We are fearfully and wonderfully made - The gift of neuroplasticity

 Do I really have to go to rehab?

In one word - YES

Depending on what part of the brain was effected and what side, stroke affects EVERYTHING!

While I was in the accute stroke ward I was monitored 24/7. What does stroke effect?

https://www.neofect.com/us/blog/understanding-the-brunnstrom-stages-of-stroke-recovery

• Blood pressure
• Oxygen saturation
• Blood sugar levels
• Heart rate
• Pupil dialation - vision
• Paralysis on one side
• Speech
• Anything sensory
• Emotional stunting and disregulation
• Memory
• Balance
• Spasticity - muscle spasms due to the brain misfiring to the paralysed muscles - this hurts

Everything on this list I was effected by, yet the brain is incredible. IT ADAPTS

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/stroke/effects-of-stroke#:~:text=Right%2Dsided%20weakness%20or%20paralysis,organize%2C%20reason%2C%20and%20analyze%20items

As soon as I was given the green light I was told to get out of bed and start moving. 

So move I did. BUT I was also doing things while lying still in bed that also added to working my brain. I played games on my phone. 

This worked my:

1. concentation
2. co-ordination
3. processing speed
4. muscle memory
5. muscle strength - this was hard because I couldn't feel my finger hitting the glass on the phone and I had to hit hard for my brain to send the right message to my right hand.

https://rehabandbeyond.org/rehabilitation/video-game-therapy-for-stroke-and-brain-injury-survivors/

Rehab and group therapy - worth every second

No one is going to understand what you are going through except those who are going through the same thing!  

What happens at rehab in an outpatient setting?

Basically - with the supervision of nurses, occupational thearapists, physiotherapists and social workers - you are relearning how to do everyting again and building new pathways for your brain to send messages to your body bypassing the damaged areas that were effected by the stroke. This is - Neuroplasticty - at least 8 weeks

Every week, twice a week you need to get stronger, faster, last longer and smash a personal best. 

Does it hurt? sometimes

Is it worth it? Yes a million times - DO NOT GIVE UP

 Balance and stairs for balance and                                                              strength

 Co-ordination and balance and Ergo for                                                       arm strengthening

 Building muscle

Next blog: The benefits and pitfalls of social support. 

Feel free to share to help anyone who may benefit from stroke and stroke rehabilitation.

Can someone tell me what's going on? Stroke investigation

Tests, watching and monitoring

From the moment the symptoms were clear, I was packed up and rushed into another ambulance with lights and sirens to a hospital that was equipped for monitoring and emergency surgery. There was a lot of waiting, watching and 24 hour monitoring of my vital signs. I was hooked up to multiple machines that took my blood pressure, oxygen saturation, injected blood thinners and took my heart rate. I lay straight with my bed head lifted in the low Flowler's position to avoid blood rushing to my brain. I was told, "Don't move!" for anyone who knows me, this was hard. I did what I was told, I didn't move. 

https://www.heart.org/en/news/2018/05/01/head-position-after-stroke-up-or-down#:~:text=HOUSTON%20%2D%2D%20Keeping%20the%20head,suggests%20it%20may%20not%20matter.

Trauma, fight or fight and crowd staring.

The trauma of a sudden stroke at a young age affects everyone. From my eldest daughter who calmed her nerves to serve me when assessing me and the hand over to the ambulance officers, to my middle daughter who rested her head on my chest in the trauma room sobbing, to my youngest who carried my weight to the car. The one who I think has suffered the most is my husband. He did not leave my side.

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

https://enableme.org.au/community/strokeline

At 3 am in the morning I woke to the monitors alarms going ballistic. My leg was uncomfortable so I tried to get the blanket off my foot. My husband asked to help me, "no, I really want to do it myself." My blood pressure rose to 175, my husband raced off and an intern rushed in. She asked questions for me to answer but I could not move my mouth. I knew exactly what I wanted to say but I couldn't say it. My right side started to fail again, I began fitting from my legs up. My heart rate went through the roof and I was breathing heavily. The curtains dividing the beds flung open and I had a crowd of at least 10 doctors staring at me with the red cart. THEY JUST STARED!!! Although they were NOT JUST STARING, they were preparing to go into action as soon as the team leader said so. The threat of having a second stroke was raised.

https://trauma.reach.vic.gov.au/guidelines/teamwork-and-communication/trauma-team-structure

https://www.stroke.org/en/life-after-stroke/preventing-another-stroke/recognizing-a-second-stroke-and-making-an-emergency-action-plan

Apraxia

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/stroke/effects-of-stroke

https://www.healthline.com/health/stroke/seizure-after-stroke#:~:text=If%20you've%20had%20a,you%20to%20have%20a%20seizure.

Miracles can happen when no one is watching.

With the instruction of a young empathic intern, I was rushed off to another CT scan. Compassionately picked up like a wet bag of cement and flopped onto the trolley I was left the room by myself. My right arm was missing, I couldn't feel it at all and I could hear it flopping onto the side of the trolley so I had to grab it with my left hand. The panic subsided, I could sense an intense peace. Hang on, "no" I am not ready to go. The sense of an NDE is something I don't wish on anyone. The sounds of the CT were changing from whirring, clunking, whooshing and spinning. I focussed on the noises and the lights gently flicking around my eyes. Focussing on something other than on panic or fear inadvertently redirected my brain pathways and I relaxed into a state of calm then I was sent back to my ward leaving the doctors confused with why I crashed in the first place. Total mystery. The next morning I woke to being back to normal, I could feel and use my right arm, I spoke albiet I sounded drunk and my husband was asleep in the chair next to me - I was able to turn my head. Miracles happen when no one is watching!

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/14/steven-kotler-explains-how-to-turn-anxiety-into-focus-in-3-easy-steps.html

https://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/Stroke/StressManagementAndRelaxationAfterStroke.pdf

Why did I have a stroke at such a young age?

Stroke is increasing in numbers every year for people 54 and under. This year 24% of Australians have suffered their first stroke before 54. A stroke occurs every 19 minutes and that is alarmingly predicted to grow. 

            Get to know your body and anything that is not normal 

for you get it checked by your doctor, if you still have a 

nagging feeling, get a second opinion. 

https://strokefoundation.org.au/media/juuba3qm/no-postcode-untouched-30-october-final-report.pdf

Risk factors for stroke:

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/stroke-risk-factors-and-prevention

Anyone can have a stroke

even babies

Next blog

I will continue to educate on rehabilitation and the gift of 

stroke rehabilitation group therapy and social support.