I was just a few weeks removed from some of the best performances I had ever had in competition and in the gym. I was sitting in my parents home when I noticed my legs felt heavy as if they were filled with static.
I felt like my legs started to tingle. Then my right leg lost most of the feeling. I was in my car when this happened and I tried to walk inside my apartment but my leg couldn’t hold me up.
I had a really bad migraine. Once the paramedics arrived and assessed my condition, they then proceeded to the hospital with no siren and no lights sounded. It was their opinion that I overdosed on Tylenol.
W hat are your biggest challenges/residual effects? Being restricted from usual activity, i.e. exercise and driving. Gaining back my balance.
Instagram (@nopw_)
I am a nanny for 4 sweet babies. Two sets of twins. Thank goodness when the stroke happened it was nap time for all of them!
W hat was something that kept you going during your stay in the hospital that might encourage others? Don’t give up. I could have laid in bed and cried and thought I had no hope for recovery, but that’s the easy way out. Fight for your health! Fight for yourself!
The drive to have a healthy fulfilled life. I wasn’t ready to throw in the towel on Nov. 4 and I’m not ready now! So I keep pushing to be a healthy and happy me!
To not give up and to look for support in the ones around you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or feel like a burden to those close to you. They’re there because they love you and want you to be with them a lot longer!
W hat are your biggest challenges/residual effects? Left-Sided Hemiparesis. I walk independently now but fine motor coordination recovery of left hand is ongoing. Left peripheral blindness (hemianopsia).Spasticity (Tone) in my left sided muscles fight against my ability to move freely. Occasionally I will lose my train of thought while I’m telling a long story.
Networking with other stroke survivors on Instagram. Follow me HERE.
I’m a high school teacher so I always try to keep it hip for my students, yo. My stroke recovery is on “fleek” ;D
W hat was something that kept you going during your stay in the hospital that might encourage others? I’ve learned that recovery is WHEN not IF. Like many, I was nervously told by doctors that a full recovery is not guaranteed, that the window for recovery can be from 6 months to 1 or 2 years only….but many had the same final sentiment: “There is really no definite answer. Every individual is different.”
I’ve learned to decipher that sentiment as hope. Therapists don’t always want to get your hopes up just in case your battle is harder than average. I originally decided that I should begin researching how to thrive with one hand….I had zero finger movement for two and a half months. Until, one day at Outpatient….they wiggled in the hands of my occupational therapist. It was the most joyful day! I learned that OUR BODIES HEAL. With or without intensive intervention, our brains WANT to heal and ever so slowly, they will. We still must help the process and never give up our efforts to relearn…but trust that our bodies are helping in their own special ways.
My independence keeps me motivated. I grieved the loss of my independence most when I was still considered a “fall risk” and unable to move about without supervision. In 25 years I never needed such help and it was a blow to my very identity to lose it. Ever so slowly I achieved goals that gave me back a little piece of my freedom. I took my first step without my cane to my mother’s arms and we laughed. I shuffled through my kitchen slowly and I made my own breakfast for the first time again. I wasn’t afraid to try a new activity. My body had doubts but my heart said “you can do this!” I became charged with the joy that only regaining my independence piece by piece could bring. I entered a competition with myself. And I began winning! I couldn’t stop, I wouldn’t stop and I still can’t stop!
The difference between denying your diagnosis and DEFYING your diagnosis is YOU. You can be the individual that defies the doctor’s statistics. It takes a positive and resilient attitude. It takes an attitude that boldly declares, “I’m not settling for living a life that I’m not in control of!” It will get brutally hard at times and it is okay to grieve what your stroke took from you – but you must come out even stronger knowing that though you must be patient, your brain is healing every day. The more you believe and commit to being your brain’s personal trainer and coach, the more rewarding you will find the inevitable recovery to be. You can do it. You are in control and you can fight against all odds to regain your life. Never give up! – “Diamonds are just pieces of charcoal that handled stress exceptionally well”.
Work your hardest every day, even on weekends. Try using the affected side as much as possible for every day activities.
W hat are your biggest challenges/residual effects? My vision, balance and coordination were the biggest areas affected. Getting around was the first big challenge. About a week or so after getting home, the headaches got really bad. I was able to get stronger pain killers and after about a month, the headaches went away completely, which was awesome! For a long time, my vision was a problem. Things wouldn’t stay very steady (visually) when I would move around, but that eventually stopped. I still see double in a certain area on of my left eye, but my vision in general is still improving. Sometimes I feel visually “overwhelmed” when I’m moving around or in a crowd of people. I also got occasional vertigo from things like sit ups, lying flat on the floor or tipping my head backwards, but that has basically gone away now. Now the most consistent reminders of my stroke are the tingling in my left fingers, dryness in my left eye, and that my left eye doesn’t open as wide as the other one. But these are such minor things and I feel so blessed because of that!
A ny therapy tips you picked up during your time in therapy that might help others? All of the physical therapy I got was amazing, but I only did that a couple of days a week, so it was really what I did on my own time that made the biggest difference. Besides just practicing the things I learned in therapy, I reincorporated CrossFit, Zumba and yoga into my schedule as I was able. CrossFit helped me get my strength back, but also helped me get back some of the coordination I’d lost. Zumba was also excellent for coordination and agility, since there are a lot of movements you do when dancing that you wouldn’t do in your every day life. And yoga was great for my balance and flexibility, since I was often very stiff and tight from not moving as much. Now I’m back to CrossFitting 5 days a week and doing Zumba and yoga at least once or twice a week. Also, I noticed during my PT sessions that some movements or positions might be really difficult, or even induce vertigo, but if I did them again, they would become easier, more comfortable or the vertigo would stop. I started challenging myself little by little to test out those uncomfortable positions (like leaning backwards for example, or doing sit ups). Now they’re no problem!
I found you on Instagram! I’m so glad there’s a community of people that not only know what I’m going through, but are working to raise awareness. Follow me HERE.
I help at my local church, I’m a CrossFit coach (CFL1), I love to cook and eat, and I have two rescue dogs.
P ost recovery, what is something you have learned that might encourage others?The human body and the brain are so amazing! I don’t feel like my body let me down when I had a stroke, I feel like it’s showed me how incredibly God made me and reminded me to take the best care of my body that I can. I was very fit before the stroke, and that has REALLY helped with my recovery. Other stroke survivors that I’ve met are amazed at how far I’ve come. Even two months after my stroke, many people couldn’t tell I’d had one. I was passionate about fitness and health before, but now I tell people that fitness can literally save your life (not just lengthen it). And as long as you’re alive, it’s never too late to start a fitness journey! I also take every opportunity I can to teach people about strokes and make sure they know how to recognize the signs and symptoms. I knew NOTHING about strokes before I had one. Hopefully the information I share can help someone else. But most importantly, my whole experience was just a huge reminder of how good God is. He brought so much positivity and joy to my life out of it. I think that’s the biggest miracle of all.
I want to be even stronger and better than I was before the stroke, not just physically, but mentally, spiritually, and as a person in general. I want to show people that road blocks are temporary, and excuses are a huge waste of time. I just want to be awesome.
Listen. Listen to your body, listen to the doctors, and listen to the people closest to you, too. They may not all agree, so you’ll have to synthesize all the input you’re getting and just make the best choices you can. But don’t let anyone stop you from working hard. I’ve heard a lot of amazing stories about doctors saying a stroke patient would never do “something” again, and even though it might take months or years, they do it! Just work hard. You’ll have tough days, but remember they’re just that: days. They’ll pass and you’ll get a new one tomorrow.
T ell us about your tattoo on your wrist! 2016 was a big year for me: had a stroke, finished grad school, turned 30 and now I’m starting my dream job in a couple of weeks. I feel like I’m capable of just about anything right now, and I wanted a visual reminder of that for when I forget 🙂 I was so excited to find you guys after my stroke. I think what you’re doing is so important, and I LOVE explaining what the symbol means.
While this stroke has strengthened my spirit, it’s also softened my heart. God has really used this experience to make me a more sympathetic and thoughtful person, and this heart pop is also an homage to that.
I heard the song “Alive” by Sia a couple weeks after my stroke, and that meant a lot to me for obvious reasons! Also, “This Too Shall Pass” by OK Go.
What are your biggest challenges/residual effects? Some days just getting out of bed is hard, but I had to stay at it for my hubby and wonderful kiddos.
Wonderful hubby Chad, amazing kiddos, Wyatt & Maggie, and all my family and friends.
Control what you can, but don’t live in fear. Don’t let it stop you from living.
What is something you have learned that might encourage others? One day at a time… sometimes a minute at a time, is all you can worry about. Don’t sweat the small stuff either
I’m a nurse, almost 13 years, all in ICU and ER… so glad to be back to work as of this week 🙂
Friend’s wife had a stroke and shared her story on here.
W hat are your biggest challenges/residual effects? My entire right side is in sensory shock. Basically just constant pain. I can’t really feel heat or cold much. I’m in constant outlook to keep my head safe from harm. If I get hit in the head, neck, or fall I have to immediately get to the hospital to get checked.
W hat is something you have learned that might encourage others? I have learned that if you have been given a second chance. Take it and run with it. I lived by one percent, and I’m going to make that one percent worth it.
I know a lot of weird and random facts! Example: Babies are born without knee caps.
Instagram! Follow me HERE.
Getting my degree. Living my life to the fullest and achieving all of my goals.
You can make it through this. You are not alone. Just remember to take it one step at a time. And never be afraid to ask for help.
Destiny’s Child – Survivor
Just have to take it one day at a time.
Left side weakness. Mostly left arm and hand. Cannot open hand very well but can grip though.
Don’t give up we are still alive for a reason.
I am very sarcastic and animated.
The desire too get back better then I was before the stroke.
Instagram Follow me HERE.
Walking Like Giants by stars go dim
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