Over the next few weeks I will be writing a small blog on coping, surviving and living after having a stroke – I hope this will be helpful and beneficial to all.

 Lynda Wheeler is a neurophysiotherapist working at Synergistics Wellness Centre.                 

  Balance – Excel – Harmonize Phone 5723031 for more information.

 COPING                                               .1.

 If you or a family member has just had a stoke, listen to the information given to you by the medical staff, but keep it all in perspective and remember that all any of us can do is offer you general guidelines and a prognosis based partly on the evidence – from CT scans and your presentation, and partly on our medical experience.

If the person has had limited experience with people following a stroke, or been around therapists who are junior, with limited therapeutic experience you are likely to be offered some pretty dismal advice.  Remember this is only based on their clinical experience and skill level and not necessarily on absolute fact.  Nobody actually knows you, how you physically and mentally were “wired” before your stroke and how you deal with adversity or challenges.

The areas of the brain that were affected in the stroke gives a clinician a broad idea on what areas of function you are doing to have difficulty with (but not the extend of this difficulty); further assessments by Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists and possibly Neuropsychologist will shed further light on the extent of your mental, language and comprehension abilities.  How you make sense of the world post stroke, your ability to follow instructions and understand what is being said to you have an enormous impact on how well you can use your previous capabilities to assist the rehabilitation path you are now on.

I will not dwell on the issues of smoking history and the significant impact it will have had on your circulation and healing process.  You already made those life choices and there is no point in look backwards.  This is wasted energy.  However, if you are now focused on your rehabilitation and want to give yourself the best chance of moving forwards, stop smoking right now.  It is time now to concentrate on you and your wellbeing.

Next blog I will concentrate on your first month of rehabilitation – which begins as you arrive in the Emergency Department.