Stroke Related Body Changes

[jjano]

Hi all,
This is a follow-up to Marv's dream modification. Following Nanc's brain stem stroke in 01, she has lost her ability to ""CRY"". As we have all heard in our lives, "If I could only have a good cry, I would feel so much better." Well, in her case, that is another bodily function which is no longer available to the survivor.

Jim

[Neoma]

Jim,

Is that the only emotional behavior that she's lacking?
Does she show other types of emotional behaviors that are normal?
Damage to the frontal lobes are implicated in lack of normal emotional responses.

[jjano]

Morning Neoma,

The inability to cry seems to be the only emotional factor that is out of sync. With all the MRI's she has had, the frontal lobes do not seem to show any damage.

One other recent change with her body is the amount and level of pain from her peripheral neuropathy and spinal stenosis. Both sources have caused heavy pain. Neurontin was tried but the sides were to much to deal with so Lyrica was tested. She was on it for about 7 months and I can say it did the job. Both pain sources were cut off at the pass. Remarkable. But then the sides began to move in and when she wound up in the hospital in October, she was taken off of Lyrica. It is almost 3 months since since the cessation of Lyrica and would you believe*** the severe pain has NOT returned!!!!!!!!! Don't know how long that blessing will last, but we will take as many good days as we can find.

Oh, the mystery of the individual body, with no two alike and a surprise around every corner. Some good and some bad. Please, just send the positive ones our way!!!!!!!

Jim

[xqzzzzme]

It is SO nice to be back reading the helpful posts from everyone!

I am especially interested in this topic - the physiological (and emotional?) changes I am experiencing (sort of "on the job training"). I am so glad to be further and further away from my strokes, and so thankful things weren't worse, the lasting changes I have slowly been discovering are not really the changes the doctors care to know about (not because they are mean, but because they just don't know).

On the day of my stroke, I lost my voice for about 6-10 minutes - complete inability to make sound from my mouth of any kind. I was scared, I am an RN and had a pretty good idea what was happening and started to cry - no one could hear me....they could just see tears...that is when they started the 100 questions....."are you ok?" "do you need help" "can you talk" - - with me nodding my head whichever way applied....it was like I was "silently crying"......but I felt like I was sobbing hysterically.

When my voice did return, it was quite slurred....and high-pitched (paramedics accused me of being drunk or high on drugs....I just had to add that one...).

Anyway, back to the topic at hand:

RESIDUAL CHANGES I notice today (2 years later):

1)My voice is back, but gets hoarse and I get laryngitis VERY often...at least every other month...this never happened to me before the stroke - I have no memory of EVER losing my voice.

2)I get pulsating headaches in my "stroke spot" - these are tolerable with medication, and thankfully are tapering off....they were every day after the stroke, to every month, now every few months.....I NEVER had these pulsating headaches before the stroke.

3)While I like to think I have been a "steady Freddie" through all this, my family has delicately let me know I seem to be short-tempered...in a way I was "not" before the stroke - - which I am very sensitive to now....and hope it is no longer the case (but I am too afraid to ask them....:) my family is quite candid).

I cannot possibly underscore how happy I am things were not worse (and have not become worse). I try not to dwell on the "little" things......I know there are others here who have far bigger struggles that are paramount compared to my little voice box.

But, since the topic was brought up, I couldn't help but add my experiences...(experiences for which doctors have no comment).

Thanks for posting,
Jane

[Rowland]

Hi Jane,
Your post stroke experiences are very interesting.
Your families observation --"my family has delicately let me know I seem to be short-tempered...in a way I was "not" before the stroke - ", I think it's totally understandable and I suspect it is with me as well. The frustration of not being able to communicate well is very annoying and your family cannot fully understand this since they are not experiencing it. It's like playing charades or something, but not being able to snap out of the game at will.:D :D :D

[xqzzzzme]

Hi Rowland...

It's so nice to "read" your comments again!

I think my family telling me about my "short-temper" was more in response to me being inpatient with others, and getting much more frustrated much more quickly....through it all, I just notice times when I get "tongue-tied" - - and get all tripped up on words......it is something I notice that is probably not noticed at all by others who don't know me......

all very interesting............

have a great New Year, Rowland!!!

Jane

[moirac]

I lost my temper a lot (something new for me) and benefitted a lot from an anger management group the hospital had for brain-damaged people.
One theory is that the amygdala goesn't fire up slowly, but very rapidly. We were all able to calm down and learn to give our brains time to think things through.

[Ramboaus]

Seven years post my Brain stem stroke in April 2000 now and to this day I cannot SNEEZE . I have the prolonged Aaaaaaaaaagh but never the CHOOO to complete the sneeze. Sure sounds scary to people around you who wonder if I am having an epileptic seizure