WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THE FIRST YEAR AFTER YOUR STROKE? IMPORTANT THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW.

1. RECOVERY WILL BE SLOW. Although we all know that every stroke is different, we tend to get so frustrated and angry that we are not recovering fast. We did everything we could, exercise, therapies ,buying every gadgets we are asked to get like AFO, cane, arm sling, and many more. But still recovery seemed very very slow for us. Well, this is for those who are still in their first year as a stroke survivor...it is going to be difficult and challenging. There will be times that you will think of giving up but don't ! Keep fighting and keep moving forward. In my experience during the first year after my stroke, I learn not to hurry. To rest and sleep as much as you can because it helps heal the brain. Our brain went through a traumatic experience when we had a stroke. In other words we broke our brain. Just like a computer, our brain is trying to reboot. Even if we try to force it to relearn how to walk, talk, write or move our paralyze arm it can't work as fast because it's damaged and the connections are not there yet. I remembered when I was in rehabilitation and I was just starting to take my steps. I asked my physical therapists to hold me really good because I wanted to walk a little faster. But she told me ,"Baby steps Naruja baby steps. We do it slow first so the brain can catch up and can remember how to do it tomorrow." I was so excited that I can stand up and take a step that I wanted to hurry the process. I was blessed because I have the best therapists and they not only help me relearn how to walk, move my arm and speak again but they helped me understand that it is not all about speed in recovery but persistence, resilience, and strong determination. That it's okay not to hurry. And my therapist told me about something that helped me process what's happening to me after my stroke. She said my brain is relearning everything that I learn even maybe way back when I was a baby learning how to walk and talk for the first time. When you were a baby you didn't just learn how to walk ,talk, run, and write quickly in one time but it took a lot of years and practice. So, why should you expect to learn them quickly now. It will just make you sad and depressed. And she was right. So, even if recovery was slow I decided to change my attitude towards it and started to appreciate the little improvements I'm making. Hoping the second year will be better.

2. ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AFTER STROKE Well, at first I didn't know what it is. It actually started when I was moved to a nursing home 4 days after my stroke. I would cry for no reason at all. But it went away. Then it happened again in the hospital where I was moved for my 30 day rehabilitation. I was crying again and the nurses called the doctors because I just can't stop crying. My doctor asked me why am I crying? I told him I really don't know why? It happened twice in rehab and it stopped. My therapist asked me if I want a visit from the chaplain. And I said and I was glad I did because we pray together. He'll read verses from my bible and it helped me feel better about my situation. After 30 days in rehab I was released and went home. And the crying started again. I just can't control it. One time I was trying to cook for the first time my family's favorite dish and I failed. It didn't look and taste good. I was so angry to myself and I started to cry. It has gotten worst when I went home. I get so frustrated when I can't prepare my own plate to eat something and I would cry. I would go to my room and hide from my son and cry my head off because I don't want him to see crying. He would hear my cry and run to my room and hug me and he'll cry with me ,too. My husband will hear me crying sitting on the sofa and will start crying ,too. They just don't know what to do so they cry when they see me crying. Then I also develop fear of almost everything. I was scared to go to sleep because I had my stroke when I was sleeping. I was scared to go out for a walk because I was scared of falling. Then it got worst because we had a car accident just 9 months after my stroke and it made me so scared to go for a ride in the car with my husband to go to my therapy and doctor's appointment . So, one day I decided to tell my doctor about it. I just don't know what it is .Why am I scared of everything? Why I am so angry and frustrated all the time? Why I cry so much? Why I feel sad and lonely all the time? I should be happy because I am alive and I have my family caring for me .I should be happy because I have my family loving me supporting me. Then my doctor gave me a test and she told me I have Anxiety and Depression which is common for stroke survivor like me. I was referred to see a mental health counselor and was prescribed Lexapro to help with my Anxiety and depression. I was glad I asked for help because my mental health issues was affecting my recovery. So don't be afraid to ask for help and don't be shy to admit it because it can save your life.

3. APPLYING FOR SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS If you are thinking of applying for Social Security Disability benefits, do it while you are still in the hospital and ask your doctor to help you with your application. You have a much better chance to get approved if you have your doctor help you. The doctor can give you the hospital's social worker who can help you fill up the application online. There's also 5 months waiting time from the date of your stroke particularly in my state before you'll receive your benefits after you're approved. So in my case ,I applied October and I started receiving my benefits in April. I also had to go see 2 doctors chosen by the government for testing before they approved my benefits. The first test was physical mobility and the second one was cognitive and comprehension which is mostly written test.

4. LOSING YOUR APPETITE AND LOSING WEIGHT After my stroke my doctor referred me to a nutritionist to help me with my diet. I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetic when I had a stroke. High blood sugar was one of the many causes of my stroke. High cholesterol and high blood pressure were also found to be what caused my stroke. I was losing my appetite and was drastically losing weight after my stroke. I was worried about it but my doctor told me it's normal and I will start gaining it back when my appetite comes back a year later. So, it did and I was starting to gain some back after a year.

5. HAVING PAIN AFTER A STROKE There's pain that seemed not to go away a year or even years after a stroke. Neck pain, shoulder pain, leg pain, arm pain, foot pain and body pain. When I told my doctor about, she said it's normal to have pain after stroke. Some pain will go away and some will not. To get remedy is to take muscle relaxer and pain medications. I take mine to help me sleep. I sometimes have good days and some bad days. That's the deficit from stroke that's invisible to others.

6. FEELING COLD ALL THE TIME Since having a stroke I noticed that I am cold all the time even when it's summer and hot outside. I told my doctor and she said normal for someone like me who had a stroke. After a stroke the brain can't regulate our body temperature and so even if it's hot we always feel cold. Hopefully it will get better as the brain heals.

7. FATIGUE One of the most difficult one for me. Waking up feeling so tired even after some good hours of sleep. Even a simple task like taking a shower can drain your energy. Just trying to walk can make you tired and exhausted. My therapists and doctors told me fatigue is something that will linger on for awhile and they don't tell you when it will actually end. So it's something that we stroke survivors have to deal after the stroke.

8. BRAIN FOG Cognitive problems such as forgetfulness, confusion and lack of mental

clarity and focus are common after stroke. Some are caused by our medications. But it

is mostly because of the stroke. Our stroke can trigger problems with memory,

thinking, mental fatigue and even emotional changes.

THE FIRST YEAR WILL BE CHALENGING AND DIFFICULT. IT WILL BE A YEAR OF CONFUSION AND FEAR. A YEAR OF ANGER AND FRUSTRATIONS. A YEAR OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.BUT DON'T GIVE UP. ALWAYS HAVE HOPE FOR A BETTER NEXT YEAR.