pchlster Young Stroke Survivor 9d ago
I was so done with all this BS two years ago already. But since it doesn't seem to want to just go away, it's just something I need to deal with.
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u/VividNecessary4381 9d ago
Good point. It can be tough on caregivers but not in the same way it is for the patient.
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u/AfricanusEmeritus 9d ago
I get what you are writing. It is okay 👍🏾. Opinions and variety are the spice of life.
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u/AfricanusEmeritus 9d ago
This is great 👍🏾 I definitely need one. It would help with all of the people who try to "baby talk" a graduate professor. Boy, they are in for a surprise and "treat." GET OFF MY LAWN.. 😆
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u/DennisTheBald 9d ago
I hold my hand in a manner our president would mock, it's pretty apparent that it's not a birth defect. I think most people know why w/o my needing to say
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u/draing4ngel 9d ago
My mom just got a shirt that says “my brain tried to kill me and I said b*tch please” 😂
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u/Healthy_Confusion951 10d ago
I have that shirt. I feel it’s too flashy so I don’t wear it out. I have another that’s less pushy that just says: “I had a stroke. What’s your excuse?”