New to the Board... survivor: Lower Cerebellum Stroke

[Keith Buckner]

HI, I must say I am glad to have found this place!

On September 23rd, 2008, I experienced a Hemorrhagic Lower Cerebellum Stroke. I spent several days Comatose, and was revived after a couple weeks.

I was released from the hospital after about 3 months and from my extended Therapy in January of this year. I have, for the most part, expereinced a full recovery with no remaining deficits!! I've been busy the last few months, getting back to my former existence (you know... driving, working, etc.. again and "all that").

I AM on HBP medication and B12 Supplements (twice daily). My docs explained to me the low survival rate of my injury, so I've been seeking other folks who've had similar experiences with whom to discuss "life after stroke", but, until finding this place, had little luck.

"Thank you" to the administrators and members for this cool place to "hang out"

KB

[jennybyc]

Hi Keith and welcome! I've also been having lower brain strokes but mine are a little higher than yours(thalamus, hypothalamus area) and have not been hemmorhagic but vessels collapse due to long standing hypertension. But the effect is similar although mine have been much smaller than yours.

We are fortunate as this is the one area of the brain where you are most likely to have a full recovery unlike those with strokes of the upper part of the brain. I'm glad you have had a great recovery and now stay on those HBP meds. It's the only way to control the damage. I have Type 2 diabetes with it so that means even more damage. So about all I have left is trying to keep all stressors out of my life. right.......

So hang out and say hello to those who need support. As you well know, strokes are VERY scary for both the patient and family and they need all the help and support we can give.

Again...........welcome and gentle hugs...............Jenny

[Barbe4]

Originally Posted by Keith Buckner

HI, I must say I am glad to have found this place!

On September 23rd, 2008, I experienced a Hemorrhagic Lower Cerebellum Stroke. I spent several days Comatose, and was revived after a couple weeks.

I was released from the hospital after about 3 months and from my extended Therapy in January of this year. I have, for the most part, expereinced a full recovery with no remaining deficits!! I've been busy the last few months, getting back to my former existence (you know... driving, working, etc.. again and "all that").

I AM on HBP medication and B12 Supplements (twice daily). My docs explained to me the low survival rate of my injury, so I've been seeking other folks who've had similar experiences with whom to discuss "life after stroke", but, until finding this place, had little luck.

"Thank you" to the administrators and members for this cool place to "hang out"

KB

Hi Keith I had a cerebellum stroke in June 2009..and I am concerned about all the sleep I need. I sleep about 10 hrs a night and have at least one nap during the day. I have been doing PT since early July..and trying to slowly get back to routine living..not easy. I am allowed treadmill 5 min. at lowest speed..and I am using a cane..I am told this exhaustion is pretty common..I am on plavix and a few other meds. Hope you are well

[writeleft]

Hello Keith, and welcome to the HealthBoards...we are glad you are here!

I too am a stroke survivor, having 4 simultaneous strokes 5 years ago. My strokes were the result of malignant hypertension, and the strokes were just the beginning of it ! In conjunction with the strokes, I also suffered kidney failure, a heart attack, vision problems, and other issues (anxiety, RLS, apnea).

BUT...I am here today, and grateful to be alive! I have been on the boards for about a year now, and I have learned so much about myself, and others who have experienced strokes. My deficits include memory loss, speech problems (switching words & letters around...kinda funny), but I can type.

I am 48 years old now, 43 years old at the time of the strokes. Between Jenny and I, we have had 9 strokes altogether, so you are in good company here. It's nice to meet you, and you can always come here for support, and understanding.

Janet

[writeleft]

To Barbe4,

Hello to you, and welcome to the HealthBoards too! We can all relate to the great need for sleep following stroke. I am 5 years out, and I am still sleeping 10-12 hours a day. Your brain needs this extra sleep to repair itself, so don't be too concerned about sleeping too much. It is necessary for the best recovery. I wish you the best...

[jennybyc]

Hi Barbe4...Writeleft is correct....sleep is the best thing for your brain. Think of it this way......when you're awake, your brain is busy running your body. The only time it gets to concentrate on healing itself is while you are asleep and it's work load is lighter. Sleep when you are tired. Your brain is telling you it needs some down time to do some repairs. And you'll remember better with more sleep. That's where we get the old saying of "sleep on it". It really does help us remember and work things out. In a study done at a university the kids were divided into 2 groups...one who studied all night and then took a test and another who studied, then got a good night's sleep and did the test. Guess which group did better...the ones who slept.

So sleep until your brain tells you it doesn't need so much rest.

gentle hugs.............Jenny

[rosen stefanov]

Hi everybody,

Before I write about my problem - what is HBP medication and why is it taken with vitamin B12 supplements after cerebellum stroke

Please read the whole story below in case you’ve had similar problems and might be able to give me an advice.

I started looking about nausea and vomiting after a Cerebellum stroke and found your post.

My mother had a cerebellum "stroke"-malformation of some blood vessels in her cerebellum from which there was a blood leak.

My mum has no other damage except the nausea constipation and now vomiting. Her memory is intact and all the movement is there except some slight misbalance when walking (it’s only been 20 days since the stroke)

The doctors wanted to operate but my mum decided that if it’s her time so be it. (didn’t want to risk it if the operation wasn't successful and left her with any permanent damage.

Cut the long story short she is been home now for two weeks and except some high blood pressure in the first two days she 's been on the mend since.

She has been taking some “calming/relaxing” tablets and tablets to keep her blood pressure under control.

It was all looking positive until two days ago…

She has had constipation which hasn't gone since her having the stroke 20 days ago.

We gave her some medicine for it (syrups and stuff) but no luck. We had to do a colonic irrigation few times now.

We thought that the reason for the constipation could have been the lack of variety in her diet. (Since she wasn’t eating much and mainly dry food.)

So I’ve made sure she had some salads (lettuce) and some fruits (orange, cherries and watermelon) but there was still no improvement with her constipation.

Yesterday (Sunday) she started feeling some pains in her stomach like if there is build up of acidity. She vomited once in the afternoon and then ones before going to bed. Both times it happened after she’s been to the toilet (been up and then going back to bed when the dizziness is so bad that makes her vomit)

Today (Monday) she was fine all day but when got up to brush her teeth and gone back to bed the vomiting happened again. She describes it as if when she goes back to bed she gets dizzy and that dizziness makes her vomit.

The strangest thing is that she is so alert so witty like she’s always been but not eating a lot and vomiting for second day made her look very frail

Do you know from experience what we can do to help her with dizziness the vomiting and the constipation?

It makes me hurt seeing her suffer and I feel so bad that I can’t help her. The doctors (here in Bulgaria) seem so clueless that I realized that I have to look elsewhere for help and advise.

Please let me know if there is anything (even if it’s available only in US) that helps with those symptoms.

Thank you in advance

Rosen Stefanov

[Positive Cynic]

KB,
Welcome to the forum. I am glad you found us too. There is a lot of wisdom from stroke suvivors here. I try to come back everyday to just refresh myself and there is always something going on that is importatnt to us stroke survivors. Whether is in old or new.
God Bless,
Tim

[Positive Cynic]

Rosen,
Welcome. After what I read your mum is probably de-hydrated. I had to learn it the hard way, but most people don't drink enough water me too. When I was in the hospital after my stroke, the doctor just said it to me and did give it another thought. He told me "your are de-hydrateded" and never said another thing about it.

So i researched when I could (it took a long time). But I found that our brain is 98% water. So it makes perfect sense. I try to drink as much water as I can. And I bet your mum's constipation will go away if she starts to drink water. Make her drink some water everday. And if she is still constipated then you can sue me.
God Bless you,
Tim

[writeleft]

Hello Rosen, I am happy you have found us as well...espeically when I read the first few posts on this thread...they were posted over 2 years ago, and I found it interesting to see what we were writing then is just like now...helping each other through such a difficult time in our lives, and those of our loved ones, such as your dear mother.

I think Tim has some good advice when it comes to dehydration, I think that may be the answer to your mothers constipation. Anything you can do to help her move her bowels should be done, and if you have no success, I would get her to a doctor for help. Having impacted bowels can be very serious, and of course very uncomfortable.

Give her as much liquid as she can take, except for anything caffeinated or alcoholic (which also dehydrate you).

The dizziness and nausea are a concern, due to the possibility of a fall or the sign of more problems in the brain. I would consult her doctor about that, she sounds like she needs more help from doctors to get her back on track with her eating and bowels. I would not wait to get her in, these things can become serious quite quickly. Please let us know how she and you are doing...

Janet

As far as your question about HBP medication and B-12 supplements....those are prescribed by that particular doctor to that particular patient, not to everyone. Your mothers doctor should have made choices about any medication your mother should be on, and she should take it as directed until the doctor says to stop.

[Barbe4]

I am happy to be able to get back into this site. I was reading the posts I received this morning..good way to get me back..re the cerebellar strokes..which mine was..I had my left cerebellum removed and things are going along. I am now trying to walk every day but only about 1/2 mile..finding my breathing has not come back all the way. I wish all of you a good recovery. I worry every day of having another stroke..hard to get past that I guess. I am consistently sleeping 9 hours a night..except the occasional night I cannot get to sleep at all. Very annoying. Have a healthy summer everyone..

Barbe4

[Positive Cynic]

Hi Barb,
God bless you always. I only want to tell you to not worry, please, please, A stroke happens so quick that there is nothing to do about it. There really isn't. so live your life to it's fullest. Don't worry about another stroke if you can. Worry is a waste or good time in our life. It sounds like your stroke was minor. So be happy you will be fine. If you are not,,,, then sue me later.
God Bless you buddy,
tim

[stevelts]

hi,

my name is steve. and i am a cerebellar stroke survivor (left vertebral artery dissection) that happened in july this year. just wanted to join a community to share my experience which has been rather traumatic for me. it'd been a couple of months and able to walk but still suffering from hearing loss of left ear, uncoordinated left arm and having a heavy head. also have pins and needles on the right side of body from head to toe. life hasn't been the same and still trying to adjust to my new body. i hope someone can tell me life will get better.

sorry i didn't use a new thread if that is the proper etiquette.
thanks
steve

[stevelts]

Originally Posted by Keith Buckner

HI, I must say I am glad to have found this place!

On September 23rd, 2008, I experienced a Hemorrhagic Lower Cerebellum Stroke. I spent several days Comatose, and was revived after a couple weeks.

I was released from the hospital after about 3 months and from my extended Therapy in January of this year. I have, for the most part, expereinced a full recovery with no remaining deficits!! I've been busy the last few months, getting back to my former existence (you know... driving, working, etc.. again and "all that").

I AM on HBP medication and B12 Supplements (twice daily). My docs explained to me the low survival rate of my injury, so I've been seeking other folks who've had similar experiences with whom to discuss "life after stroke", but, until finding this place, had little luck.

"Thank you" to the administrators and members for this cool place to "hang out"

KB

Hi Keith,
I am new to this forum and am glad to find it. I just had a cerebellar stroke due to ' left vertebral artery dissection' in july 2012, experiencing imbalance, incoordination on my left arm and leg and have a 'heavy' head but getting better. how long did you take for full recovery? when you say no deficits is like normal again to what you were before stroke? i am experiencing depression like symptoms just wondering whether i can get back my life. i really hope to. so wanted to chat with other survivors. thanks.

Steve

[tinam7]

Hi Steve,

For me it will be 2 years Dec. 19, 2012, not far off now. While I can't say I got everything back, I know my right brain hemisphere (left brain injury) has kicked in to help brain and me. Our brain has remarkable plasticity to help itself.

Depression can occur. My sibling with strokes was put on AD. I thought it was a mistake. I turned to CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy), no drugs, just conditioning to positive thinking. If you were given exercises, put on your favorite music and do them every day. Fight the strike with all your might.

We are here to try and support each other......tina

[stevelts]

How are you doing now Tina? I am better now although not full recovery has taken place. Lost my left hearing and still experiencing head issues such as imbalance and heavy head.