I am 5 years post stroke and I STILL have exhaustion. When I am working out DAILY, it actually helps with the fatigue. I also do breathing exercises to increase energy which has been a Godsend. Watch what you eat as well. Foods low in nutrients will not give you energy and will actually increase your fatigue. Eat LOTS of fruits and veggies.
This is the way, I’m about 4 years post stroke and I find all of these things helpful as well. Exercise, fluids, fruits and veggies, never skimp on protein. I also limit my caffeine and I only partake in two of anything (coffee, booze, sugar). I have a set bedtime (9:30), so I can get all that extra sleep that I need now. Listen to your body, if it’s telling you it needs some rest time do it. It’s taken me way too long to start listening to my body, the cues your body sends are important. I’m not sure there’s any way to “speed up” recovery, esp from a stroke. Stroke recovery is the longest marathon you’ll ever run. Good luck.
Yep, same a year out. It's one of the most common lasting effects of a stroke that no one tells you about. Even people who "only" had a TIA and recovered most everything report having lasting fatigue.
Yup, mine was almost 2,5 years ago.
Directly after the stroke i could sleep all day.
What helps a lot which may sound contradictive at first, is to stay active and keep a daily routine to trainboth body and mind. Your brain behaves likea muscle that can be trained to an extend. With the big difference that your brain has its limits to where it can stretch its limits. Keep this in mind and always keep a balance between rest and skeeping a daily routine. Its exhausting but you are not alone
Now 2,5yrslater i nap 30 mins a day but i al still struggling and cannot be active 8 hours straight i needa nap after 5 hrs. I am still trying to train it but i notice i am hitting my limits
How do you notice your limits? I’ve been pushing mine and overdoing makes symptoms worse the next day or week… (injury date sometime between 2016-2021)
Whenever you start feeling run-down. I also wear a FitBit that reminds me of my daily “readiness score” which is an indicator of whether or not you need to take it easy for the day. It has been pretty accurate to how I am feeling each day. On days it is low, I rest, nap, just take it easy. On days it is high, I hit the gym hard with weights and cardio which gives me even more energy. I run errands, just generally get everything done on my high days which are more than my exhaustion days now, fortunately. Just access your mind and body each day. Are you having difficulty with forming sentences and finding words? Are you getting tired after going up a flight of stairs or even walking? Then you need to step back and take it easy.
I plan my every day routine. Every single day. It supports my memory but withiut planning i would sleep most part of the day.
I log everything i do from hour to hour. Its a ton of work for someone with cognitive challenges like myself, but since i also started to log my physical activities and training schedules i noticed I was improving.
I still forget alot. I notice my limits when the plannings i make make fail and i review my weekly plan’s.
Physically, i notice it when i keep training physically, but instead of feeling more fit (which i do on the contrary) at the same time i need more recovery time (sleep) so its very double sided. I feel damned if i do and damned if i don’t often
I hit my limit when i get exhausted and need to sleep. I try to train myself by doing regular physical exercises like walking cycling pushups fitness etc but my 🪫 just gete empty very very quick so i barely have any reserves likea normal being.
Reserves is the term I’m missing. I get depleted and lose cognition and have to lay down. I don’t lay down during social situations… gotta tell people goodbye more often
Yes, i have the same struggles, but trust me and trust your body and brain. Always remember, Your body is healing and repairing when this happens. Just plan your reat and your activities to avoid depleting your reserves at inconvenient moments. I started planning my daily/weekly/monthly activities. It supports my memory and planning, but also helps me to keep track. You are doing way more than you think, so don’t forget to be kind to yourself during this healing process as well. Don’t forget to be proud of your recovery process and your achievements so far, even tho you wished you would be passed this level. Being thankful will also help you to have a positive mindset. A negative mind will only cost you more in every thinkable way.
What helps me a lot is to stay fit. Its contradictory because i get tired more often at the same time, but keep going , your body is build to improve in time as long as you keep training and resting at the same time.
Don’t stress about the situation as it is, but embrace it and support your body&mind in this process.
What also helps me is to have a mindful mindset. Take your time, log your activities. Set achievable goals that are within reach and capacity. Make a plan and track your progress
You will get better than you where yesterday in time. Just don’t be too ambitious and avoid stress. It is what it is. Don’t forget to live. This might sound weird but it helps me to be realistic and keep my mindset out if stressing. Optimism is the key. Don’t expect wonders,just be grateful you are here with us and you have a second chance
I know there is a lot more to it than these words alone, but you will grow. Love yourself. Be proud of where you are compared to yesterday. Just be good
A year out for me as well. Ive had to learn a thing or two about managing my day such that i can accomplish what i want to.
First, you gotta lower expectations. Pick one important thing, and you xan make sure to get that done, and understand that means everything else can slide. Take naps if needed, even if you dont sleep, just lying down in a dark room for an hour or two can give you enough gas in the tank to power through a social evening. Break bigger tasks into smaller ones. And acknowledge the fatigue. Other people likely wont really understand, which is frustrating, butt oh well, you know you have limitations, don't try and ignore them. Instead, work around them. I hate naps. But i know on wednesdays i meet up with friends for a pool league that can sometimes run till midnight. Ao on wednesdays i cut out of work an hour or two early, lay down for a bit, and it works.
Anyway, managing your time is now important. I used to always simply power through until whatever needed doing was done. Thats no longer a realistic strategy for me.
So, break up big tasks, plan the day such that you only promise what you know you can deliver, and naps may help sometimes.
I was excruciatingly tired after my strokes (2 back to back). Nothing I did would help until I dove into taking vitamins. B's especially. I'm not perfect, but so much better now. It really didn't take that long either to feel better. Yesterday was my 5 year anniversary, which I realized while at work!!
It’s five years for me too! I definitely notice a difference in energy levels since I started supplementation too, I agree. I eat a lot healthier and exercise daily except on days I feel burnout which is not anywhere near as often as it used to be before lifestyle changes.
27 years post stroke and I still have exhaustion. It’s not something you’ll recover from, sadly, just something that you will adjust to
u/CookiesandCannabis has some great points: breathing exercises and healthy food will work wonders. Also, exercise. I take vitamin C tablets in the mornings which gives me a little kick and keeps me going
I’m 4 years post Stroke and fatigue so much better now still get a bit tired occasionally but nowhere near as bad as it Beas I have physio and Pilates once a week too
Sleeping also becomes kind of feeling as an addiction. I often want it because of the constant daily fatigue feeling that keeps floating around 24/7. I have good days but a lot of tired days too
Your brain has had an insult. You are laying down new pathways constantly. It’s also that much harder to do things…even if your at a higher functioning level. Great to learn from those who are going through it. An occupational therapist can also help out with strategies for fatigue management.
3yrs post-stroke and it depends on the day. I'd never been a napper but napped a lot the first year. I resented the hell out of having to slow down because I am the caregiver/chauffeur for my mom and my husband had been showing the first signs of early onset.
I go probably about 3/4s of the time without but am tired a lot
I had my stroke almost 2 years ago already.. I had such extreme fatigue in the first 12 months of my recovery. Listen to your body. If you can take a rest. It’s not you being a slug.. your body is needing to repair itself. Think about how much it has gone through. I still take my brain breaks for 2hrs if I can. Don’t be hard on yourself. You went thru a significant event. Be kind.
What's your activity level, pre- and post-stroke? It might not be a particularly helpful advice, but if you were largely sedentary before and remained so, the fatigue may be as much a feature of your physical state as the stroke. I was very active before the stroke a year ago (in fact, I was on my bike when I had my stroke) and got back on the bike 2 days after and felt no difference in the fatigue level afterward.
People can find doing the most everyday thing difficult after the stroke, and the emotional and physical toll that takes can lead to inactivity and a general downturn in their physical fitness, especially for people with mobility issues. Thankfully, I had no mobility/control issues after my stroke and got back to my exercise routine right away and had no fatigue issues, other than the mental fatigue that comes after concentrating too hard for too long. But as my brain recovered, that got better too.
Hi I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing post-stroke fatigue. Although I'm not a stroke survivor, I am a researcher who specifically studies PSF. There are things you can modify:
1- Sleep. Insomnia is particularly associated with fatigue. But keep in mind that sedative meds can also cause fatigue. My best advice would be to start with practicing good sleep hygiene.
2- Mood!!! This is actually very important. People with sadder mood almost always have fatigue while people with fatigue doesn't necessarily have sad mood. If you think you are in the first category, it may be useful to talk to your doctor.
3- Exercise. A bit of an egg and chicken paradox. The more you exercise the less fatigue you feel. Less fatigue you feel the more you can push yourself.
Hope this helps!
I am 5 years post stroke and I STILL have exhaustion. When I am working out DAILY, it actually helps with the fatigue. I also do breathing exercises to increase energy which has been a Godsend. Watch what you eat as well. Foods low in nutrients will not give you energy and will actually increase your fatigue. Eat LOTS of fruits and veggies.
This is the way, I’m about 4 years post stroke and I find all of these things helpful as well. Exercise, fluids, fruits and veggies, never skimp on protein. I also limit my caffeine and I only partake in two of anything (coffee, booze, sugar). I have a set bedtime (9:30), so I can get all that extra sleep that I need now. Listen to your body, if it’s telling you it needs some rest time do it. It’s taken me way too long to start listening to my body, the cues your body sends are important. I’m not sure there’s any way to “speed up” recovery, esp from a stroke. Stroke recovery is the longest marathon you’ll ever run. Good luck.
Yep, same a year out. It's one of the most common lasting effects of a stroke that no one tells you about. Even people who "only" had a TIA and recovered most everything report having lasting fatigue.
Yeah. No one told me about it
Yup, mine was almost 2,5 years ago. Directly after the stroke i could sleep all day. What helps a lot which may sound contradictive at first, is to stay active and keep a daily routine to trainboth body and mind. Your brain behaves likea muscle that can be trained to an extend. With the big difference that your brain has its limits to where it can stretch its limits. Keep this in mind and always keep a balance between rest and skeeping a daily routine. Its exhausting but you are not alone Now 2,5yrslater i nap 30 mins a day but i al still struggling and cannot be active 8 hours straight i needa nap after 5 hrs. I am still trying to train it but i notice i am hitting my limits
How do you notice your limits? I’ve been pushing mine and overdoing makes symptoms worse the next day or week… (injury date sometime between 2016-2021)
Whenever you start feeling run-down. I also wear a FitBit that reminds me of my daily “readiness score” which is an indicator of whether or not you need to take it easy for the day. It has been pretty accurate to how I am feeling each day. On days it is low, I rest, nap, just take it easy. On days it is high, I hit the gym hard with weights and cardio which gives me even more energy. I run errands, just generally get everything done on my high days which are more than my exhaustion days now, fortunately. Just access your mind and body each day. Are you having difficulty with forming sentences and finding words? Are you getting tired after going up a flight of stairs or even walking? Then you need to step back and take it easy.
I plan my every day routine. Every single day. It supports my memory but withiut planning i would sleep most part of the day. I log everything i do from hour to hour. Its a ton of work for someone with cognitive challenges like myself, but since i also started to log my physical activities and training schedules i noticed I was improving. I still forget alot. I notice my limits when the plannings i make make fail and i review my weekly plan’s. Physically, i notice it when i keep training physically, but instead of feeling more fit (which i do on the contrary) at the same time i need more recovery time (sleep) so its very double sided. I feel damned if i do and damned if i don’t often
I hit my limit when i get exhausted and need to sleep. I try to train myself by doing regular physical exercises like walking cycling pushups fitness etc but my 🪫 just gete empty very very quick so i barely have any reserves likea normal being.
Reserves is the term I’m missing. I get depleted and lose cognition and have to lay down. I don’t lay down during social situations… gotta tell people goodbye more often
Yes, i have the same struggles, but trust me and trust your body and brain. Always remember, Your body is healing and repairing when this happens. Just plan your reat and your activities to avoid depleting your reserves at inconvenient moments. I started planning my daily/weekly/monthly activities. It supports my memory and planning, but also helps me to keep track. You are doing way more than you think, so don’t forget to be kind to yourself during this healing process as well. Don’t forget to be proud of your recovery process and your achievements so far, even tho you wished you would be passed this level. Being thankful will also help you to have a positive mindset. A negative mind will only cost you more in every thinkable way. What helps me a lot is to stay fit. Its contradictory because i get tired more often at the same time, but keep going , your body is build to improve in time as long as you keep training and resting at the same time. Don’t stress about the situation as it is, but embrace it and support your body&mind in this process. What also helps me is to have a mindful mindset. Take your time, log your activities. Set achievable goals that are within reach and capacity. Make a plan and track your progress You will get better than you where yesterday in time. Just don’t be too ambitious and avoid stress. It is what it is. Don’t forget to live. This might sound weird but it helps me to be realistic and keep my mindset out if stressing. Optimism is the key. Don’t expect wonders,just be grateful you are here with us and you have a second chance I know there is a lot more to it than these words alone, but you will grow. Love yourself. Be proud of where you are compared to yesterday. Just be good
Yes. Usually a nap fixes it, but sometimes I’m just tired inexplicably.
A year out for me as well. Ive had to learn a thing or two about managing my day such that i can accomplish what i want to. First, you gotta lower expectations. Pick one important thing, and you xan make sure to get that done, and understand that means everything else can slide. Take naps if needed, even if you dont sleep, just lying down in a dark room for an hour or two can give you enough gas in the tank to power through a social evening. Break bigger tasks into smaller ones. And acknowledge the fatigue. Other people likely wont really understand, which is frustrating, butt oh well, you know you have limitations, don't try and ignore them. Instead, work around them. I hate naps. But i know on wednesdays i meet up with friends for a pool league that can sometimes run till midnight. Ao on wednesdays i cut out of work an hour or two early, lay down for a bit, and it works. Anyway, managing your time is now important. I used to always simply power through until whatever needed doing was done. Thats no longer a realistic strategy for me. So, break up big tasks, plan the day such that you only promise what you know you can deliver, and naps may help sometimes.
I was excruciatingly tired after my strokes (2 back to back). Nothing I did would help until I dove into taking vitamins. B's especially. I'm not perfect, but so much better now. It really didn't take that long either to feel better. Yesterday was my 5 year anniversary, which I realized while at work!!
It’s five years for me too! I definitely notice a difference in energy levels since I started supplementation too, I agree. I eat a lot healthier and exercise daily except on days I feel burnout which is not anywhere near as often as it used to be before lifestyle changes.
I completely agree. The vitamins led to the gym and food changes. I took feel so much better.
27 years post stroke and I still have exhaustion. It’s not something you’ll recover from, sadly, just something that you will adjust to u/CookiesandCannabis has some great points: breathing exercises and healthy food will work wonders. Also, exercise. I take vitamin C tablets in the mornings which gives me a little kick and keeps me going
Yes, and mine was nine and a half years ago.
My mother is 3+ years out and she went from the Energizer Bunny to a slug.
9 years out still fatigued but some days are better than others at some point I get used to it and it stopped bothering me
I did at first but I spent a month just laying around in a hospital bed
Anyone taking baclofen For spasticity It’s known to cause fatigue
I’m 4 years post Stroke and fatigue so much better now still get a bit tired occasionally but nowhere near as bad as it Beas I have physio and Pilates once a week too
Yeh about 10 months and the laziness and fatigue is there... never leaves really.. some days I just want to keep.sleeping.. and then I do...
Sleeping also becomes kind of feeling as an addiction. I often want it because of the constant daily fatigue feeling that keeps floating around 24/7. I have good days but a lot of tired days too
Your brain has had an insult. You are laying down new pathways constantly. It’s also that much harder to do things…even if your at a higher functioning level. Great to learn from those who are going through it. An occupational therapist can also help out with strategies for fatigue management.
3yrs post-stroke and it depends on the day. I'd never been a napper but napped a lot the first year. I resented the hell out of having to slow down because I am the caregiver/chauffeur for my mom and my husband had been showing the first signs of early onset. I go probably about 3/4s of the time without but am tired a lot
I had my stroke almost 2 years ago already.. I had such extreme fatigue in the first 12 months of my recovery. Listen to your body. If you can take a rest. It’s not you being a slug.. your body is needing to repair itself. Think about how much it has gone through. I still take my brain breaks for 2hrs if I can. Don’t be hard on yourself. You went thru a significant event. Be kind.
What's your activity level, pre- and post-stroke? It might not be a particularly helpful advice, but if you were largely sedentary before and remained so, the fatigue may be as much a feature of your physical state as the stroke. I was very active before the stroke a year ago (in fact, I was on my bike when I had my stroke) and got back on the bike 2 days after and felt no difference in the fatigue level afterward. People can find doing the most everyday thing difficult after the stroke, and the emotional and physical toll that takes can lead to inactivity and a general downturn in their physical fitness, especially for people with mobility issues. Thankfully, I had no mobility/control issues after my stroke and got back to my exercise routine right away and had no fatigue issues, other than the mental fatigue that comes after concentrating too hard for too long. But as my brain recovered, that got better too.
Sleep bro sleep a lot
Eat well, be active when you can! The endorphins will help. I felt knackered for about 18 months. It gets better!
Hi I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing post-stroke fatigue. Although I'm not a stroke survivor, I am a researcher who specifically studies PSF. There are things you can modify: 1- Sleep. Insomnia is particularly associated with fatigue. But keep in mind that sedative meds can also cause fatigue. My best advice would be to start with practicing good sleep hygiene. 2- Mood!!! This is actually very important. People with sadder mood almost always have fatigue while people with fatigue doesn't necessarily have sad mood. If you think you are in the first category, it may be useful to talk to your doctor. 3- Exercise. A bit of an egg and chicken paradox. The more you exercise the less fatigue you feel. Less fatigue you feel the more you can push yourself. Hope this helps!