Everything we do, every thought we've ever had, is produced by the human brain. But exactly how it operates remains one of the biggest unsolved mysteries, and it seems the more we probe its secrets, the more surprises we find.
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Since March is Brain Awareness Month, it seemed like a good time to review how our brains have been affected by our strokes.
The brain is a complex organ. Until I began searching for answers post-stroke, I never realized how complex it was. Did you?
Since my stroke in September of 2015, some of the realities I’ve discovered since my stroke are:
Every stroke is different because:
We are all different.
The type of stroke we experienced is different: ischemic (blood clot); hemorrhagic (bleed). Each type produces different side effects.
The areas of the brain generate different complications.
The intensity of the brain damage varies from survivor to survivor.
Our physical abilities and health pre and post-stroke aren’t the same.
Our motivation levels vary from person to person.
Our healthcare professionals have different skill levels of understanding what is needed for our recovery and care.
Thus, if you’re tempted to compare yourself to another survivor (Why are they able to do such-and-such and I’m not?!), don’t waste your time. It’s fruitless and frustrating, as you can see with the examples above!
Yet, I have done it many times! ☹️ I was sharing these thoughts with my friend and personal trainer at the gym for the disabled, Brielle, and as always, she suggested a way to re-frame the issue. I’m paraphrasing, but she said something like, “Instead of being envious, think about how similar you are with the facts that:
Both of you:
shared a trauma, a stroke;
are working towards recovery;
had successes and failures in the recovery process; resulting in…"
In essence, we are more alike than different!
For such a young woman, she’s very wise! I’m grateful for her expertise and her friendship!
MY STROKE EXPERIENCE
We all have our stories, don’t we?!
Using my stroke experience as an example, my ischemic stroke occurred on the right-side Basal Ganglia, which is just above the ear; and the Brain Stem.
The basal ganglia helps to control:
Voluntary movements, particularly on the left side of the body.
Cognitive functions like:
decision making and planning,
motivation, habit formation, and
emotional regulation.
many more!
In my case, these functions display themselves as:
Voluntary movements: I’ve had more than a dozen falls, breaking 4 bones (foot, collar bone, 2 ribs). It only takes a second of stepping the wrong way for foot-drop & spasticity to activate; slipping/tripping on something; or simply not paying attention to what you’re doing!
Difficulty organizing clothes and thoughts to pack for a trip; planning a day of errands; & making simple decisions, like where to go for dinner?;
Sequencing: What needs to be done 1st, 2nd, 3rd? When dressing, for instance, I sometimes put on my shoes before I put on my pants!
Motivation: After almost 10 years, I find myself less motivated than I was during the first phase of my recovery. Not only am I almost 10 years older, But I’ve had more than a dozen falls and 4 broken bones, one break of which (ribs) landed me in the hospital for a month. Talk about lose my strength, motivation, and my mind! LOL! Each time there’s a break, it takes me out of commission for weeks of precious time to live my life.
I may have slowed down over the years, but I have not given up, and neither should you!
I’LL NEVER GIVE UP THE VISION OF MY PERFECT HEALTH!
It’s definitely worth fighting for, isn’t it?!
PART II: The Brain Stem is forthcoming.
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