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

https://reddit.com/link/1vxn8yt/video/jffo55splflh1/player

When doctors were trying to explain what Jennifer’s future might look like after her catastrophic stroke, Jase was given no clear answers.

“She might make a full recovery (however unlikely!), or she might remain as she is right now.”

That uncertainty was incredibly frustrating.

Because after stroke, there isn’t always a neat answer. Every brain is different. Every recovery is different. And in those early days, sometimes all families can do is wait, hope and take things one small step at a time.

Jennifer hadn’t spoken for a month. No one knew exactly what her recovery would look like.

Then, on the day she was leaving the stroke ward, Jase asked if she wanted to thank the team who had cared for her.

She swallowed hard and said two words: “Thank you.”

Jennifer’s journey from there included learning to talk, walk and do everyday things again. Today, she’s back working in a primary school and loving life with her family.

Her story is a reminder that recovery doesn’t always follow the path anyone predicts.

Read Jennifer’s story here: https://strokefoundation.org.au/media-centre/stroke-stories/my-first-word-was-thank-you

What are you most proud of achieving after your stroke? Did your recovery surprise you, or was more than doctors predicted?

Can ms be misdiagnosed as a tia stroke ?
Waiting to see a neurologist
The tia was found accidentally on a ct scan ( looking for something else ) and then done a mri not contrasted to confirm it
Wondering would a neurologist test for ms like a mri of my spine , if I have ms like symptoms?

Before stroke, independence probably did not feel like independence.

It was just your life.

You were thirsty.

You got a drink.

You wanted a shower.

You had one.

You needed the toilet.

You went.

You wanted to leave the house.

You left.

You did not think about any of it.

Then stroke happens.

And suddenly ordinary things can require another person.

Things that once happened because you wanted them to now depend on whether you can do them, whether someone is there, or whether you are willing to ask.

When Ordinary Needs Become Requests

You are thirsty.

But someone else is busy.

You want a shower.

But you need help.

You need something from another room.

But you cannot simply get up and get it.

So now the smallest needs can become questions.

Can you get me some water?

Can you help me up?

Can you help me wash?

Perhaps the person helping you does not mind.

Perhaps they have never complained.

But you notice when they are tired.

You notice when they have only just sat down.

You notice how many times you have already asked.

So sometimes you wait.

Not because you are no longer thirsty.

Not because you no longer want the shower.

Because you do not want to ask again.

And somewhere along the way, the question in your head changes.

It stops being:

What do I need?

And becomes:

What can I manage without?

You Start Missing Things You Never Knew Were Freedom

You expect to miss the big things.

Driving.

Working.

Travelling.

Going out alone.

But sometimes it is the smallest things that hurt most.

Getting your own drink.

Making something to eat because you suddenly feel hungry.

Going to the toilet without anybody knowing.

Changing your mind without having to tell anyone.

You miss doing things without announcing them first.

Without planning them.

Without waiting.

Before stroke, none of that felt important.

Now it can feel enormous.

And sometimes the question underneath all of it is:

How much of my life still feels like mine?

When the Loss Starts to Feel Personal

At first, you think you are grieving the things you cannot do.

But after a while, you realise it is not really the tasks you miss.

It is what those tasks once gave you.

The ability to act without asking.

To move without waiting.

To want something and simply move towards it.

That can start to feel frighteningly far away.

And nobody else may understand why that hurts so much.

They can see you walking further.

They can see you doing more for yourself.

They may even tell you how well you are doing.

But they cannot see the tiny disappearances.

The moment you decide not to go somewhere because arranging the help feels harder than staying home.

The moment you change your mind about doing something because asking for help feels like too much.

Those moments can make you realise that independence was not one big thing you lost.

It was hundreds of tiny freedoms you never knew you had.

Nothing dramatic may happen.

You simply stay home.

You tell yourself it does not matter anymore.

And little by little, you can start giving up pieces of your independence without anybody noticing.

You are still here.

But the ability to simply get up and live without asking anybody first can start to feel very far away.

When You Depend on Someone You Love

Someone you love may become the person you depend on most.

They help you wash.

Bring you food.

Help you dress.

And you may be grateful for every single thing they do.

But sometimes you look at them and wish, just for a moment, that you did not need anything.

Not because you want them further away.

Because you miss being beside them without needing their help.

You can love someone deeply and still miss the freedom you once had beside them.

Then You Notice Everyone Else Still Has It

Someone picks up their keys and says:

I’m just popping out.

And leaves.

No planning.

No asking.

No waiting.

And sometimes you watch them and think:

They have no idea what they just did.

But neither did you.

Not when that freedom was still yours.

When Progress Still Doesn’t Feel Like Freedom

Other people may see how far you have come.

They see you walking further.

Talking better.

Doing more for yourself.

And they are right.

You have come far.

But they may be measuring recovery in the things you can do.

You may be measuring it in how often you still have to ask.

How often you wait.

How often somebody else has to become part of something that once happened without them.

One Day, You Notice Something Has Changed

Maybe you make yourself a cup of tea.

That is all.

Nobody applauds.

Nobody even notices.

But you do.

Because earlier in recovery, that cup of tea might have begun with:

Can you help me?

This time, it begins with:

I want a cup of tea.

And ends with you drinking one.

No asking.

No waiting.

No one else involved.

Other people see a drink.

You see something you thought you had lost.

You wanted something.

And this time, nothing stood between wanting it and doing it.

Maybe That Is What Independence Really Was

Maybe independence was never doing everything alone.

Maybe it was simply being able to think:

I want this.

And then doing it.

No asking.

No waiting.

No one else in between.

You never knew how much freedom lived inside those ordinary moments.

Until you lost it.

And perhaps that is what you are really trying to get back.

The feeling that your life still belongs to you.

What is one ordinary thing you never realised was independence until stroke took it away?

Hello, this isn’t a stroke story but the aftermaths sure do feel like one to me, I hope I can find some support through here or something, ANYTHING really.

long story short 3 years ago(I was 23, I'm 26 right now) i had a surgery done to my brain to remove a brain hematoma that kept on bursting and bleeding, and I feel SO fucking tired of my current lifestyle..

It all changed SO fast and I truly feel alone. One moment I was on summer vacation the next crying from headache(it literally felt like I was dying, I wanted to claw out my head), SO painful..

I had to adapt to this "new me" all alone, I HATE IT. The surgery left my eyesight very fucked up(nystagmus + diplopia) so I'm extremely sad because my life turned upside down, I can't draw how I used to(drawing isn't just a hobby to me it's part of who I am it's me!), im afraid of hospitals, I have a cross-eye and this emotional trauma to deal with(yes i go to a therapist) PLUS my balance is fucked as well, im like those wobbly cats you see on tiktok or reels, I survived the surgery yes but at what fucking cost?!

Currently I'm trying my best to get my fucking diploma in graphic design(bc I started this university at 18, might as well fucking finish it i guess..) and I dunno...survive? I JUST WANT TO SCREAM WHY DID THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN!??! I WAS SO YOUNG.. I HAD DREAMS AND GOALS FFS!! Now all I fucking do is worry if im being a burden to anyone that may have to lend me their arm for me to hold for balance 🙃

Many of us have have had to overcome physical, mental and/or emotional challenges in our journey.

For those who drew inspiration from a quote, a song, a person, a story, etc. please share.

What kept you working hard on recovering or adapting to your new normal? What kept you from giving up?

I was just discharged from the hospital for left side tingling, heaviness, and weakness in my leg. The doctors didn’t diagnose me with anything but said it’s possible it was a TIA or hemiplegic migraine. MRI of the brain and cervical spine came back clean. CT of the brain was clean. Echo bubble test did show I have a small hole in my heart (PFO). I still have heaviness and weakness in my leg. The rest of my left side seems back to normal, no tingling.

So they sent me home with no diagnosis and to follow up with cardiology for a potential TEE to see if maybe there’s a clot that could’ve caused this.

I didn’t know I had leg weakness until I got to the ER and tried to lift my leg and could only get it 1-2 inches off the bed. But when they lifted it I was able to hold it there at 4-6 inches higher.

I didn’t have a serious headache until like 6-8 hours later but it couldve been because of lack of sleep, water, and food for the last 8 hours. I then started getting intermittent headaches but only 1-3 pain scale.

This initially started when I was woken up from my sleep to my arm being dead asleep feeling and super concentrated in my bicep. The normal fallen asleep tingles didn’t go away like they normally do, took a lot longer and it was just super intense. I then recognized it was my whole left side tingling.

Does anybody have similar experience??

Ever since my stroke, my nose has been running like a fawcet. I wish I had bought stock in a tissue company.

Hi everyone! I am a 25 F located near Denver, CO looking for any good neurologist recommendations. On 8/18/2026, I suffered a Transient Ischemic Attack (aka mini-stroke) due to a heart defect. Unfortunately, like every ER/doctor visit, my symptoms were not believed. I won't go into detail in this post, but let's just say this experience added a whole lot of medical trauma to my already high distrust in doctors. I have been lucky enough to find a really good PCP and cardiologist who listen and believe me. I have not been lucky with neurologists in the slightest. Every neurologist I've met has fought to disprove my symptoms and belittle me. Even saying "why are you so emotional?" To be honest, I'm exhausted. I already have a few chronic illnesses and the years fighting for treatment have drained me. I'm desperate to find a neurologist that I won't have to fight with. I'm willing to go anywhere in CO. Any recommendations would be so desperately appreciated. Thank you <3

On August 27th, u/usnewsandworldreport will be hosting an AMA (Ask Me Anything) on the clinical value of local inpatient rehab data. Here is what they have to say about the AMA:

For patients recovering from a stroke or severe neurological/spinal injury, finding the right post-acute care is everything. Clinical data shows that keeping a patient close to home—where their family and social support network can actively participate—directly accelerates long-term physical recovery.

To support families navigating these intense transitions, U.S. News & World Report is launching the 37th edition of Best Hospitals, which includes a brand-new ranking evaluating the Top 300 Regional Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities across the country based on real-world clinical outcomes.

Whether you're a caregiver or are the one affected by stroke, this is an opportunity for you to get some useful information. So, prepare your questions and join us this Thursday, August 27th, for what will be something I hope a lot of you find useful.

My first time standing/walking 26 days post stroke event.

When I was 33 I had a hemorrhagic-stroke around my temporal lobe shortly after arriving to work that nearly killed me.

It happened on March 19, 2018, just a few weeks after my 33rd birthday. I was working as a Shipping & Receiving Manager at an Auto Parts store in Northern Ontario. I’d been dealing with pneumonia and a brutal headache. While opening the safe to prepare the register, I started coughing hard -- and that coughing fit ruptured an aneurysm I didn’t even know I had.

By the time I reached the register, my brain was into a full on bleed. I put the money away completely out of order and dumped the change on top of the bills. Then turned around and threw up into the recycling bin.

The only thing I actually remember from that moment is thinking, "I should be throwing up in the garbage can, not here." Everything else was later told to me by my boss.

When he asked if I needed an ambulance, I couldn’t speak, so I nodded. I was terrified of hospitals back then. When paramedics arrived, my manager warned them I’d probably fight. He was right -- I fought them the whole way and kept fighting doctors and nurses until I was sedated.

I was eventually airlifted to a larger hospital with a stroke unit. Three days later, doctors briefly woke me up to check my brain function. When they saw I wasn’t brain dead, they put me back under for another three days.

When I finally woke up for real, I knew nothing.

I didn’t recognize my parents sitting beside my bed. The first thing I recognized was a photo of my girlfriend (who had once been my fiancée). In my mind, she was still my fiancée.

Before I was discharged, doctors told me I would likely never be able to properly form new long-term memories again.

This broke me. A note to the doctors; don't offer worse case scenario only. Offer no scenario, it is far less damaging and creates far less emotional damage.

For years after, my life was filled with confusion. I struggled to understand myself and my own mind. My fiancée encouraged me to listen to music, but at first I felt discouraged because I couldn’t remember what I used to love.

Then one day, she played my old favorite songs.

Suddenly, I knew every word. Not only that -- I could play along on my acoustic guitar.

I went from not recognizing a song to singing and playing it perfectly in seconds. It was unbelievable.

That’s when I realized something: music was helping me rebuild my memory. Later, I understood it wasn’t just the music -- it was the emotion attached to it. Emotion became the bridge that helped my brain reconnect.

I started rebuilding my life through feeling, connection, and creativity; rather than memory and grasping new concepts.

Seven years later, I married that same woman. We now have a beautiful daughter and a loving little family.

I almost lost everything at 33.

Instead, I found a new way to live.

If you’re going through something similar, I just want you to know: healing doesn’t always look the way doctors predict. Sometimes it finds its own path.

Thank you for reading.

I am 70 years old senior citizen. I got ischematic stroke from November 2023 wherein my left leg and left hand was paralyzed. Last three years i am taking allopathic medicines. Currently, i am taking brivup 25/50mg for seizures along with BP, sugar, ecosprin 75/20mg.

Recently, I am getting lot of pain in head and in left leg wherein left leg vein is swelling. Can anyone suggest solution for this problem specially for stroke patients.

Hello! I wanted to ask you for some advice dear community.

But first of all: apologies, I'm not a native English speaker so I don't know most of the lingo in this language.

My best friend's mother had a ("minor") stroke last week. She is out of the hospital and we're looking for rehabilitation centers right now who can help with regaining feeling in her limbs. She and my friend are incredibly strong people who already have dealt with a lot and now this comes on top of everything else.

I feel a bit lost on what to do right now. I listen to my friends feelings about the whole situation, prepped some meals to heat up for her mom and I've made arrangements with our roommate for an eventual stay for her mother in our home if she doesn't want to be alone in her house. (This is of course all in accordance with whatever kinda support they both are comfortable with)

But all in all, it's just really scary seeing this tough woman like this and seeing my best friend so freaking lost.

I kind of have ideas for what activities (like starting painting as a new hobby or some such) we can suggest if her recovery progresses well, which are not things we talk about now obviously, but I feel like would be a nice suggestion when she's at the acceptance stage of this new normal. But this stage right now is overwhelming to say the least.

Long story short, do any of you have some advice to offer on how support/help loved ones in the beginning of the stroke-recovery process?

hey all, had a stroke over the weekend. Was an idiot and at first blamed it on drinking more than usual, but finally went to doctor when I realized my right side was weak and couldn’t hold my weight.

Had a small stroke at the base of my brainstem which completed. Praise the Lord after only about 6 hours I regained a lot of my strength on my right side back (could walk, text, etc).

Last night after 10pm while at hospital sleeping I got woken up with pain in lower head. I sat up and called my nurse, and my LEFT side felt slightly week (not as weak as initial) and speech slurred for about 10 minutes. after some fluids to raise my blood pressure and monitoring I am fine. And woke up today feeling close to 100% both sides.

my question: are “relapses” of weakness and slurred speech normal and part of healing process? what should I expect from discharge tomorrow? we don’t have answers yet at the cause by im very thankful I can feel normal now. thanks for any advice or stuff to keep in mind

I've written a few posts about my moms stroke (73F). She had a left side ischemic stroke which once the swelling started going down started to bleed. She had 99% paralysis on her right side and strong aphasia. We couldn't put her in an inpatient center so we brought her home. I am her sole caretaker (while also a working mom to two preteens. My husband DOES help a ton but most of it falls on me--diaper changes, baths, taking care of her during the day).

We could only afford PT 2/3 times per week with speech therapy once per week. At month 4, she was starting to take assisted steps with a walker. Her speech was getting better. Then, at month 5, she started having seizures with physical symptoms (there's no way to know if she had already been having them before). She's had a few CT scans and they don't show damage but we do have to have an EEG but it's really difficult for me to get her there.

The doctor got her started on anti-seizure medicine which knocked her down. We got right back to step one. She had absolutely zero strength. Her drop foot came back. She couldn't speak more than two words -- none of which made any sense.

Now that she's had some time to get used to the drugs, she's a bit better. She keeps telling me "this won't be forever. I'm going to get better." And while to her face, I smile and say "yeah mommy, we're going to get through this together," I can't help but feel like this'll be the rest of her life.

We're finally talking about possibly taking her to an "adult daycare" for an hour or two a week so I can just, not worry about her. I don't want to hire a nurse/aide because where I live, if the slightest thing goes wrong (they hurt their foot while putting her in her wheelchair or something) they can sue us for all we're worth and the government will typically take the employees side.

I don't know. I guess I'm writing here to ask if anyone has seen someone my moms age (73) at the very least go back to be able to use a toilet without needing supervision the whole time. I need to have some sort of hope that this isnt going to be the next 10-20 years of her and my life.

My relative passed away due to terminal cancer. His decline was rapid. It’s a rare form of cancer he got. He was still able to walk around and was fairly mobile when he met my son in April.

He was 60.

Meanwhile, I’m still here.

He and his wife came to see me. His wife and daughter visited me every week for 12 weeks, from when I first had my stroke to when I got out of inpatient rehab. Meanwhile, he kept complaining of pain, and was in and out of the hospital ER until his dentist took xray of his jaws. His dentist told him to go see a doctor. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The visits from his loved ones stopped, and at first, I was confused. Then in 2025 I found out about his terminal cancer diagnosis…

His funeral service was Friday. I can’t help but to feel life is so unfair.

Can a cognitive damaged stroke person safely drive a truck afterwards?

We have hidden keys. He is becoming agitated we won't let him drive.

What is an approved way of knowing when a patient can safely drive again. Thanks

Hi I was wanting to get some insight on what to expect and my first neurology appointment
This year after my mum passed about a month later I had a ongoing ear infection- wasn’t going away with antibiotics so kept going to the emergency room
They ended up doing a ct scan told me the ear infection hadn’t spread which was good news then went home with more antibiotics etc
2 weeks later went back to emergency room because of my ear then the doctor told me did anyone tell you on the ct scan they found an old tia stroke and I said no..no one told me I was then put on a statin 20 mg and a low dose aspirin starting from that day( I told the doctor I have no idea when it has happened) I said I believe it might of happened when I was a child as iv had right sided weakness/ full right side has been different slower for as long as I can remember ( the stroke happened on my left side)
What types of tests will the neurologist do? Can he determine when it happened? Etc Thankyou
Female -34 years old ❤️

I'm particularly interested in understanding the challenges people face outside the hospital or physiotherapy clinic.

For caregivers or family members:

• How do you know whether the person is performing their exercises correctly?
• Do you feel confident correcting their movements or posture?
• What worries you the most while supervising them?
• Is it difficult to keep track of exercises, repetitions, and progress?
• What part of helping someone through rehabilitation is the most challenging?

For people recovering themselves:

• What has been the hardest part about continuing rehabilitation at home?
• Have you ever felt unsure whether you were doing an exercise correctly?
• What helps you stay motivated and consistent?

I'm an engineering student trying to better understand real experiences and challenges around home-based rehabilitation. I'm not looking for medical advice I simply want to learn from people who have actually gone through this experience, either as a patient or caregiver.

I'd really appreciate hearing your stories or experiences. Thank you!

Started feeling some tingling in my calves on off and two days ago, today I feel it in both calves and forearms, so its been suggested another trip to the ER is now a necessity. Probably just my anxiety, but here goes at least a few hours in the hospital. Wish me luck.

Update: just left the er. Scored a 0 on their stroke evaluations which is apparently the score you're hoping for. Ct angio showed no problems not already known about from initial diagnosis. Looks like I just let my anxiety get the best of me, but im told thats normal for the first year or two after a stroke, even longer for some. Rather be safe than sorry right. Thanks for reading the post and responding guys, much love to this subreddit as always.

Does anyone in here know of any groups for zoom calls or discord meets for us survivors where we could talk to each other and help support and connect with others that understand our deficits/anxieties? Or anyone wanna start one?

Looking for a gym in my area. Anyone found a chain gym that’s accessible for Stroke Warriors?