Surviving a Stroke: A Personal Perspective

I am 47 years old and now find myself in a rehab hospital because I have recently suffered a mild stroke. The medical team that I have on my case predict a full recovery but I am now typing this with only my right hand for I have temporarily lost the control and strength of my Ieft. I am also being retrained in walking because my left leg has been affected too.

I must say that this entire experience has been humbling and I consider it to be a wake up call to adjust areas of my life as I enter middle age. I have a great deal of stress in my life that needs to be eliminated, I have hypertension and I could stand to lose at least 50 pounds. All of which my doctors recommend.

A stroke happens when blood flow to certain areas of the brain is cut off. Brain cells are deprived of oxygen and glucose that they need to survive and they die. The effects can be permanent, if not caught early.

Fortunately, mine was caught early enough and not so severe. I see people here at the rehab hospital that are far worse than I. I can at least write, as in this article, and talk with little effort. I'm able to walk slowly with a bit of a limp and help from a leg brace. There are people here that are immobile, incontinent and unable to speak. I don't really know how I would deal with that if that was me.

There are two types of stroke. There is the Ischemic stroke that occurs when clots form in the vessels of the brain from fatty deposits and cholesterol. These clots block the blood flow to various parts of the brain, essentially killing that part.

There are also Hemorrhagic strokes that occur when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures resulting in blood seeping into the brain tissue. The most common cause is high blood pressure or aneurysms.

Common symptoms of having a stroke can be a weakness or numbness in the face, arm or one side of the body, vision impairment, loss or difficulty speaking, severe headache and loss of balance. If you experience these symptoms, immediately call 911 because this is considered a medical emergency and immediate treatment can save your life and increase your chances of a full recovery. I was fortunate because I waited several hours before I consulted my physician who immediately called an ambulance and admitted me in the hospital. By waiting, I could have worsened my condition or even possibly have died.

Your risk of having a stroke can be evaluated by your doctor and can include high blood pressure or cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, being overweight and heart disease. Your family history can also be a contributing risk factor.

Time is critical when diagnosing a stroke. Within a three hour period your doctor can use certain medications that can lead to a better recovery. The first step after early diagnosis is to determine which type of stroke you are having or have had. This can be determined by a CT scan and an MRI. You may also receive an EKG to check for any heart problems and series of blood tests including a complete blood count, blood sugar, electrolytes and a test to determine how quickly your blood clots and evaluate blood flow. If there is a suspected problem with your heart, your doctor may also order a telemetry test and echocardiogram.

There is a wide range of treatments that can be done depending on which type of stroke you have had. If your stroke is diagnosed within 3 hours of the start of your symptoms, and it is determined that you have had an ischemic stroke, you may be given a medication called t-PA, which is a clot dissolving medication. If t-PA is given to a person that has had the hemorrhagic variety of stroke, it can be life threatening, so it is important to diagnose which type of stroke you have had.

Initial treatment of a hemorrhagic stroke is difficult because efforts need to be made to control the bleeding, reduce pressure on the brain and stabilize your vital signs. Surgery is usually required if the bleeding and pressure cannot be controlled, which can be endovascular coil embolization. This is a procedure that involves inserting a small coil into the aneurysm to block it off or using a small metal clip to prevent any new bleeding. Surgery will depend on your condition following the stroke

Once your condition has stabilized treatment focuses on rehabilitation and prevention of further strokes. Your doctor will want to control your blood pressure, cholesterol and manage your weight. You may be placed on an aspirin regimen or other blood thinning medications. Your doctor may also recommend surgery to remove plaque buildup in the cartoid arteries or insert a stent but only if you are a high risk.

Rehabilitation after a stroke consists of a team of professionals that help you regain the skills that you lost as a result of your stroke. Things that are generally taken for granted such as activities of daily living, speech and things you would normally use both sides of your body to accomplish. My difficulties are in tieing my shoes, typing with both hands and walking.

The rehabilitation team consist of a physician that oversee's your recovery, a physical therapist who works on your strength for your lower extremities (walking), an occupational therapist who will retrain your upper body for strength and coordination, a speech therapist that will help you talk again as well as your memory and cognitive skills, a recreational therapist that will help you return to activities that you enjoyed prior to having your stroke, a dietician to help you plan a healthy diet and a psychologist.

Rehab generally goes for between 3 - 6 hours per day, 5 or 6 days per week and generally starts while you are still hospitalized. In my case, I was stabilized in the hospital and then transferred to a rehab hospital for intense therapy sessions. Sometimes this can also be accomplished at home or through an outpatient program. Personally, I will be in hospital for 2 weeks and will attend outpatient therapy for several months.

The problems that are experienced after a stroke depend on which side of your brain has been affected. You may experience problems with movement or sensation, pain, numbness or tingling in your arms or legs. You may also have problems with touch, bowel problems or trouble swallowing.

You may also have trouble seeing things on one side of your body or blurryness. Problems speaking, thinking, expressing your thoughts or some emotional problems.

A stroke damages various parts of the brain that control different things, but other parts of the brain can take over for the damaged area. It is not uncommon for some to get back most of the skills and abilities lost.

The road to recovery can be a long one depending on the severity of your stroke. Patience with yourself and your rehab team is essential in getting better. It can take a couple of months or it may take years to recover. Get support from family, friends and health care professionals to get you through this difficult situation. Remember, a stroke affects your loved ones too. Encourage them to attend support groups and learn ways to help you and relieve their stress.