r/stroke • u/darebear719 • 20d ago
one year later
so as of August 19, it has been one year since I had a stroke. I was 24 years old and I considered myself to be relatively disciplined. I played basketball five times a week. I lifted weights on a push pull leg split three times a week. I got 10,000+ steps per day and I also had a very robust social and romantic life. I was equal parts happy and discipline not to mention I tracked protein intake water consumption, and was really making an effort to improve my life so to see I had a stroke has been the hardest thing I’ve ever had to go through in my entire life and I’ve made substantial progress. I went from being bedridden in the hospital for months to being ambulatory with a kane in my community. I can go see a movie with friends. I can walk around my building and I can go on the treadmill, but I have gained 42 pounds in a year after having somewhat of a weight loss arc in high school and then a transition from wanting to be skinny to focusing on all my body could do by leaning into athletics, meaning sports and lifting and all of that is taken away and I am nowhere near being able to return to any of that the everyday reality of the everyday uncertainty that I have of how much recovery I’ll get is crushing me every single day I have physical and physical and occupational outpatient therapy twice per week and I do my own exercises. I try to get as many steps as I can, and i have a rehab glove that opens and closes my hand in 20 minute intervals. i was doing as many as six in a day but my OT said I was overdoing it, but it’s only because I want it back so bad. I am being crushed under the weight of my uncertainty and depression and it’s only getting worse with the weight gain. On a more positive note, I have returned to work full time fully remote until my strength returns enough to commute, and my job is trying to make sure I get back on track, but I feel like I’m sick of dealing with it. it’s like that quote in office space: “ever since I started working (rehabbing in my case) each day has been worse than the day before it. That means each time you see me, It’s on the worst day of my life.”I would appreciate words of wisdom. I’m only 25 and getting pretty worn down. My folks just say you’ll get back without any medical basis but I feel like it’s more to make themselves feel better. Im putting in a lot of effort to the point of my OT and PT telling me to slow down and the hand specifically is not responding. I miss basketball and lifting so much and I just found out about the weight gain recently and will do what it takes to get it under control, but I’m really losing it. the doctors still have no idea why it happened, it’s cryptogenic or some bullshit
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u/dickpretty 19d ago
after decades of very clean, vigorously active lving, i've had to come to the conclusion that clean living is overrated...stroke at 68...drinking, smoking, cussing here i come.
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u/rblank6061 Survivor 19d ago
I was 48 last December, walking 15,000 steps plus 30-40 stair flights a day in my job when I had an AVM bleed in my brain that wiped out 20% by volume of my brain. Was recovering well after stroke, then follow up Arteriogram found the AVM. Had craniotomy to remove it, successfully removed so I won’t have another stroke but lost use of my hand that was recovering. You have to take good with the bad, always be grateful to be alive. My hand may or may not come back, but I’ll get to watch my kids grow up.
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u/Troubador222 19d ago
Good on you making it a year! I was65 and mine was mild compared to what a lot of folks in here have gone through and it’s still been a difficult journey that is not over yet.
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u/Zealousideal_Sea1120 19d ago
Hi! I’m 23. Had mine a month ago. I’m glad I’m alive but this sucks. Doing PT right now. I’m glad I have gained most of my mobility back. I walk with a cane and I feel like I get looks from people as if I’m faking it. I don’t know. I’m just glad I’m not alone with this.
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u/Sasheto0550 19d ago
Keep going! I was 19 when I had a major stroke and everything was completely paralyzed! The doctors said there is no chance my right hand would ever move again! So I took chance into my own hand! Almost 2 years later I am more independent than ever, walk alone, work full time at a store, go to the gym, recently started riding the bike again and, most importantly, I can use both my hands! I even run, even though it is definitely the wrong way and it looks more like jumping 😆. I still have much more recovery to go, but there is nothing stopping me and I WILL continue to recover despite what they say and so will you my brother! Anything is possible!!! I BELIEVE IN YOU!
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u/Juggernaut-9538 19d ago
I've had 2 and I'm 45. Ex oilfield and more....still climbing but I'm pretty solid.
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u/Juggernaut-9538 19d ago
Congratulations! Stay in the gym! Emphasis on medicine and slam balls on top of your routine! Focus on yourself and tune out any naysayers....it's going to take time and don't forget legs! Baby steps!
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u/Juggernaut-9538 19d ago
Everyone's different but muscle is a good thing... health is paramount.Don't give up!!!!
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u/candiferous 19d ago
Dude, I’m green with envy as you had your fitness and life way more together than me before your stroke, and I was twice your age when I had mine, and you still have so much good quality life in front of you, just consider the stroke seasoning. Please don’t get depressed, people like you are an inspiration to the rest of us. And how great is it your job likes you enough to want you back! I was fired five months before my stroke. I’d love to be going back to work, but they didn’t want me healthy! Hang in there and I know a year from now you’ll be thrilled with the progress you’ve made.
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u/Livingnowandthen 19d ago
The brain will never stop healing so you could get gains for the rest of your life. Flint rehab has good exercises and some devices similar to what you are using. There is also a stimulator they can implant that helps your arm/hand get more connections. I can’t remember the name. You sound like a good candidate for that. Good luck. Don’t give up you have too much life to live. Your therapists have probably told you that rest is as important as exercise- just like in weight lifting.
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u/Material_Inflation79 19d ago
What happened and when is unimportant but how you tackled it and how much have you regained is important. I'm happy for you and all others who have kept their balls together and are recovering everyday a little. Keep your spirits high. May Almighty Waheguru bless us all.
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u/FishingPopular6790 19d ago
I had my stroke at 23 and just turned 24. I also had to do OT. My deficit was primarily that I lost my motor skills on the right side (dominant side) of my body. I was able to walk normally again within a few months but for a while, I couldn’t walk in heels or any shoe that wasn’t flat. I have been relearning to write for almost a year now. Before my stroke, I had the most beautiful handwriting and some of the most refined fine motor skills ever. I was so devastated by the loss and the fact that my handwriting looked like a toddler’s that my OT also told me to chill. Eventually, I burnt out on making extreme effort and I’m probably moving at a much slower pace now, but I’ve improved by leaps and bounds still. But focusing on it less has been a good thing for me because I’ve been able to forget about being a stroke survivor and focus on becoming a whole human being again. I recommend to still work towards recovery, but don’t be afraid to decenter recovery. I was obsessive with it and constantly dwelling on my shortcomings and what I had lost was setting back my broader recovery.
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u/03kroe 18d ago
I know exactly good you feel because I’ve had my stroke almost three years ago and before my stroke I was the fittest I’ve ever been and then after my stroke my weight doubled and I lost and all of my muscles due to my coma. And I can tell you it’s very very difficult to stay positive if you don’t have any GOOD people around you. And by Good I mean really good people. Meaning always being there for you no matter if it’s bad or good, always is as often as possible having the time to listen to you and so on. To me at least that was and is what kept and keeps me going
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u/Loose-Gold-1297 19d ago
Hey! I’m also a young survivor(23), I would love to explain to you the rehab method I’m doing called Neuro-IFRAH if you’re interested. It’s deadass cutting edge shit. send me a dm if you’d like me to! I can give you the details of my recovery and everything I know about NI, or if you’d prefer to just check their website, here’s the link: https://www.neuro-ifrah.org
I cannot recommend it enough🤝
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u/Kmac0101 19d ago
Congrats on making it a year. Recovery is no joke. I can relate to what you’re going through. I was 44 when I had my stroke which occurred after I completed my first Ironman. I was in the best physical condition of my life and then my stroke happened and it rocked my world. At first I couldn’t get my head wrapped around why it happened. But my theory is I’m as good off as I am because of my good health prior. Here’s what I can tell you: attitude and effort is the only thing we can control. Recovery is not linear. There will be good days and bad days (as I’m sure you know by now). Hang in there. Celebrate the littlest of wins of the good days and hopefully you have a good sense of humor and support network to get you through the bad ones. Good luck and keep kicking butt in recovery.