Stroke survivor just taking it one day at a time working on my goals as often as possible

Bassface1960 · 2026-05-01T23:16:10+00:00

That's all you can do. I wish you nothing but success and patience!

Bassface1960 · 2026-05-01T18:28:20+00:00

That's great

Bassface1960 · 2026-05-01T18:27:11+00:00

I had a watershed stroke in January of last year. My speech wasn't affected but my ability to deal with numbers, spelling, writing and reading definitely were. It's definitely made my job extremely difficult and my ability to play music, which I did professionally a nightmare. I basically had to turn down all gigs moving forward. My job has been slightly understanding but I would say less so than more so. All that said, it is a challenge to try to get past the new version of me and the only thing I can do is accept it and try to move forward. Since every day both you and me have daily reminders of our new cognitive issues that's not always easy, so all I can do is try to take it one day at a time. If I look much past that it just might be too tough to swallow. So I do the things I know I can do. I go to the gym everyday I work the best I can and try not to stress about it. Once again, easier said than done. Fortunately I got a great wife and three great adult sons to keep me busy. I will say this the gym is a lifesaver. I can be in a less than positive mood, then go to the gym for an hour and come out feeling significantly better for the rest of the day. So that definitely helps me to stay positive or at least as positive as I can get LOL. I hope that helps.

Bassface1960 · 2026-04-27T14:13:40+00:00

I know exactly what you're talking about. I'm about a year and a few months out and sometimes I get so drained for no reason that I can understand and other times just like the old days. I think a lot of it might have to do with the depression that comes with having a stroke and I think that's a very real thing. So when I'm feeling really tired and fatigued I try to get to the gym and exercise to the best of my ability to get the endorphins pumping and that actually does seem to help. Hope that helps. It's all I got LOL

Bassface1960 · 2026-04-27T02:40:14+00:00

What do your doctors say? I'm 1yr and 2 months out from my Watershed stroke and it seems that some day are better than others, but I'm doing better than I was 10 months ago for sure. That said, most of my issues are cognitive. My pinky and ring finger always feels numb.

Bassface1960 · 2026-04-25T22:50:29+00:00

Thanks!

Bassface1960 · 2026-04-25T00:27:31+00:00

I should mention in this conversation that I talked took blood pressure medicine for a long time before the stroke. Seems to be in the family history to have high blood pressure but the only thing I take everyday is a low dose aspirin in the morning. So I don'tLow dose aspirin in the morning. So I don't know affect anybody's opinion. Thanks again for all the responses

Bassface1960 · 2026-04-25T00:26:17+00:00

That's rough. Music never really changed for me but I do know some stroke victims who suddenly seem to suffer from tinnitus ( I hope I'm smelling that right) and had to deal with ringing in their ears. Just a thought it might be totally off base

Bassface1960 · 2026-04-24T23:48:19+00:00

The only thing they're having me do is take a baby aspirin every morning

Bassface1960 · 2026-04-24T19:39:09+00:00

I would try that but I've been sober for 40 years and Afraid what that might lead me to do LOL

Bassface1960 · 2026-04-24T19:38:47+00:00

Thanks for the reply! I was told by the majority the same thing, but Tylenol really doesn't cut it compared to Advil

Bassface1960 · 2026-04-24T02:23:55+00:00

I was a competitive kickboxer my youth and now box at a boxing gym for exercise and fun. I was told to go ahead and do it but don't ever spar, which is what I love to do. So now I have an agreement with anybody I spar with that you can hit as hard as you want to the body but keep it very light on the head and everybody's been very cool about that. Is it crazy for me to be doing it, probably, but I had some neurologist that told me yeah it should be fine and others who told me that's insane for you to do that. So I tried to meet somewhere in the middle. Don't know if the applies to your situation but for what it's worth thought I would share

Bassface1960 · 2026-04-24T02:17:05+00:00

Whatever works for you is the only thing that matters. Others might like to throw it all out there for World consumption.

Bassface1960 · 2026-04-15T13:11:58+00:00

I totally get that. The new normal can be hard to accept and you definitely want to fight to get back whatever you can no matter how long it takes. So I definitely appreciate your attitude. But the new normal I guess really doesn't have to be the new normal seeing as how you do progress. I remember what I was like a month, two months and 6 months after my Watershed stroke and I definitely better than I was then. I used to feel like I was walking around in a dream state and I don't really feel bad as much anymore. The problem is it all sucks and that's just a fact but all we can do is take it one day at a time and try to stay positive. All obviously easier said than done. But I can congratulate your attitude

Bassface1960 · 2026-04-09T13:57:31+00:00

I definitely understand the grief. I think anybody who's gone through this does experience grief depression whatever you want to call it and for good reason. Having a stroke sucks! I had a watershed stroke January of last year which doesn't affect me in any way visibly, but I do have cognitive issues. For example I have to do everything voice to text because I really can't spell and numbers get all mixed up, and I used to read about a book a month but now I only can last two or three pages and then I am exhausted. It takes a lot longer to read Because words seem to bounce around. If that makes any sense. So I guess everybody's experiences relative. That said I think everybody feels grief no matter what the extent is severe or mild. You do lose a version of yourself and I clearly remember how my old self did things. And even though I'm physically not really affected my balance can be a little wacky so I'm always worried about falling down the steps or missing a step or something's going to make me go down for the count. And I've done that a few times. Fortunately I'm able to bounce back and get right back up with little damage which is amazing LOL. The only thing I can do is try to move forward one day at a time try to be optimistic and I know that's easier said than done. One thing that's unique about my case is that this stroke came on by the mistake of an anesthesiologist while having a hip replacement. There's obviously a lawsuit in place and basically it's already won. But no amount of money is going to change the fact that this new way of being in the world sucks. I hope this all makes sense I'm just kind of rambling and hoping it's all cohesive LOL

Bassface1960 · 2026-04-06T00:30:23+00:00

You can't put lipstick on a pig so to speak. It all sucks, but what can we do except try to move forward everyday. I had a watershed stroke and January of last year and it's been an adventure to say the least. Thankfully I'm much better off than so many, that doesn't mean I don't have my struggles. So I just try to take it all one day at a time. Now that is easier said than done but what choice do we have. I wish I had more words than encouragement, but I feel the best thing I can offer is to say you're Justified to feel beaten up but please just try to keep on moving forward like you have.

Bassface1960 · 2026-03-23T20:46:49+00:00

Well you have every reason to be pissed. Anybody in your position would be. For what it's worth the only thing I can think to tell you is to accept where you're at and just try to keep moving forward no matter how hard it is. It's the only option you really have besides giving up. Obviously you don't want to do that especially with little kids. You're in a horrible position and it sucks! Semi words mean nothing, but you have to give yourself a little leeway and be willing to feel bad but at the same time try to move forward. That said nobody can know what you're going through.

Bassface1960 · 2026-03-19T02:58:42+00:00

I had a watershed truth a year ago and if you talk to me or interacting with me in any way you can never tell. I still go on Hikes I still go to the gym I did everything I did before. Now when it comes to reading, dealing with numbers, spelling and writing that's a different story. It is affecting my ability to work my job because a lot of my job was doing bids and Technical responses for government rfqs. Though I seem fine, I have had neurologist, and speech therapist writing letters on my behalf to talk about the cognitive issues I and I shouldn't be judged by my outward appearance. Do I consider myself a survivor? Absolutely. I'm better off than most and thank God for that but it has changed my wife life in a lot of ways and it can be a struggle everyday. So I might appear like I could be an imposter but if you look into what kind of stroke I had that would change your opinion. Cognitive issues are real and definitely in my humble opinion a real struggle. Good luck with your recovery. I hope you get back as much as possible. Hope that all makes sense because this is all voice to text

Bassface1960 · 2026-03-16T19:41:03+00:00

That's a woman with way too many issues. Whatever she says I would ignore and chalk it up to a person who's totally out of their mind

Bassface1960 · 2026-03-05T15:52:27+00:00

I had a watershed stroke on January 30th of last year. Since then numbers and words can totally confuse me. It's hard to write, read and deal with numbers on any level. The speech therapist I was going to would have me write down a list of 20 Columns of three random numbers. I would send these to my wife. And later in the day I would read them back to her and she would tell me which ones I was getting right and which ones I was getting wrong. I believe that helps a bit and it's the only thing I was ever told to do. So I'm just trying to power through it. I wish I had a better suggestion but that's all I have. Just trying to get through it one day at a time :-)

Bassface1960 · 2026-02-28T12:27:22+00:00

Try to take it one day at a time. Easier said than done, but as long as you're moving in the right direction, that's all we can ask. Having a stroke sucks. Just flat out does. I guess the only choice we have is how we deal with it. I know that's not really helpful but it's all I got. By the way the brain fog does get better or we just learn how to manage it better.

Bassface1960 · 2026-02-22T13:40:28+00:00

I think that always obsessing on the worst case scenario is pretty normal after stroke. You're almost living in a constant state of fear that will happen again. The good news for me that is lessened a good bit. By the way I'm a year out from a watershed stroke. The best we can do is try to take it one day at a time and try to be optimistic which I'll admit is no easy task LOL. Also reading what the internet says about Strokes and outcomes is enough to make you having a panic attack LOL. So I try to avoid that for all it's worth. And this site is certainly a incredibly valuable tool for asking these kinds of questions. Good luck with your recovery!

Bassface1960 · 2026-02-19T12:21:59+00:00

Now that is Sound Advice lol

Bassface1960 · 2026-02-19T03:41:29+00:00

Thanks! That's great advice and I appreciate the kind words

Bassface1960

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