HostTracy

Becky I agree with you 100% my day depends on the day and I have built up my own arsenal. If I can't think of one then I might search for a while to find one that fits. 2 birds in one stone...a couple of hours of redirection and a weapon or tool to fight back when the "it" catches up.  :thumbs up:

Thank you ksmith and I am finding that as well...that cerebellum stroke is some what of a mystery because of the lack of information. It is very frustrating to me all the time. After a battery of testing my neurologist doesn't know why I had the stroke. This fact increases my anxiety ten fold. I have had to take a step back and decide how I was going to go ahead with life 1)feeling terrible and anxious about everything I do  or  2)Try to push that down and really learn myself and how and what makes me feel happy. It's a hard choice and one I make every day. Sometimes I choose happiness and sometimes I feel like I can't. I am an expert on reasons that might cause a stroke or make the risk greater...bet a few more years I could be a brain surgeon (in theory lol). I know all too well how you feel physically and I wish that each year gives you back even a small amount of function you have lost and if it doesn't then I think you have the right answer...to heck with all of it. My mom just told me today - advice on other people's expectations..."Ignore everything except yourself right now. Be yourself and let others deal with it the way they will-you have no power to make them deal with it any other way. What you do have is the power to not listen and to not take it in and the freedom to be you regardless." Thank you for the chat room info I will visit...my own room filled with other people who just want to feel "normal" if there is such a thing. Thank you so much!

Hi SweetMom - You are a brave soul surviving 3 of these attacks! I can only imagine  - I don't exactly know what but it's hard for me to think of ever having another let alone 3. I really get what you're saying about not being too happy with your changes... I've said this before that my most difficult thing to realize was that I had to fore go that memory of me and get to know myself now. I do not like it one bit. Heck there were plenty of things I didn't like before but it was what I became familiar with for 43 years. The reality truly frustrates me. I know I definitely read the serenity prayer or said the words to myself over and over. It helps me get through anxiety (which I have so bad) as well as accepting the now moments. I can only describe those moments as a kind of mourning. It's scary and makes me feel sad inside. I told my mom I wish I didn't remember because it would help me focus more on things right now. Unfortunately, accepting both then and now is what I have to do. God bless you...and from what I have read it looks like you have worked hard and are taking the ball back in your hand. That must only add to your own serenity. Keep up the hard work...and feel good about even the smallest triumph! Thank you so much for sharing...I know I am a cheerleader  **hi**  and it looks like we both may have a few others here!!!

Tracy

Hi Heather! Thank you so much for the welcome. I look forward to sharing and passing along the positive I have found that helps me. I certainly know that someone else is in the early phase right now and I remember how scared I was. I am so thankful that today is full of my progress. 

Very nice to meet you as well

Tracy

Hi... my name is Tracy, I'm 43, and had a large cerebellar stroke on both sides July 5, 2015. I went by ambulance to the hospital but was told I had an ear disorder or a migraine. So I was sent home unable to walk, throwing up, with severe head pain, a walker, a potty chair, and a prescription for migraine medicine. I barely recall much of the next few weeks...my doctor sent me to a neurologist when I almost kicked him as he tested my reflexes. With a MRI my neurologist finally told me that I had a cerebellar stroke. She said it was large and involved both sides of my cerebellum. Since then it has been a crazy up and down ride. What really sucks is that I remember how I used to be. One of my hardest things to tackle is accepting that I am not the same person. Also being "young" (It feels so nice to say that lol) and having an unusual stroke did not do any favors for me; the ER Doctors and hospital staff just walked right by my symptoms. Weird I never thought that would be a problem or that I would ever have a stroke. I am really thankful though...to be around and I sorta have had to reinvent myself (that means I can sorta do the things I want to do but haven't because of whatever reason). I have memorized the Serenity Prayer and chant this as my mantra whenever I feel out of control emotionally. I am really excited to have happened upon a group of others I can relate to in one way or another. Hello to all of you!