Summary

A nurse shares her personal experiences and the unexpected after-effects of having a stroke, including severe fatigue, recurring symptoms, and anxiety.

Abstract

In an article titled "What They Forgot To Tell You After Your Stroke," a nurse discusses her experiences 18 days after suffering a stroke. Despite having no major residual effects, she has been dealing with severe fatigue, which she compares to the exhaustion experienced during the first trimester of pregnancy. She also mentions experiencing mild versions of her stroke symptoms when tired or stressed, which she finds terrifying. The most significant after-effect she highlights is anxiety, as she constantly worries about having another stroke and its potential consequences. The author aims to raise awareness about these lesser-known after-effects and help caregivers understand what their loved ones may be going through.

Opinions

The author believes that severe fatigue is a debilitating after-effect of a stroke that is often overlooked.
She expresses concern about experiencing mild stroke symptoms when tired or stressed, which can be alarming and terrifying.
The author emphasizes the crippling anxiety she experiences, constantly worrying about having another stroke and its potential impact on her life and family.
She mentions that depression may follow anxiety as another after-effect of a stroke.
The author hopes to raise awareness about these after-effects and help caregivers understand what their loved ones may be going through.
She apologizes for the potentially depressing nature of the article but remains positive about adjusting to her new normal.
The author invites readers to share their experiences with stroke after-effects and suggestions for managing anxiety.

What They Forgot To Tell You After Your Stroke

I’ve always thought that when something traumatic or significant happens, I should share it because maybe it can help someone else.

Today marks 18 days since my stroke. Although I had no major residual effects, life has been anything but normal.

I’ve been a nurse for over 17 years and have had many stroke patients. So with my experience, I thought I knew everything about strokes. Boy was I wrong!

I’d like to share some of the after-effects of having a stroke with you to raise awareness.

The first thing nobody warns you about is severe fatigue. I seriously can’t keep my eyes open. Fatigue often gets overlooked as a serious symptom. Unless you have suffered from it, it’s hard to understand how debilitating it can be.

The only thing I can compare it to is the overwhelming exhaustion in the first trimester of pregnancy. It feels similar to that. My neurologist says it’s completely normal for the first few months and will gradually improve. My fingers are crossed.

2. The second and most alarming after-effect is that you can experience a mild version of your stroke symptoms when you are tired or stressed. Seriously!

So every time the kids keep me up or stress me out, I get dizzy and my right arm starts to go numb. Tell me that isn’t terrifying?!?!

The first time it happened I almost went back to the ER. Thankfully I have a wonderful neurologist who assured me it was alright and also it didn’t last long. Apparently, this can happen for up to 6 months. Isn’t that wonderful??!!

3. Lastly, the most awful after-effect that nobody warns you about is anxiety. It’s crippling.

I constantly feel like I’m going to have another stroke and then my mind goes wild. How bad will the next one be? Will I get the tPA in time? Who will take care of my children if I’m disabled?

I feel like I’m continually waiting for the other shoe to drop. I’m told that anxiety is normal and unfortunately, depression will most likely follow. How exciting!

I’m sorry if this is a bit of a depressing article.

Despite my current mood, I am positive that I will adjust to my new normal.

Regardless, I wanted to bring awareness to anyone who may be suffering silently after a stroke. I also wanted to help caregivers understand what their loved ones may be going through.

Thank you for reading and for your continued support!

Do you know of any other after-effects of stroke?

Or what helps calm your anxiety?

Hi! I’m Lauren. I’m a Registered Nurse turned freelance writer. I love to educate others about their health, wellness, and disease management. I’ve got over 15+ years of nursing experience which helps me transform complicated medical info into simple/relatable content that’s easy to understand. Email me to set up a discovery call. [email protected]