Coping with a stroke
Having a stroke leaves many people feeling shocked and can have a significant ongoing effect on mental health. Anxiety, frustration, depression and difficulty controlling emotions are all common after a stroke.
If you are noticing any of these feelings, it is important to speak to someone. Unless you tell them, your friends and family may not realise the impact that the stroke has had.
Your GP is another good person to turn to. They will be aware of the potential psychological impact of a stroke and will be able to support you. They may be able to direct you to other sources of help such as counselling or other types of psychological support. In addition, there are medications that can be beneficial for some people.
Work
Many people can return to work after stroke, although the time it takes to get back to work varies a lot depending on the effects of the stroke.
It is a good idea to inform your employer at an early stage as your job may need to change. Your occupational therapist is a good source of advice about this. You may also need to continue attending rehabilitation even after you have returned to work and it is important that your employer is aware.
Driving
You are NOT allowed to drive for a month after a stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA).
You may not have to inform the DVLA about your stroke. It is always a good idea to discuss this with the stroke team and look at the DVLA website as the rules do change from time to time.
It is also important to tell your motor insurance company about your diagnosis otherwise your insurance may not be valid.
Holidays
Holidays are an excellent way to unwind and reduce stress levels. Having a stroke should not be a barrier to enjoying a holiday. However, after a stroke, it is important to put some thought into planning your holiday. Some things to think about are:
Where are you planning to go? Depending on your fitness, you may need additional support. There are specialist travel agencies that can help. You may also want to ensure that wherever you go, you have easy access to shops and facilities.
How are you planning to get there? If you are planning to fly, are you safe to do so? There are no hard and fast rules and it will depend on the effects of the stroke. The UK Civil Aviation Authority suggests waiting 10 days after a stroke, although individual airlines will have their own rules. It is worth discussing this with your stroke team and the airline you are planning to fly with.
What are you planning to do? If your holidays usually involve a lot of activity, you may need to have a think about how much of that activity you will be able to do.
What about medication? It is always worth taking more medication than you are going to need in case any goes missing. It is also very useful to also carry a list of everything that you currently take.
Relationships and Sex
The physical, psychological and emotional consequences of a stroke can affect your relationships and sex life, but there are things that you can do to cope with these changes. For most people there is no reason why having had a stroke should get in the way of close relationships and an enjoyable sex life.
Your stroke will also affect your partner. It is important to talk about your feelings and any worries you have. These can be difficult conversations, but dealing with concerns together can build stronger relationships. It is also important for both partners to understand and allow for the physical changes that a stroke may have caused.
Some people worry that having sex will cause another stroke. Sex is a form of physical activity and can cause blood pressure to rise, but having sex is not more likely to cause a stroke than any other form of exercise.
Your stroke team and your GP can support you and advise if you are struggling either physically or emotionally.
