adouglas
01-12-2001, 06:39 PM
tHIS IS MY FIRST TIME USING THIS, SO BEAR WITH ME I am 33 years old and had my first baby March 10/00. On March 23/00 I had a massive righ-brained stroke, which left me paralyzed on my left side Currently, I still do not have use of my left arm/hand Has anyone else out there had this happen to them? It has been a very difficult experience - My baby is doing fabulous, however.
I had never heard of this before, but since this has happened I have heard of the same thing happening to other people. And I'm wondering how common it is?
There is not much literature about it that I can find, So I was wondering if anyone else knows of anyone in a similiar circumstance?
It would also be helpful for support.
Another question I have is does anyone know of a stroke patient getting back the use of their hand after such a long period of time?
I would appreciate all input.
Thanks,
Angie
I had never heard of this before, but since this has happened I have heard of the same thing happening to other people. And I'm wondering how common it is?
There is not much literature about it that I can find, So I was wondering if anyone else knows of anyone in a similiar circumstance?
It would also be helpful for support.
Another question I have is does anyone know of a stroke patient getting back the use of their hand after such a long period of time?
I would appreciate all input.
Thanks,
Angie
Sponsor
LisaWh
01-16-2001, 01:49 AM
Angie, I have not heard of this happening before, but while I was pregnant I had three strokes(none of which affected my baby, thank God). When I have my strokes, my left arm, hand, face, and leg all go numb and feel like rubber. I have always been lucky enough to have my sense feeling return within 1-2 hours. Have you asked a Dr. about this? What has he/she said about it? Have you asked them if a blood clot has blocked off a nerve, or if permanent damage was done to that sector of your brain, causing you to not use your arm? Your Dr. could run a cat scan and/or a M.R.I. which would determine if you have any brain damage from this stroke. These tests were very helpful to me in figuring out my memory loss from my strokes. Just some ideas to maybe help, because I know what it's like when you can't feel or use you arm. I am interested to hear what your Dr. says. Lisa
asgmatrix1
01-16-2001, 08:19 PM
Hi Angie,
It's been nearly ten years since I had my stroke.
I still haven't recovered the use of my lanft arm and hand.
It doesn't look like I ever will.
It's important that yuo try and find as many products and aids that you can find that you can utilize with just the use of your right arm and hand.
It's extremely frustrating and exasperating as you well know by now.
After years of research, I have found many products, especially to help bathing, dressing, cooking, eatting, driving amd working.
I think one of the best things I can say is that you must get into the mindset that you do only one thing at a time. Forinstance,if you go shopping. You are going to have to handle getting out of the car first, then just handle the groceries and then handle the baby. Trying to handle all at the same time will not only be difficult but will cause you to drop one or the other. At least that's been my experience. Trying to grab the packages, the baby and open the card door and get out was near impossible, especially with the use of only my right arm.
I can't tell you how many times I went out to dinner with a date and had to have my date cut the steak I ordered. Now, I've found so many products that are especially designed for single handed use (i.e. knives, can openers, clip-on ties, zipper grips, button hookers, etc.)
Try not to let the frustrations get to you. You'll proably get so angered that you might start taking it out on the baby.
Try to remain calm and patient. Eventually you'll succeeed.
Best regards,
------------------
Angelo Gambino
Handi-Care Assistive Products & Solutions
It's been nearly ten years since I had my stroke.
I still haven't recovered the use of my lanft arm and hand.
It doesn't look like I ever will.
It's important that yuo try and find as many products and aids that you can find that you can utilize with just the use of your right arm and hand.
It's extremely frustrating and exasperating as you well know by now.
After years of research, I have found many products, especially to help bathing, dressing, cooking, eatting, driving amd working.
I think one of the best things I can say is that you must get into the mindset that you do only one thing at a time. Forinstance,if you go shopping. You are going to have to handle getting out of the car first, then just handle the groceries and then handle the baby. Trying to handle all at the same time will not only be difficult but will cause you to drop one or the other. At least that's been my experience. Trying to grab the packages, the baby and open the card door and get out was near impossible, especially with the use of only my right arm.
I can't tell you how many times I went out to dinner with a date and had to have my date cut the steak I ordered. Now, I've found so many products that are especially designed for single handed use (i.e. knives, can openers, clip-on ties, zipper grips, button hookers, etc.)
Try not to let the frustrations get to you. You'll proably get so angered that you might start taking it out on the baby.
Try to remain calm and patient. Eventually you'll succeeed.
Best regards,
------------------
Angelo Gambino
Handi-Care Assistive Products & Solutions
adouglas
01-18-2001, 12:57 AM
Originally posted by LisaWh:
Angie, I have not heard of this happening before, but while I was pregnant I had three strokes(none of which affected my baby, thank God). When I have my strokes, my left arm, hand, face, and leg all go numb and feel like rubber. I have always been lucky enough to have my sense feeling return within 1-2 hours. Have you asked a Dr. about this? What has he/she said about it? Have you asked them if a blood clot has blocked off a nerve, or if permanent damage was done to that sector of your brain, causing you to not use your arm? Your Dr. could run a cat scan and/or a M.R.I. which would determine if you have any brain damage from this stroke. These tests were very helpful to me in figuring out my memory loss from my strokes. Just some ideas to maybe help, because I know what it's like when you can't feel or use you arm. I am interested to hear what your Dr. says. Lisa
Hi Lisa. Thanks for the reply. Of course I talked to my dr. The stroke did cause brain damage which is why I'm not able to use my arm or my hand Sounds like you were pretty lucky with the small strokes you had! Mine was a pretty big one! (Unfortunately.) But I'm not giving up on my arm - I realize if anything comes back it will be a bonus, and it's going to take an awfully long time.
Angie
Angie, I have not heard of this happening before, but while I was pregnant I had three strokes(none of which affected my baby, thank God). When I have my strokes, my left arm, hand, face, and leg all go numb and feel like rubber. I have always been lucky enough to have my sense feeling return within 1-2 hours. Have you asked a Dr. about this? What has he/she said about it? Have you asked them if a blood clot has blocked off a nerve, or if permanent damage was done to that sector of your brain, causing you to not use your arm? Your Dr. could run a cat scan and/or a M.R.I. which would determine if you have any brain damage from this stroke. These tests were very helpful to me in figuring out my memory loss from my strokes. Just some ideas to maybe help, because I know what it's like when you can't feel or use you arm. I am interested to hear what your Dr. says. Lisa
Hi Lisa. Thanks for the reply. Of course I talked to my dr. The stroke did cause brain damage which is why I'm not able to use my arm or my hand Sounds like you were pretty lucky with the small strokes you had! Mine was a pretty big one! (Unfortunately.) But I'm not giving up on my arm - I realize if anything comes back it will be a bonus, and it's going to take an awfully long time.
Angie
adouglas
01-18-2001, 01:03 AM
Angelo. I appreciate your candor! Although not that encouraging. I do have several "aids for around the house. Any hints on how to wear Jeans or normal pants without an elastic waiste? I'm also getting sick of velcro shoes! ugh I just got voice-recognition software for the computer for when I go back to work! I'm excited about that.
Angie
[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 01-20-2001).]
Angie
[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 01-20-2001).]
joygrotjohn98
04-20-2001, 03:14 PM
have your doctors said it is safe to have another pregnancy?
I had a stroke while 12 weeks pregnant, but my baby died. I would like to try again and wonder what your experience has been.
You can email me at jgrotjohn@limitedtoo.com
I had a stroke while 12 weeks pregnant, but my baby died. I would like to try again and wonder what your experience has been.
You can email me at jgrotjohn@limitedtoo.com
adouglas
04-22-2001, 12:39 AM
Joy:
I am so sorry that you lost your baby.
I have always realized that things for me could be so much worse and I am so thankful for such a healthy happy baby boy!
Doctors are not entirely sure what caused the stroke - they just figure because of the timing ( i.e. two weeks after birth) that it was related to the way my body was reacting to the pregnancy ( that my blood was coagulating more than normal. As a result they have recommended I not get pregnant again. And I would definitely not want to go through this again. I would be terribly frightened of it happening again! It is so hard with a newborn - one must rely on everyone else to change diapers, to bathe, to carry, to hold when he's not feeling well, and to pick up when he falls, etc. It is getting easier all the time, and I'm sure as he gets older and is able to hold onto me, it will get that much better. It's just been a brutal experience, and VERY hard!! I will not be having another child!
Were you left with any diabilities after your stroke?
Thank you for your reply.
Angie
I am so sorry that you lost your baby.
I have always realized that things for me could be so much worse and I am so thankful for such a healthy happy baby boy!
Doctors are not entirely sure what caused the stroke - they just figure because of the timing ( i.e. two weeks after birth) that it was related to the way my body was reacting to the pregnancy ( that my blood was coagulating more than normal. As a result they have recommended I not get pregnant again. And I would definitely not want to go through this again. I would be terribly frightened of it happening again! It is so hard with a newborn - one must rely on everyone else to change diapers, to bathe, to carry, to hold when he's not feeling well, and to pick up when he falls, etc. It is getting easier all the time, and I'm sure as he gets older and is able to hold onto me, it will get that much better. It's just been a brutal experience, and VERY hard!! I will not be having another child!
Were you left with any diabilities after your stroke?
Thank you for your reply.
Angie
Pooky
05-08-2001, 11:47 AM
Like you said, never give up hope! After my stroke, when I was paralyzed on my left side, almost everyone thought that there was little hope that I'd ever be able to move my left side. That was until my parents told our preacher at church about my stroke. The preacher then put me on the church's prayer list, and I guess that all that prayers helped me; I was soon able to move the left side of my body. My age may have also had something to do with my recovery; I was only 22. All I know is I'm so glad that God performed this miracle for me, afterall, I was unable to move the left side of my body for four months.
I hope that one day you will regain your movement!!
------------------
I had a hemorrhagic stroke on September 8, 1999.
I hope that one day you will regain your movement!!
------------------
I had a hemorrhagic stroke on September 8, 1999.
sleigh911
12-05-2004, 01:23 PM
Oh my heavens. I'm absolutely terrified! Twice while pregnant with my twins 3 years ago, I had what I think is TIA! My OB/GYN's nurse told me it was no big deal, and on Nov. 18 the same thing happened. I woke up, got out of bed, and fell down (twice) because my right leg was completely numb. When it came back a minute later, I didn't feel any pins and needles like it was asleep, it was just fine, except for what felt like a rubber band around my knee (same as before). I'm 39 now (my girls are fine) and on Dec 1, my mom had a fairly serious stroke; she's only 61! This is just terrible, but now my fear and uncertainty is exascerbated by this TIA thing and my fear for myself and my three little children. I have a doctor appointment Monday. I had a relatively significant risk for stroke before, but I figure now I just have to pray for heart attack because my risk has become almost immenant with my mom being so young with no real risk factors other than being 20 pounds overweight. She's always been a goody two shoe!
Thanks for posting your stories, because I had no idea TIA/stroke could actually be caused by pregnancy! I'm glad to hear the stories of recovery because my mom needs to hear those right now. Good luck to everybody!
Thanks for posting your stories, because I had no idea TIA/stroke could actually be caused by pregnancy! I'm glad to hear the stories of recovery because my mom needs to hear those right now. Good luck to everybody!
Frannie500
07-05-2007, 05:25 PM
Post partum stroke occurs in about 8 out of 100,000 women in the first six weeks after giving birth so it is statistically "there." According to the research I have read there is no way to predict this or no way to prevent it, currently. The good news is that is was probably a combination of the change in the blood, trauma from birth and hormonal changes after birth that caused the stroke. If there is no other cause for the stroke, it should not be coming back again.
doloresmc
12-10-2007, 10:41 PM
Hi Angie.. I had sudden death followed by an ischemic stroke 4 months after giving birth to my son.. I was 31 at the time and it was almost 5 years ago. Mine was due to post partum cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart). So after my heart healed I am pretty much on the clear. Still, no more babies for us because my cardiomyopathy was peri-partum. My suggestion would be to try and find the reason of your stroke so you get some peace of mind.
I can totally relate to how hard it is to care for a baby while recovering from such a life altering event. My left hand is gone..I tried for 3 years to recover until I finally lost hope and the will to keep on going. Otherwise I have a pretty average life. My son is 5 now and I can tell you kids are amazing: they adapt and he doesn't know any different. To him I am mommy..It means sometimes he needs to be more patient and wait longer until I find my way of doing something. That was one of the things I struggled with the most: guilt.. Kids are accepting and non judgemental...and they were both my cheerleaders celebrating every little accomplishment..they make all the efforts worthwhile.
I had to learn to walk again and then walk while carrying a baby..It is hard but you'll get the hang of it.It's important you keep trying so you don't have any regrets.
I wish you the best!
Dolores
I can totally relate to how hard it is to care for a baby while recovering from such a life altering event. My left hand is gone..I tried for 3 years to recover until I finally lost hope and the will to keep on going. Otherwise I have a pretty average life. My son is 5 now and I can tell you kids are amazing: they adapt and he doesn't know any different. To him I am mommy..It means sometimes he needs to be more patient and wait longer until I find my way of doing something. That was one of the things I struggled with the most: guilt.. Kids are accepting and non judgemental...and they were both my cheerleaders celebrating every little accomplishment..they make all the efforts worthwhile.
I had to learn to walk again and then walk while carrying a baby..It is hard but you'll get the hang of it.It's important you keep trying so you don't have any regrets.
I wish you the best!
Dolores