Tag: Stroke Recovery

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Navigating Temperature Control Challenges After a Stroke: A Personal Journey

In the wake of my husband’s stroke, we faced a myriad of challenges, one of which was his sudden struggle with body temperature regulation. This unexpected journey began when he suffered a brain stroke, leading to bleeding in the central part of his brain. Among the areas impacted was the hypothalamus, nestled just above the brainstem.

The hypothalamus plays a pivotal role in maintaining our body’s equilibrium, a state known as homeostasis. As the Cleveland Clinic outlines, this small but mighty part of the brain acts as a messenger, coordinating crucial functions such as body temperature, blood pressure, and even our moods and sleep patterns.

The initial three months post-stroke were particularly tough, and they’re periods my husband doesn’t recall. After removing his feeding tube, I took on the responsibility of feeding him, a slow and painstaking process due to his lack of motivation. His sense of time was skewed, necessitating a strict sleep schedule. Touch became a source of discomfort, like a knife’s edge against his skin. His world seemed devoid of the sensations that usually bring joy, like the warmth of a sunny day or the cool relief of a breeze.

In the following months, his perception of hot and cold became conflated. He would wear a robe in summer, feeling both hot and cold simultaneously. We discovered that applying pressure to his skin could sometimes trick his brain into not feeling cold, leading him to often wear a hooded shirt even in warm weather. Before his stroke, we seldom needed air conditioning or heating in our Portland home, but post-stroke, finding a comfortable temperature became a constant challenge.

As someone who isn’t a medical professional, my understanding is based on observation and reading. I’ve noticed the brain’s remarkable ability to compensate and heal after such trauma. Before his stroke, my husband never enjoyed running, but now, it’s an activity that seems to aid his recovery. Nearly a decade into his journey, his abilities have been significantly improved, such as being able to cook independently.

I’ve decided to share our story and his progress in a journal form, hoping it might offer a glimmer of hope to others in similar situations. Ten years ago, when he first experienced his stroke, I was desperate for information and support. Seeing his recovery now, I believe our experience might resonate with others searching for hope and understanding in the face of such life-changing events.

 

Reference

Cleveland Clinic. (2022, March 16). Hypothalamus. Health Library. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22566-hypothalamus

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Navigating My New Normal: Embracing Post-Stroke Clumsiness

Hello Dear Readers,

Life has a curious way of teaching us empathy and understanding. It’s often through our own experiences that we gain a deeper insight into others. After experiencing a stroke, one of the challenges I faced was an unexpected decrease in my dexterity, especially in my left hand. This unexpected turn of events forced me to grapple with a new clumsiness, unlike anything I had known before.

 

Before the stroke, I prided myself on my excellent balance and coordination. My hands were always sure and steady, effortlessly performing tasks. However, my left side became noticeably weaker post-stroke, with its response time not as quick as it used to be. This change surprised me, resulting in moments where I’d bump into objects or drop items. One incident that stands out vividly is an ordinary lunch at the hospital cafeteria. While attempting to take a sip from my drink, my left hand faltered, causing the drink to spill. It was a moment that was as puzzling as it was embarrassing.

 

These instances made me confront an unfamiliar reality. There was a pronounced disparity between what I anticipated I could do and what I was actually capable of. The once-taken-for-granted coordination became a daily challenge, requiring me to adjust and relearn. Thankfully, with persistence and rehabilitation, I started to bridge this gap over time. The gap between my anticipated abilities and my post-stroke realities gradually diminished.

 

Before this, I confess that my understanding and patience for those who might have been labeled as “clumsy” or “accident-prone” was limited. It’s not that I lacked compassion, but I lacked the lived experience. Now, with my own experiences of dropping things without apparent reason or unintentionally bumping into objects, I possess a newfound empathy for those facing coordination challenges.

 

In retrospect, it’s apparent that we often base our perceptions and judgments on our personal experiences. It takes a significant event or shift in our lives to broaden our understanding and allow us to see through another’s lens. For me, the aftermath of the stroke, with its challenges and revelations, became a significant event. It taught me the importance of patience, both with myself and others and highlighted the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

 

In embracing my new reality, I’ve learned to navigate through physical challenges and deepened my compassion and understanding for others. We all have our battles, seen or unseen, and it’s crucial to approach every individual with kindness and patience.

 

In closing, my message to all reading this is simple: Let us not wait for a transformative event to teach us empathy. Let’s embrace understanding and compassion as core tenets of our daily lives, making our world a little kinder, one interaction at a time.

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Relearning to Type After My Stroke

Hello Dear Readers,

Relearning a skill after a life-changing event is physically challenging and emotionally taxing. This has been my reality since experiencing a stroke, which severely affected my ability to type efficiently.

I fondly recall the days when my fingers would effortlessly dance on the keyboard at speeds of up to 200 words per minute. However, I struggle to achieve even a quarter of that pace post-stroke. The reason? My stroke took a toll on my muscle memory and compromised the strength and sensitivity of my left side. These physical limitations and my vivid memories of faster typing days have made the whole experience particularly disheartening.

It’s not merely the slowness but the inaccuracy that accompanies it. Each typo stands as a reminder of the capability I once had and the distance I have yet to cover to regain it. This sense of loss and nostalgia has often tempted me to shy away from the dedicated effort required to reacquire my typing proficiency. Despite these feelings, deep down, I remain hopeful. I believe I can rebuild this skill from scratch with perseverance and consistent effort.

Creating this blog has been a blessing in disguise for my recovery journey. It’s become more than just a platform for me to share my thoughts; it’s my daily typing exercise. I’m determined to challenge myself further by typing with both hands, even if it’s initially slower than just one. The silver lining? While my fingers might have forgotten their dance steps momentarily, my mind hasn’t. I can mentally map the keyboard layout, even if getting my fingers to follow requires deliberate thinking.

 

Day by day, as I write, I can feel the incremental improvements. The small victories, like fewer typos or slightly faster typing speeds, motivate me to persist. Given the time and intention to continue sharing my journey through this blog, I remain optimistic about reclaiming my former typing prowess.

 

I hope my story offers hope for anyone reading this and facing their set of challenges, whether related to a stroke or not. Recovery and relearning might be slow, but with patience and determination, progress is inevitable.

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Understanding Kidney Function and Body Temperature After a Stroke

Hello Dear Readers,

The kidneys, those bean-shaped organs sitting pretty in our lower back, wear multiple hats when it comes to our body’s overall health. One of their most critical roles is regulating our body temperature. And, if, like me, you’ve faced the aftermath of a stroke, this role becomes even more evident. Post-stroke, I observed a peculiar change: I began to feel colder more easily. The culprit? A compromised kidney function.

The changing of seasons is a beautiful phenomenon to witness. Leaves changing colors, the transition from warm sunshine to chilly breezes, and the metamorphosis of our environment. However, these changes come with unique challenges for someone like me. As the calendar pages turn and the weather adopts a colder temperament, I’m jolted into the realization that my internal thermostat isn’t as reliable as it once was. Now, nature has its way, and human adaptability is a force to reckon with. 

 

My first line of defense against this new-found chill was to invest in a cozy bathrobe, ensuring I stayed warm indoors. And truth be told, it did its job wonderfully. But sometimes, when the cold was particularly nippy, even within the confines of my home, I had to call for backup. Enter the space heater, my trusted ally in my quest for warmth.

 

Yet, during the previous winter, I stumbled upon a revelation. It appeared that simple, short bursts of exercise could amp up my body’s heat production. Who would’ve thought? Not only did this approach provide warmth, but it also complemented my recovery goals. So, every couple of hours, I adopted a routine. A brief interlude of planking became my secret weapon against the cold. Just a minute or so was all it took to get my blood pumping and generate that much-needed warmth.

 

Though no one wishes to be caught in the uncomfortable grasp of cold, there’s a silver lining here. It brought forth an unexpected motivator, propelling me to be more active. While the cold sensation was a byproduct of my compromised kidney function post-stroke, it inadvertently pushed me to incorporate exercise into my routine, yielding multiple benefits.

 

In summary, as daunting as they may appear, life’s challenges often present us with hidden opportunities. Understanding my body post-stroke and adapting to its new needs has been a journey for me. But as with every journey, it’s the lessons learned and the growth experienced that truly matter. Stay warm and stay motivated, dear readers.

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The Unexpected Void: No Near-Death Experience After My Stroke

Hello Dear Readers,

 

As I slowly regained consciousness after a stroke, an unsettling realization hit me: the absence of a transformative near-death experience. Hollywood and literature often depict the brink of death as a pivotal, life-changing moment, pushing individuals toward profound revelations. Regrettably, my own experience did not align with this narrative.

In all honesty, I felt robbed. I anticipated awakening to profound memories or some ethereal journey, only to find none. My reality was akin to a deep sleep – a void, an unremarkable period of nothingness. The cynic in me couldn’t help but think, “Was this it?” This void left me grappling with an unsettling blend of disappointment and uncertainty.

The weight of what I had lost and the unknown ahead weighed heavily on me. But then, an epiphany occurred. It wasn’t through some ethereal journey but a quiet determination bubbling from within. I resolved not to wallow in the absence of a mystical experience but to focus on physical and emotional healing.

The path to recovery was by no means easy. Basic functions like walking became lessons to relearn. These tasks, albeit challenging, became a welcome distraction from the void I felt. They allowed me to refocus my energy from what didn’t happen to what I could make happen.

If my life was to be transformed post-stroke, it wouldn’t be by an elusive near-death experience but by the sheer will and determination emanating from within me. My transformation would be built on perseverance, resilience, and self-belief, not cinematic fantasies.

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Overcoming Double Vision: My Post-Stroke Experience

Hello, dear readers,

After my stroke, navigating through various physical challenges became my new normal. Among these challenges, double vision was a prominent hurdle I confronted. Ironically, it wasn’t me who detected it initially. During my initial days in the rehabilitation center, my loving wife frequently enquired if there were issues with my eyesight. I was overwhelmed with anxiety and preoccupied with relearning basic body functions, so I hadn’t realized this additional problem.

Only after my return home did the symptom of double vision become undeniably evident. Eager to address this, I consulted an ophthalmologist specializing in treating stroke patients. To my dismay, she diagnosed me with a syndrome connected to weakened eye muscles. This led to a disconcerting misalignment, causing my eyes to struggle to focus on a singular point.

The prescribed remedy was a regimen of daily eye exercises, which she mentioned could benefit anyone with aging eyes. The foundational principle of these exercises was relatively straightforward. I would extend one arm, keeping my gaze fixed on one of my fingers. I gradually shifted my arm from side to side, ensuring my eyes constantly trailed the moving finger. This activity was sustained until a palpable strain in my eyes signaled the end of a session.

The true marvel was in the transformation this seemingly simple routine fostered. Within a few weeks, the vexing double vision I was grappling with began to dissipate. And soon, although not perfect, my familiar vision was back.

As I pen this down, I intend to share a personal anecdote and offer a beacon of hope. After all, with resilience and the proper guidance, it’s possible to overcome the challenges life throws our way.

Stay inspired, and remember, every challenge is an opportunity in disguise.

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A Reflection on Personal Growth and Developing Self-Care Routines Post-Stroke

Hello dear readers,

Navigating life post-stroke has been a journey paved with deliberate routines and self-improvement. A significant aspect of this journey has been the establishment of a series of routines, primarily developed to alleviate the responsibilities shouldered by my wife. While these routines primarily aimed to ease her burden, they inadvertently led to the evolution of my self-care practices, marking a pivotal shift in my daily life.

My exercise routines significantly epitomize the change in my self-care habits. However, a more subtle yet equally important transformation has occurred in my approach to personal hygiene. Admittedly, before my stroke, my dedication to maintaining hygiene was not up to the mark, something I now acknowledge with a tinge of embarrassment. My approach to tasks such as brushing my teeth and showering was rather lackadaisical, often being deferred until absolutely necessary.

This lax attitude towards personal hygiene was emblematic of a broader neglect for structured routines, resulting in tasks being addressed only when they became pressing issues rather than preemptively managed through a systematic schedule. I would often forgo brushing my teeth before bedtime and treated showering as an irregular, need-based activity. This procrastination undoubtedly led to lapses in maintaining an optimal level of cleanliness.

However, the adversities following my stroke catalyzed change, prompting a radical shift in my self-care routines. I revamped my approach to personal hygiene, establishing regular and optimized routines for showering and oral care. This transformation has not only enabled me to maintain a higher standard of cleanliness than before my stroke but has also instilled a sense of pride in my newfound commitment to self-care.

This newfound pride, however, casts a shadow on my previous lack of discipline, intensifying the embarrassment I feel about my past behavior. Reflecting upon this, my previous approach to life could be characterized by a lack of structured habits rather than merely having poor ones. Tasks were addressed reactively, demanding attention only when they escalated into problems instead of being proactively managed through a well-organized schedule.

The transformation in my self-care routines, prompted by my stroke, signifies more than just a change in habits; it marks a journey of personal growth and self-reflection. While many might categorize my previous lifestyle as being plagued by bad habits, I perceive it as a time when I lacked structured routines, addressing tasks only when they became urgent rather than proactively managing them.

In retrospect, I feel a sense of accomplishment in how I have turned a page in my life, developing self-care routines that have greatly surpassed my pre-stroke levels. However, this pride is accompanied by a heightened sense of shame for my previous negligence, serving as a constant reminder of the importance of maintaining disciplined habits.

Despite the embarrassment, this journey of self-improvement post-stroke has been enlightening, teaching me the value of structured routines and proactive self-care. It has been a testament to the potential for positive change, even in the face of adversity, and the importance of reflecting on one’s habits and continually striving for improvement.

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Journey to Independence: Managing Medication after a Stroke and Kidney Failure

Hello dear readers,

Embarking on a journey of recovering and adjusting after being diagnosed with kidney failure and experiencing a stroke, one of the first tasks I embraced was refilling my pillbox, a responsibility my loving wife initially shouldered. Medicine became routine in the dawning days of this journey, marking my mornings and nights with the regularity of a ticking clock. It was my wife who, with tender care, refilled the pillbox and managed the reordering of the medicines as the need arose.

As the weeks unfolded and I became more acclimated to being back in the familiar surroundings of our home, I began assisting my wife with this task. With keen eyes and an attentive mind, I observed her process, anticipating the day I would take on this responsibility. My wife, the pillar of support she’s always been, patiently guided me and watched as I took tentative steps in managing my medication.

After observing her meticulous process for a few weeks, it was my turn to step into the spotlight. My wife watched as I took the reins, and upon being satisfied with my proficiency, she entrusted me with this task, allowing me the freedom to manage it on my own schedule. Thursdays suited me best for this task. The reason being, while refilling, I could assess if any prescriptions needed replenishment. Placing an order on Thursday meant we could conveniently pick up the medicines from the pharmacy over the weekend.

My strategy to ensure the accurate refilling of my pillbox is methodical yet straightforward. I begin by emptying the small storage box containing the myriad of medicine bottles. As I allocate a pill from each bottle into the designated day compartment of the pillbox, I return the bottle to its abode in the storage box, continuing this process until each bottle has been attended to. The final step in my routine involves a swift count of the pills in each compartment before sealing them securely. This meticulous count ensures that no pill has found its way into the wrong compartment, maintaining the order crucial for my health.

Over the past couple of years, this process has seen only minimal changes. The most notable difference is the shift in the pharmacy we use and our preference for delivering the medicines to our doorstep. This convenient service means our weekends are no longer marked by trips to the pharmacy, allowing us more leisurely time together.

The journey through stroke recovery and managing kidney failure has been marked by adaptation and learning. Taking over the responsibility of refilling my pillbox has been a significant step towards independence, symbolizing my ability to manage aspects of my care. While the routine is simple, it signifies a triumph, a small victory in my journey toward autonomy and well-being.

I hope to inspire and encourage others to navigate similar paths by sharing this. The road to recovery and adjustment is paved with small victories, each step marking progress and growth. Here’s to celebrating every achievement, no matter how small, and embracing the journey with hope and resilience.

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The Power of Consistency: One Week of Daily Blogging and the Journey Ahead

Hello to all my wonderful readers,

Having successfully written on this blog every day for a week, I’m feeling increasingly optimistic that this latest endeavor will become a long-term habit. The methodology I employed to get this far isn’t new or complicated; it’s the same advice I’ve been sharing with you in my previous posts. To summarize, I established a clear objective, which in this case was to write a brief blog post each day. I designated a specific time to pursue this writing goal, opting for the early mornings before my day officially begins with breakfast. Lastly, I anchored this new practice to an existing daily routine—finishing my first set of pushups is my trigger to start writing.

Writing a book has always lingered at the periphery of my consciousness, but until now, it remained a vague idea that I’d yet to embrace fully. I would wait for that elusive ‘perfect’ concept to strike me like a bolt of lightning. I don’t know if such a perfect idea is even a reality. Still, my ongoing recovery journey since experiencing a stroke seems like a fitting subject to delve into for the time being. While I might venture into fiction at some later stage, the habit I’m nurturing now will undoubtedly help any future writing projects.

On this subject, one author I particularly admire is Brandon Sanderson. He is often generous with his wisdom for those looking to become writers, and one piece of advice from him strikes a chord with me. His counsel is straightforward but effective: write and do it consistently. The emphasis isn’t necessarily on the volume of words but on the practice’s regularity. Even if it’s a modest 200 words daily, the results will accumulate over time, and before you know it, you could be sitting on an entire book series or more. This principle mirrors the philosophy I’ve tried to incorporate into achieving all my life goals: Start small, maintain consistency, and the results will follow.

I look forward to seeing where this new habit takes me. Not only is it providing a platform for me to share my ongoing life experiences, but it’s also laying the foundation for potential future literary endeavors. So, whether you’re an aspiring writer or have other goals you want to pursue, remember this: Start, even if it’s with something small, but keep at it regularly. After all, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.