Stroke and/or epilepsy

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LC2013

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In August last year I suffered a stroke as a result of falling off a mountain bike. Apart from my left leg & arm being paralysed, I've been pretty much ok since then. Leg getting better but arm not.

On Sunday, after a weekend in the lakes I went to the local point to point and within minutes of being there my left arm ( the one I can't move) started feeling weird. Before I knew it my arm was above my head going mental. I think I went unconscious. I was placed on the floor, went blue & was put in an ambulance.

I'm mortified by the whole experience. I've now been put on epilepsy tablets. I can't currently drive or ride my horse due to use of only one hand but now been told I can't drive for a further year even if arm comes back.

Im devestated. Luckily I am still allowed to compete in the RDA Nationals in July. The last 10 months could not have been any worse. Do things get better? Xx,
 
LC2013 said:
In August last year I suffered a stroke as a result of falling off a mountain bike. Apart from my left leg & arm being paralysed, I've been pretty much ok since then. Leg getting better but arm not.

On Sunday, after a weekend in the lakes I went to the local point to point and within minutes of being there my left arm ( the one I can't move) started feeling weird. Before I knew it my arm was above my head going mental. I think I went unconscious. I was placed on the floor, went blue & was put in an ambulance.

I'm mortified by the whole experience. I've now been put on epilepsy tablets. I can't currently drive or ride my horse due to use of only one hand but now been told I can't drive for a further year even if arm comes back.

Im devestated. Luckily I am still allowed to compete in the RDA Nationals in July. The last 10 months could not have been any worse. Do things get better? Xx,[/QUOTE

So sorry to hear this when you have already been through so much. I would say yes things will get better and you will get stronger. Focus on the nationals and take one day at a time till you get there. Sending you healing vibes and hugs. X
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Yes it does get better -- I'm a doctor who is a specialist in disability medicine, so have seen my fair share of injured and impaired people, both physically and mentally. Fits, as you describe are fairly common after a brain injury and can be controlled with antiepileptics (and can also be a one off...). Listen to your doctors, take your meds and most importantly keep as positive and 'can do' attitude as possible. Of the people who I've worked with, the ones who get a great quality of life back are the ones who don't let the word 'can't' enter their vocab... But if you're already entered in the RDA national championships this soon after your accident, then I can tell you already have the right attitude... Try to think of this latest event as a minor inconvenience rather than a major hurdle... I know that's hard to do but carry on regardless and you'll recover well.

Best wishes

Blitz
 
blitznbobs said:
Yes it does get better -- I'm a doctor who is a specialist in disability medicine, so have seen my fair share of injured and impaired people, both physically and mentally. Fits, as you describe are fairly common after a brain injury and can be controlled with antiepileptics (and can also be a one off...). Listen to your doctors, take your meds and most importantly keep as positive and 'can do' attitude as possible. Of the people who I've worked with, the ones who get a great quality of life back are the ones who don't let the word 'can't' enter their vocab... But if you're already entered in the RDA national championships this soon after your accident, then I can tell you already have the right attitude... Try to think of this latest event as a minor inconvenience rather than a major hurdle... I know that's hard to do but carry on regardless and you'll recover well.

Best wishes

Blitz
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As you are a doctor, do you mind if I ask you a few questions my doctor couldn't answer. I have no movement in my left arm or hand (this is why I am doing RDA) so have been using the bioness H200 to try and get hand working. My doctor has no idea if I can still use it. Any ideas? Also I've been put on Lamictal, am I still allowed a glass or two of wine whilst taking it? Got a few weddings & my birthday coming up and would like a drink or two.

Thank you and sorry for the questions
Sarah x
 
I'm not a doctor, but I take Lamictal (not for epilepsy) and have not been told to avoid alcohol, either by my consultant or GP. In my experience, it's one of the better anti-epileptic drugs.

Wishing you a speedy recovery and success at the nationals. You're braver than me-I'd wimp out of a big competition!
 
Beausmate said:
I'm not a doctor, but I take Lamictal (not for epilepsy) and have not been told to avoid alcohol, either by my consultant or GP. In my experience, it's one of the better anti-epileptic drugs.

Wishing you a speedy recovery and success at the nationals. You're braver than me-I'd wimp out of a big competition!
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Thank you Beausmate. That's good to hear. Rda competition is in about 6 weeks, trying out the horse I'm hoping to use on Thursday. He looks lovely. I can't use the ones at the rda centre I ride at cos they are either too old & arthritic or won't travel so I'm hoping to use a horse from a local RDA centre. Fingers crossed, never done anything like this but dressAge was never really mine or my horses thing. She might have to change her ways soon though. She's already had nearly 10 months off. Desperate to ride her soon but with one arm & only one decent leg it's going to be pretty hard!!

Thanks everyone xx
 
It sounds as though you are doing amazingly well, recovering from any brain injury is tough. My husband had a major brain trauma 18 months ago and was left paralysed on the left side and partially sighted. For a long time I thought our lives were basically over (in mid forties) but although its been painful and frustrating he has made amazing progress especially over the last few months so that we are now starting to build a good life again.
The upshot is don't give up, there will come a time where all the effort will be worth it! My husband had seizures while in hospital so he has to take meds to prevent them. It is very common to have seizures after brain injury but there is a wide range of drugs available so you can be fairly positive that you will be able to control it and re establish a new "normal" ☺
Good luck with your comp and wishing you a speedy rehab! If you want to chat more please feel free to pm me x
 
My OH also had a major brain trauma about 16 yrs ago. He had epileptic seizures, whilst unconscious and after discharge from hospital. He had to take medication for some years but no longer needs it. He was told that it takes 5 yrs to know what your recovery will be, so you still have some way to go.

Good luck in your dressage comp.
 
LC2013 said:
In August last year I suffered a stroke as a result of falling off a mountain bike. Apart from my left leg & arm being paralysed, I've been pretty much ok since then. Leg getting better but arm not.

On Sunday, after a weekend in the lakes I went to the local point to point and within minutes of being there my left arm ( the one I can't move) started feeling weird. Before I knew it my arm was above my head going mental. I think I went unconscious. I was placed on the floor, went blue & was put in an ambulance.

I'm mortified by the whole experience. I've now been put on epilepsy tablets. I can't currently drive or ride my horse due to use of only one hand but now been told I can't drive for a further year even if arm comes back.

Im devestated. Luckily I am still allowed to compete in the RDA Nationals in July. The last 10 months could not have been any worse. Do things get better? Xx,
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I can't speak from the viewpoint of a disability, but I can speak as someone who has epilipsy...

When I was 11 I developed epilepsy, I never went blue, I was conscious throughout, and as such I feel incredibly lucky because the most scary thing about it is the loss of control for me. My fits presented themselves in a classic 'stroke' appearance, I would lose control of half the side of my body, it was awful to see my parents fear and worry, my father was thinking the worst as my grandfather had died of a brain haemorrhage at a young age. I was lucky, aside from a bit of tweaking of my dose, the meds that they put me on did the trick, it's been nearly 20 years since I had a fit, but the fear of them, doesn't exactly go away, and I think it's worse, when you've had one you then know what you have to fear. From the age of 11 to the age of 15 I was fit free, but then tried with the help of the doctor to come off the medication, sadly my dysfunctional brain had other ideas, so I went back on my original dose, and have been fine ever since. There is nothing I can't do, I compete, I ride, I go clubbing, I drink... I probably wouldn't be able to fly a plane, but that's ok by me, and experimenting with drugs was something I skipped in my younger years, but more out of a fear of that 'loss of control feeling'.

I'm sure you will be fine, life after a fit is the same as life before experiencing one, don't let it define you or stop you doing what you love x
 
Really wise words from people on here.

I too have epilepsy following a brain haemorrhage 1.5 years ago and take lamictal to control seizures. It's all quite new to me as I only started having fits a year ago.

My advice to you would be to take each day in turn, make preparations for if you do have a fit (eg ID and medical info for out riding) so you have a plan, focus on what you CAN do.Give yourself a break! You're an incredible person out riding in competition etc so be proud!

Lastly, if stuff does go wrong, dust yourself off, take it on the chin and crack on with a smile on your face because the toughest battles are given to the strongest soldiers. Honestly! (I'm a right little trooper!!!! :P & by the sounds of it you are too!)

In time you will look back and see how far you've come xx
 
crazymaisey said:
Really wise words from people on here.

I too have epilepsy following a brain haemorrhage 1.5 years ago and take lamictal to control seizures. It's all quite new to me as I only started having fits a year ago.

My advice to you would be to take each day in turn, make preparations for if you do have a fit (eg ID and medical info for out riding) so you have a plan, focus on what you CAN do.Give yourself a break! You're an incredible person out riding in competition etc so be proud!

Lastly, if stuff does go wrong, dust yourself off, take it on the chin and crack on with a smile on your face because the toughest battles are given to the strongest soldiers. Honestly! (I'm a right little trooper!!!! :P & by the sounds of it you are too!)

In time you will look back and see how far you've come xx
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Thank you. I hope you are right. I just want to stop waking up scared. I want the happy smiley fun Sarah back. One that has full use of all limbs!!

Not being able to drive for another 12 months is slowly going to destroy me, I'm only 33. How is this fair?!!!
 
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