Nope, you aren't normal at all. But that is my demented opinion and who am I? Vicki, deep breath, First you need to figure out the definition of normal... stroke normal, not whole people pre stroke normal. Normal is a setting on the washer home girl. Loosen up and let the good times roll. Take every moment as it comes, quit trying to pigeon hole your life. Whatever happens, happens. Keep an open mind.

So you are still crying? Then the 3-4 month time period is different for you. We all recover at different rates. Man, you need to come here so I can turn you into a retro laid back cool dude vicki!

I have a comfy sofa

Pam

Vicki,

"Normal" is an illusion---there is no such thing in the stroke world. There might be statistical odds that the insurance companies try to work out so they can justify cutting payments off here and there, and those standards might have erroneously got taken for "normal" but they are not!

Hang in there. Jean

well,

vicki, then i'm not "normal" either. i'm a blended person of pre stroke and post stroke and i often get the two confused CAUSE I CAN'T REMEMBER S----!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i hate to think of you crying. but i bet you feel better afterwards. sometimes i WANT to cry, is that normal? who knows is my best answer to all of this "normal" stuff. if my neuro with 25+ years of experience and 10 years of college doesn't know, then how can we be expected to know? i know the answer vicki, there IS no answer!!!!!

Vicki,

I'm going to chime in and agree with Kim. Don't forget that there are questions that have no answers. Looking for them is about the same as banging your head against a wall.

Pam

VICKI,

I NEVER WAS NORMAL, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT NORMAL IS. MOST OF MY FAMILY IS GONE, BUT MY WIFE'S FAMILY IS FAR FROM NORMAL. THAT IS IF BEING NORMAL IS FUNCTIONING IN A MANNER LOOKED UPON BY SOCIETY. DOING THE BEST YOU CAN WITH WHAT YOU'VE GOT TO WORK WITH MAKES YOU NORMAL. WORRYING ONCE IN A WHILE ABOUT HEALTH MATTERS AFTER HAVING A STROKE MAKES YOU NORMAL. SHOWING EMOTION MAKES YOU NORMAL. MOOD SWINGS MAKE YOU NORMAL. GIVING UP, STAYING DEPRESSED, AND NOT RELYING ON OTHERS FOR HELP MAKES YOU ABNORMAL.

I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT BOTH OF US WOULD BECOME BORED. WE WILL NEVER BE CONSIDERED 100% NORMAL BY OURSELVES, BUT WE ARE "SPECIAL".

FROM ABNORMALLY NORMAL,

MARTY

I like Marty's abnormally normal definition. Makes sense....

I am going on 3 years this fall(post stroke) and still cry over stuff while at the same time I'm telling myself in my mind"get control, this is SO STUPID" and I think (while still crying) I can control this and do try to distance myself from it but not to much avail at times. (but maybe even that is some sort of progress cause I'm trying to talk myself out of it?) who knows! Makes it hard to talk to people sometimes..

Now I cry over if something can cause me to even think of something, and over stuff like the boy who was lost for four days and them finding him or the Natalie Hollaway thing (I feel terrible for her family but also because I can imagine the boys father tried to instinctually help his son and maybe will bring them all down , they're all trying to help their families but there is a girl missing)or even the anticipation of going to my son's 8th grade graduation (next June!), and the thought that one day my parents will not be here anymore, just like I said anticipating it!

But at the same token I've also met some idiots over the last few years who cause me to think "AND I'M THE ONE WHO'S SUPPOSE TO BE MISSING SOME BRAIN CELLS!!". And then I think, I'm glad to be functioning as much as I am compared to that person who some would say is functioning at their 100%.

So at times it can be like comparing apples to oranges, BUT I do know how you're feeling when you question yourself and it makes me question my poor mom cause I feel like anyone else is so sick of dealing with this with me(But we live with it 24 hrs) but it never seems old, "Do I "appear" normal acting to others all the time or just some of the time???", I think I just have lost alot of "who I am" maybe the area hit with the stroke wiped out my "this is who I am" or everyone who's stroked feels like "they've lost themselves and their identities in this world" and so this feeling is not unique??

I once met an obnoxious neuro (and therefore went to him a short time) but I did glean he knew of a therapist who also happened to be a stroker and sometimes I think of callin his assistant and asking for her number and play these kind of thoughts off this woman but then I'm kinda like "i don't need any therapy!" kind of person.

I think and it may be something you want to pay attention to and try. On the days you feel down, how'd ya sleep and even water drinking enough, or even tired?? And I have read endless info on exercise relieving depression...It seems I get down easier if I don't do some kind of cardio and that helps move the blood thru out our systems. I think lack of water and lack of movement does increase the feeling of "falling asleep' or numbness..Just some ideas, simple but it does seem to help...Just to let you know there does seem to be others out there who are going thru some of what you are.

I wonder if my EL has hung on longer because my stroke was "caused" by someone tearing my artery in my neck and the thought that this was a medical accident that could have not happened but then every one no matter how they stroked probably feels this way???? Maybe this was really traumatizing to me, the trust that was there and then gone??? My driving has gotten to be less nervous over the last two years so maybe some of my anxiety (comes and goes) will dissapate with more time, and this may seem a lifetime away, 10 years from now..????? Hope the same for you too, it can be hell sometimes......

OH! p.s. forgot to mention Plavix, I bruise too and don't remember hitting myself there either( but I'm gardening alot?) but I was thinkin of calling my GP and checking it with him anyway. I take 75mg a day, guess the stroke doc preferred this over the aspirin thing and possible stomach upset??? Let me know if you learn anything of this stuff and I'll let you know if I learn anything either..