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Risk factors: an old age

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Maybe first I’m gonna say that when I first had a stroke, I was 24. Now I’m older, but I know the experience of having a stroke at a young age. I can’t count how often I’ve heard the words, „so young and already had a stroke” or „I didn’t know you could have a stroke at such a young age!”. Even though it annoys me, I don’t blame people who say it. Strokes are associated with grandmas and grandpas. To tell the truth, people working in hospitals used to say the same thing. I won’t forget how nurses and cleaners questioned me about the cause of my condition, and then physiotherapists, even though each of them has surely encountered such cases, even if only briefly.

Stroke in old age: the statistics are unforgiving

namalowana babcia dodana do fioletowych kwiatówO.K., I shouldn’t complain. I was extraordinary. Statistics speak for themselves. After the age of 55, the risk of stroke significantly increases, and with each passing decade, it doubles. Considering that our society (Polish, but also across the Europe) is aging, and it is predicted that by 2060, nearly 35% of us will experience this disease, one can imagine the masses of older people in need of help, support, and treatment.

When describing this topic (I’m doing it for the second time because I lost many texts when moving my blog to a new site), I wondered why age is the most common risk factor. I came to the conclusion that the terms „age” and „old age” themselves don’t say much. What matters is what lies behind them. A quick research proved me right. Because old age is simply associated with many life changes that significantly increase the risk of a stroke. And this combination looks different for each older person.

Multipathology of old age?

One of the scientific publications on this topic used a term that really moved me: the multipathology of this period of life. It includes a regression of vitality, health, and quality of life. This perfectly describes old age, doesn’t it? Regression of vitality, health, and quality of life. And there’s even more behind these terms. Examples? Heart and circulatory system diseases, heart diseases, diabetes, atherosclerosis, less physical activity, chronic and sudden illnesses, eating habits acquired over the years and their change with age (e.g., often reduced appetite), loss of strength, a drop in blood pressure leading to ischemia in some areas of the brain, neurological changes, frequent immobilization… I’m sure there are many more factors, and all of them contribute to the landscape of old age.

Of course, these factors can occur in young people, and seniors don’t have to deal with all of them. However, according to the articles I found, each of these factors, often in combination with others, poses a risk. I accept this without discussion. Because in my imagination, as well as in my experience, old age is characterized by dealing with exactly these factors. And next to the calendar age, they make up old age. Looking at this mosaic, I’m not surprised that age is considered the greatest risk factor. I’m also not surprised that these factors are hidden under the term „old age” in articles. Multiple factors – one term. Oh well…

Looking at these factors, I can’t help but think that I don’t want to grow old. 😀

My research also pointed out other things: that age affects how strokes look, how they are treated, and how patients recover from the disease. I don’t want to write about it now because the text would be too long. However, it’s worth knowing that the number of strokes is increasing overall, and the number of strokes in young people is also rising. I once read that this is mainly due to an increased number of hemorrhages, not necessarily ischemic strokes… But I don’t know. I do know that young people in the stroke wards are less and less surprising.

It’s also terrifying. Also, dr. Marta Bott-Olejnik (I interviewed her, do you want to link? I mean… It’s in Polish, but maybe you want to google translate?) told me during an interview that the latest data show that one in four people will experience this disease. Just a few years ago, it was one in six. So it’s a massacre. Therefore, it’s worth taking care of oneself to reduce this risk. While we can’t escape the ailments of old age (unless we die earlier 😀 ), we can take care of ourselves when we are young. I wasn’t taking care of myself very well, and combined with medical factors, I received a gift in the form of months in the hospital and many years without work, but for now, I’m young by stroke standards, and I try to prevent it all from happening again.

 

Main sources:

Czynniki ryzyka wystąpienia udarów niedokrwiennych mózgu,

Analiza czynników ryzyka udaru niedokrwiennego mózgu

Deficyty poznawcze a kliniczny obraz depresji u osób w podeszłym wieku po udarze mózgu

Wpływ wybranych czynników społeczno-demograficznych na przebieg udaru niedokrwiennego mózgu 

Udar w wieku podeszłym – odmienności

https://www.medonet.pl/choroby-od-a-do-z/choroby-ukladu-krazenia,udar-mozgu-u-seniora—objawy–pierwsza-pomoc–leczenie,artykul,28917815.html#udar-mozgu-u-seniora-przyczyny?

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Obesity triptych

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Obesity. I know that lately I’ve been thinking a lot about it, talking a lot, and writing a bit.

I was inspired to do so by a recent report on the treatment of overweight people and fatphobia in the Polish healthcare system. I wrote about it on Instagram and Facebook – a little bit, from my own experience. About the first of the stories below. I didn’t expect to receive such a response from people. Well, „you are not alone” is an understatement… „I understand” is more precious to me than a million pieces of advice anyone could give me. Thank you <3 I know there are more overweight or obese people among us. But not only them – those who also, let’s call it gently, have a difficult, unhealthy relationship with food. I understand you too.

Furthermore, I am preparing for bariatric surgery, which involves reducing the size of the stomach. But I’ll devote more space to that at some point.

Now I invite you to a triptych ;d Written in three different places, depicting three different things.

I’m sitting on the floor in the hospital. Today, I have three appointments related to qualifying for bariatric surgery. It’s terrible, and somehow I can’t think of anything other than my obesity. It reminds me of one of the worst incidents I’ve had related to my obesity.

I
How was it?

I was on a bus with a friend for work purposes. I’m not sure what happened there, but I was awakened by comments from some woman about my weight. I was lying on the floor, all wet, and she was commenting on my weight. It turned out she was a doctor from the ambulance.

She was talking to the bus passengers, saying that I weigh at least 150 kg (I’m still far from 150 kg…) and that she’s losing her spine over us (not that the paramedics were helping me, not her), that I’ve let myself go. She was talking about all of this, not to me, but to everyone gathered around. EVERYONE WHO WAS A WITNESS TO MY SEIZURE could hear about how fat I am. The doctor who came to help me was commenting on my appearance in front of everyone.

Just then, I opened my eyes after the seizure. In a slight daze, I started to defend myself. I remember (confirmed by a friend who called the ambulance) that I told her how much I weigh, and that stupid b**** (I can’t think of her any other way) was saying that she weighs the same and that I should see how much better she looks.

GET IT?

Supposedly, she stopped when my friend told her that, as far as she knows, I am struggling with major health problems. The paramedic(s) (I don’t remember, really, I’m disoriented and in pain for several hours at least after seizures) were rather okay. She less so, but when she found out that I had three strokes and epilepsy, she also kept quiet.

I defended myself unnecessarily in that daze, really. I shouldn’t have told her how much I weigh, since diagnostically, it didn’t matter to her, as she brought up my „150 kilos” to mock me, accuse me, or get some sympathy from my fellow passengers.

That doctor messed up big time.

I have no idea what she looked like. I didn’t see her. I wasn’t even interested. I should have let it go. Just like I never bid on health problems, I don’t compete over ailments, I don’t engage in conversations about who has it worse. But I had just had a seizure. I didn’t know where I was. I felt ashamed, humiliated, angry, and closed off in my post-seizure helplessness, unable to stand up on my own, unable to think clearly. I probably cried from shame in the ambulance. But I don’t know because it was another ambulance ride I don’t remember at all.

I do remember, however, that the paramedics were really lovely to me, and I told them about my illnesses, about how I usually don’t have high blood pressure… I also know from my friend that my fellow passengers behaved really well. They moved away so I could have access to air, someone gave me water, and someone poured water on me to revive me. I don’t know how it would have been if my friend hadn’t been with me. I know that at that moment, people really behaved nicely, and I’m grateful for that.

Of course, the situation with that woman wasn’t the first time a doctor commented on my weight in an unpleasant way. I’ve been patted on the thigh, grabbed by the belly, and shaken with words like, „This needs to be taken care of/you need to lose some fat/with this weight…/anything else.” Unpleasant or even humiliating situations with doctors have happened many times.

But it was only with that woman that I cried.

On the other hand, there are doctors and paramedics who really know how to behave. Just. I don’t know if it depends on their mood or the upbringing they received at home. I notice it. And I appreciate it. I appreciate it when a doctor informs me rather than judges me. Doesn’t condemn.

II
Recently, I accompanied someone to a psychiatric visit as an extra set of ears (this person is hard of hearing, and I am well-versed in all of their health problems). It was already another visit, we went for a check-up, for a prescription, to clarify doubts. During part of the visit, the doctor dealt with her. For most of it, she dealt with me. My weight.

She commented, inquired, recommended, and talked. I wanted to scream at her to focus on her patient and then on her own business, to put it mildly. So many thoughts in my head, but nothing on my tongue.

She offered me her weight-loss bread, but I declined.

Later, of course, I thought about it, talked to my brother, and my psychologist, and sorted things out in my head… I know how I could respond to her, but you know how it is – it never comes at the right time, especially when you’ve had strokes and quick analysis of the situation is not your strong suit.

I don’t know if I want to assist again at that doctor’s appointment in three months. I’ll probably feel obligated because I’ve been taking care of this person since the beginning of their health problems. I’ll probably go to that doctor, but there’s so much anger in me that it’s hard to describe. This time, not shame, just anger. That woman shouldn’t be dealing with me, seriously.

III
The day before yesterday, I went to see ‚The Whale’ with Arun (my partner) and Michał (a friend from high school). You know (or maybe you don’t), that new Aronofsky movie. A movie about a guy who weighs so much that he doesn’t leave his house.

I’m not a critic, so I’ll steer clear of a review. I’ll just write a few words about how the film resonates with me as an overweight person.

Was it shocking to me? Not really, but that’s thanks to its immense theatricality, which works better in theaters than in movies. Well, compulsive eating wasn’t shown as drastically, but it was important that it was shown at all.

Was it a portrayal of obesity? Well, not really.

I saw other things in it, tensions between selfish sympathy and empathy. Help and violence. Surrender and acceptance. And also cause and effect.

I could elaborate on each of these points for pages. About one thing, though. I wanted to write about them, at least a few points, but I don’t feel like it today. However, I feel that as an overweight person, I could somehow feel this movie differently than friends to my right and left. I’m not saying better, more, just differently. I extracted from the film these tensions and thin but clear boundaries.

I could talk about it and talk about it, and then talk some more, and for dessert, talk even more. But you have to put a period somewhere. So I’ll put it here. There will be more later 😉

I ask you to keep your fingers crossed for my qualification for the surgery. I can use every warm thought!

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I got a job! Probably parament one!

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I got a job! I’ve known about it for a few days, but it’s only now that I feel more realistic, because I’m starting tomorrow. And I’ll be getting up about 5 hours earlier than last year.

Am I scared? Sure! Am I happy? Of course!

Sleeping till noon will not happen so frequently, but… Despite my anxiety, I can see a lot of positives before starting work. The interviews were nice. Like me, I was babbling (once I even had to ask my future boss to erase what I had said from my mind), I stuttered a little and thought in silence, so I was myself. I’m proud of myself because from the beginning I asked for part-time. There was no problem with that. Great!

 

Once I burned stupidity, which I would regret very much elsewhere. Without asking, I said that my priorities in life are a bit different than that of many people and that money is not the most important thing for me, but health. After all, it couldn’t be so bad, I got the job!

Do you know what’s the best? Really THE BEST? During the interview, I said that sometimes I feel terrible and asked if we could agree so that if I needed I would take a day off and then work off those hours, and they said that with a migraine I would not be useful to them anyway, so sure.

To tell the truth I have a feeling it will be ok. I suspect that I got away with it because I have a cool CV. I would never have thought about it like that because there are more internships and little work, but apparently, it is.

And … I have StrokeTales in it, so I did not make a big secret of the disease.  I could have because the recruiter can’t ask about my health (that’s what I heard, to be checked), but I decided that there is nothing bad about it, it’s a huge part of my life. I often wonder about this element of my CV, after all, I am writing here very colloquially and emotionally, and when I am emotional, I do not even have the strength to correct texts, so they are not the best. For some it will be a big plus, for others it will be a minus. For some, honesty will be a plus, for others what I said may be disqualifying.

I honestly thought that working after a stroke would not really be possible. I know my limitations like no other, at the same time I know how to overcome them wisely.

I’m scared, sure, but without a stroke, I’d be scared too. Because I’m one of those people who don’t believe in themselves.

What is this job, you will ask? And I will answer;)

I will be working in the municipal family support center. I’m surprised, too! I wonder if my attitude towards life can stand it. Can I avoid singing loudly at my desk? Will I be drying my head in the morning for the sake of appearance and whether I will be wearing make-up

Tomorrow’s first day, I’m going to take a look at the dress code there as I have a feeling I will need to buy some clothes.

 

Apart from getting a job, the best part of all is that I will be taking part in a socially important thing and maybe my job will bring some good to the world. I will be working on a foster care project. We hope that the project will encourage new people to become foster parents. My heart is already sold to the idea, although I’m a little afraid it will be sold too much.

 

After my mother and auntie, I know that the times of drinking coffee in offices are over, so I expect serious and difficult responsibilities. On the other hand, as far as I know, work in the municipal offices is stable and has a lot of benefits, including thirteens salary, paid holidays as provided for in the law. I guess that in this place it will be similar.

 

Well. you already know most of this, so I will ask for:

Good thoughts

Good luck wishes,

Congratulations and applause! : D

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Expenses of chronically sick people

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Inspired by an article from themighty.com I decided to write about the expences of chronically sick people in Poland. The situation is quite different from the American, so I think its worth to write, even though the topic was the same. Poland is different. Europe is different. Basically everywhere you have a public health care, better or worse, and, well, for better and worse.

This text doesn’t describe strokies’ expenses, I’m going wider. So:

what affects the wallet of an ill person?

  1. No work – many of chronically sick people do not work or work for a limited time. Or need to take days off  (hours off) to go to plenty of appointments. The loss of income seems to be basically the biggest factor that decreases one’s economic position.
  2. Cost of meds – in Poland they are partly refunded. Not all, not for every disease. So, for example, you can pay like 30% of the price, but on other meds go normal 100%. And, from my experience, these are the most expensive ones. For example my meds for lupus. No refunds, 100% of the price of the most expensive drugs i am taking. Another thing in Poland is that often only older generation drugs are refunded or even available. About availability: i go to Germany to buy one of my lupus drugs. they are simply not allowed to be sold in Poland. But they are way less harmful to me. The choice is quite simple. So each time I need a refill, my parent need to go over 50 km to German pharmacy (I don’t drive). Good that at least that’s the occasion to buy better washing detergents.
  3. Physiotherapy – it can be surprising, how often you need rehabilitation. So many not obvious diseases demand rehabilitation to keep patients in a decent state. Sure, rehabilitation is sometimes refunded. Sometimes. At least in Poland, access to physiotherapy is bad. That means that you pay. If you’re lucky, you pay after using the hours you’re entitled to. If not – you just pay. If you’re in a bad position, you’d just don’t have the physiotherapy at all. That means you are sicker than you should be. You could be healthier. But you’re not.
    At the moment I don’t have any kind of rehabilitation. I can’t afford it and I don’t want to ask my parents for more money.
  4. Seeing doctors – that’s tricky here. In theory, you have access to every kind of specialist for free. And sometimes it’s fairly easy to see them for the first time. for a visit to the office of random (really random, I found one that I didn’t have to wait for months) I waited for less for 2 weeks. But a first visit at the rheumatologist was scheduled in more than… 2 years. Yay! Guess what I did? I paid the same doctor and I went to her after a few months. Huge difference. There are many kinds of specialists that don’t have free spots for months, years ahead. Even when you pay.
  5. Travelling – I live in a big city, so most of medical procedures are here, within a few kilometres, but there are people who need to travel far. and people, who need to travel with a carer. I know one history of a woman who travels more than 500 km with her daughter to have her baclofen pump refilled. For me, it was quite complicated. Strokes happened out of my city, so whole treatment took place out of Szczecin as well. For me, little change, for my parents – huge expenses. Huge.
  6. Equipment, both mobility and adaptive. Again, in Poland, they are partly refunded, but if you want to have something more advanced, you need to pay out of your own pocket. for example, I’ve heard the legends of having the bathrooms adapted for the wheelchair, but I consider them real legends. But on the other hand, the cheapest wheelchair for my grandpa was refunded. Good, that we didn’t need much more.
  7. Higher bills. Do you use more water or electricity? You pay. Simple.
  8. Nursing and caring – Woah, that’s a huge one. especially that the expenses are big, refunds small  (or there are no). Usually, severely sick people here are taken care of family members. So it can limit also their income. But it’s not really only about full time caring. Sometimes sick people need help in cleaning, shopping or going outside with someone who would assist them. Expensive, expensive, hard.

Maybe there are more points, but to tell the truth, these are main. I struggle with some of them (or maybe… my parents do, because its them who pay for most of my medical bills).

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What happens to your dog when you are taken to hospital?

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It’s been bothering me for quite some time.

What happens to your dog when you faint (have a stroke, lose consciousness, weaken) on the street?

What happens to your pets when you live alone and paramedics take you to the hospital?

Does your friend stay on the street?

Die alone at your house?

Luckily, NO.

Arek from the Ratownik Medyczny site explained to me how it works in Poland. There is a simple procedure for that.  Paramedics call Police or other municipal services and they take a pet to the animal shelter or vet. both in the street and house scenario. At home, additionally, a dog or cat is being locked in the bathroom immediately, so that people who bring help were safe. And that’s all!

Arek told me also that he hasn’t seen such a situation, so this knowledge hasn’t been implemented to the practice. Of course, it is great but… it’s hard to believe, isn’t it?:)

the dog and the cactus

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About having things done for/helping stroke survivors

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When disability after stroke (and every other kind to tell the truth) comes into being it is new for everyone. For a person affected, for his/her caregivers. For friends. It also brings an important question:

should we help a person with a disability with everything?

The answer is super easy: NO. If the stroke survivor has contact with the world and has any possibilities to move (even in a limited range): DON’T DO THAT. 

If you want to help a stroke survivor to recover, don’t.

I admit. Sadly, this issue is not easy for both sides. To some extend it is easy to serve, feed, put in a fix, open the bottle, move in a wheelchair, yes. But on the other hand, such help doesn’t give any possibility to the sick person to mobilize to the painful process of recovery. 

Look at hospitals – the hospital bed tables are usually placed on the affected side of the body of a Strokie. It is about encouraging the patient to do things himself… To tell the truth, I’m not sure whether it works that well. In a first hospital, I was placed after stroke, I tried to use my right hand anyway (my right side was affected). Always. I even got a bit cunning. For a few weeks I was laying next to the window, so I used a windowsill as my additional table and storage area. In some hospitals (later on), nurses would scold me for that, but in the first one, I don’t think so (i don’t remember for sure, though). Continue reading

in my opinion stroke survivors what have I learned after stroke

The pain and the pain are not the same

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You do not have to look into the calendar to feel that spring has come! generally, it is wonderful, but also it means a few things:

  • more sun,
  • more walks,
  • less sleeping in the morning,
  • chilling in my hammock.

Great, but there is another ‚but’. For me it also means:

  • joint pain,
  • face-ache (my whole face hurts),
  • itchiness after every small  exposure to the sun,
  • nettle rash.

Yeah, it all comes with my lupus. I have to tell you though, that in my case my pain is survivable. It just exists.

To tell the truth, many things hurt. Leg, join, ovary, throat etc., – but for me it’s ok. It just exists.

For me the biggest disaster is HEADACHES.

Continue reading

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Secondary prevention after stroke

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regardless of whether you are a stroke survivor, a caretaker or just a good friend, the “never again!” thought will cross your mind sooner or later. This thought will transmute into fear once you are told that chances of a second stroke are pretty high. You can reject and deny it, you can agonize about it, but the most reasonable thing to do is try hard not to fall ill again.  A haunting vision of a second stroke (and every successive stroke) gives most of us sleepless nights.

Frankly, can we be sure that it will never happen again? Can we minimize the risk of a second stroke? Absolutely. Preventing the disease from recurring is called secondary prevention.   

kasia lewaczka.pl in the truck full of carrotsIt’s much better worded at the portal: PZH

Secondary prevention (2nd phase) is about early diagnosis and prompt intervention in order to arrest the disease process – and thus, about identifying risk factors and their elimination. It is addressed to persons at risk and encompasses, among others, screening tests like screening for breast cancer (mammography) or cervical cancer (cytology), periodic check-ups, control of risk factors, counselling.

It is commonly divided into secondary and long-term prevention – and the latter has to become a regular part of our lives. However, this doesn’t mean that every single day of your life your mind will go “oh gosh prevention prevention”. I believe, we can’t go on like that:) What I mean is rather the need to integrate new habits into our lives.

In the case of stroke survivors, the secondary prevention process starts (at least, should start …) in hospital. From the very beginning we, along with our closest family, are instructed what to do, what not to do, what to eat, what to avoid. Is it helpful? Sometimes yes, sometimes not too much, it depends on the medical staff. In some cases, doctors find the time and attention to give us some useful advice, sometimes not. How do I know that, me being the lucky one that, in most cases, received sound advice? I know it from your emails, and believe me, over these last 5 years (yes, this May it’s exactly five years since my first post on Lewaczka.pl!) I have mailed and talked to many people who felt like they were wandering in the fog, surrounded by darkness, after they had left the hospital.

The hospital discharge form contains a line which says: medical recommendations and patient care recommendations. I can’t recall anymore whether they come in the same line, but this is where the attending doctor puts what should be done next, e.g. consult a specialist in XXX, further diagnostics  …Generally, what needs to be checked and treated. Patient care recommendations, on the other hand, can be detailed or limited to just three words, e.g. “Mediterranean diet recommended”.

Ok, ok, let’s get to the point. There are a few basic rules to follow to help you regain health, strength and prevent strokes from recurring. And so

How to prevent a stroke from recurring – basic rules:

  1. Quit smoking. Sorry, chain smokers, and you, social smokers! Cigarettes are the biggest (along with age) risk factor for stroke. So start here. Quit. I did:) And I believe you too will manage to quit. Fingers crossed!
  2. Take your meds regularly – unfortunately, most probably, we will take some of them (e.g. anti-platelet drugs) until our very last breath. Sad, but true.
  3. Diagnostics and treatment of other diseases – knowledge about diabetes, hypertension, blood coagulation diseases, arrhythmia, aneurysms etc. – gives you a chance to treat them in time or limit their effects, including – surprise! – the chance of another stroke:)
  4. Regular medical checkups. We all understand their importance.
  5. Weight loss – insert a sad face here; I have been fighting this battle for years and at the moment I’m the fattest I’ve ever been. Nothing to boast about, and a lot to worry about.
  6. Move more – physiotherapy won’t do it all. You need to move more at home, outdoors, just about anywhere. Of course, this is super difficult for bedridden patients, but those of you who use a wheelchair or are able to walk, can move more. Although I’m doing pretty well, sometimes I sink into depression and I can’t drag myself out of bed. Fortunately, I found a solution. I got myself a dog! So now, I have to go on walks a few times a day, even when my body is heavy like a sack of flour and every step feels like a Mount Everest climb. And now guess: who walks whom?
  7. A healthy, well-balanced diet – yes, diet is very important. I mentioned above the Mediterranean diet, but generally it’s about eating healthy – fulfilling one’s nutritional needs in a balanced way, including foods that reduce the risk of stroke. Take vitamins! Vitamin deficiencies are one of the stroke risk factors.
  8. Of course, those of you who are able to exercise, would benefit from 3-4 cardio sessions a week, but now I can see some of your faces saying “yeah, sure”. It’s good to do that routine, but sure – after TIA your workout is limited to dangling a cane – so what you can do then is just a walk, some stretching or swimming. Let’s stay reasonable.
  9. Stop or cut down on alcohol consumption. Sorry!. After my first stroke, my attending said to me, roughly: „Miss Kasia, stick rather to a wine of glass with your lunch and not a bottle of vodka at a party, ok?” I’m fine with that:) These days I don’t drink at all because of the antiepileptic meds. From a party girl (university days) I turned into a teetotaler. And I’m fine!:)
  10. Less stress – yes, really. Again it’s something that’s easy to say, difficult to incorporate in our lives. By the way, there is no hard proof that stress leads to strokes, but… ongoing, constant stress undoubtedly exhausts human body, and according to some doctors, increases the risk of stroke.
  11. Drink water – plenty of it – it’s incredibly important for our bodies. If I remember right, research shows that 60% of patients admitted to stroke wards is dehydrated. And in such case, blood becomes thicker. You well know what it means for patients who were hospitalized because of a thrombus (blood clots). No need to convince you any further how important it is to stay hydrated, right?
  12. Change your lifestyle – I find this point hilarious, as this one is usually a summary of all the previous tips. Cause a change of diet, quitting smoking, almost daily exercise etc. sounds like a revolutionary change, right?

A lot of new habits need to be incorporated into our lives, but nothing is too much or too difficult to prevent another stroke.

The list may look daunting, but in fact it can be shortened to just two points: take care of your health and change your lifestyle. The rest may be intimidating, but let me tell you why it’s just a first glance impression.

All of the above things are interconnected; one stems from the other, and the other from yet another one. And still, the most important thing is to make changes in your lifestyle.

Ultimately, it’s about creating new habits and routines. It’s tough, but doable. And yet, if you ask me if I have changed my life to incorporate all of the above points – I have to say, not really. Not all of them. Unfortunately. But I’m still working on it! I know how important the new routine is.

PS

This post is based on my experience and input I found here:

https://neurologia-praktyczna.pl/a517/Wtorna-profilaktyka-udaru—–nowe-wytyczne.html

https://podyplomie.pl/medycyna/31904,prewencja-wtorna-udaru-niedokrwiennego-mozgu?page=4

https://journals.viamedica.pl/polski_przeglad_neurologiczny/article/viewFile/20071/15774

https://www.mp.pl/oit/krazenia/56313,rozpoznanie-leczenie-i-profilaktyka-wtorna-udaru-niedokrwiennego-mozgu-i-napadow-przemijajacego-niedokrwienia-mozgu-wytyczne-european-stroke-organisation-2008

KTYKA WTÓRNA PO UDARZE MÓZGU

 

my stroke rehabilitation stroke survivors

Me and Tara – I love my dog so much!:)

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To tell the truth, since I moved out of my parents I have wanted a dog. very much. very very much. and when I decided on having one, I started searching for my new BFF. I overcame many difficulties like price  (when I was looking at purebred dogs), the size (my puppy to be from the shelter suddenly got huge, and I really need small dog), and changes of the time of pickup.

Now I have a dog. Three months old dachshund which has just discovered that the walls can be bitten as well.

I fell in love immediately, but it does not mean that we do not have problems. Continue reading

in my opinion my stroke stroke survivors

I’m in shock! Fifth stroke rebirthsday and traditional list of changes for better

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Kasia - lewaczka.pl na Cyprze. selfieAmazing. 5 years ago today I had a brain stroke. So now I am 85- year old woman (i have many needs of pensioner), 30 yo. woman (in my ID), 5 yo (counting from my rebirthday), and 14 – because of my silly attitude to the world. And I’m alive.

If you happen to be my follower, you know that each year on the 21st of December I publish a list of things that changed in my life for better. If I don’t see them, I force myself to find some. 

After 5 years I know, that life after stroke consists of both violets and shit, and it is worth finding violets. Diseases are overwhelming and bring mostly sorrow and pain. This time of the year I am ready to acknowledge that I’m alive. that’s pretty cool;)

Today is no exception. I’ve just returned from holiday, sat in front of a computer and I’m thinking about last year. Except for the bad beginning (the illness of grandpa), this year was not that bad. It was mostly about laughing. The year before had been really bad, so my list was very poor. Now it’s easier. A lot easier. then, ladies and gentlemen, 

What changed for better after my stroke?

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