Image via apartmenttherapy.com

What you can do to help

The first step is to know that fatigue after stroke is a genuine concern for many stroke survivors. Recovering from a stroke and learning new ways of doing things can be tiring.

Here are some suggestions which may help you with fatigue:

Know your limits. Be aware of the activities which cause fatigue and spread them out.

Plan rest breaks during the day. Arrange breaks either side of activities. For example, you may have a therapy session, so try to plan a break before and after.

Break large tasks into smaller tasks. For example, instead of eating a whole meal, put your dessert aside for later, or break your shopping up over a number of days rather than getting everything at once. You may consider preparing for an evening meal by slicing vegetables in the morning and refrigerating.

Prioritise which tasks are most important to you. On days when you feel tired, only do the tasks which are high priority.

Having a short sleep in the afternoon may give you more energy to help you through the day. Establishing a good sleep routine is important. Try going to bed at the same time each night.

Establish a healthy balanced diet that provides enough fuel for your body. Some foods can help restore your energy while others can make you feel more fatigued. You may need to eat regular snacks throughout the day. Talk to your General Practitioner (GP) or local Dietitian about the best diet for your needs.

Despite your fatigue, it’s important to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine, in order to increase your stamina. Talk to your GP or Physiotherapist for an exercise program that can help you.

Talk to your family and friends about your fatigue. If they know how you feel, they will know how to support you better. Know when to ask for help. Don’t think you have to do everything yourself.

More information

Your Occupational Therapist and Physiotherapist can give you advice on how to conserve your energy. Speak to your Dietitian about maintaining a balanced diet.

Note: This fact sheet is number 4 in a series. For a complete list of fact sheets, click here

Image via www.brisbanetimes.com.au

Fatigue is common after a stroke. It can be frustrating and make everyday activities slower. People who have had a mild or severe stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) may feel fatigued. It can present in the initial weeks or months after a stroke and for some stroke survivors, persist years later. For many people however it does improve with time.

What is fatigue?

Fatigue is a feeling of early exhaustion, weariness or feeling too tired to do something. It results in reduced ability to perform a task that requires physical or mental activity.

Fatigue can affect all areas of your life including your home, work, sex and social life and also your ability to participate in therapy.

What is the link between fatigue and stroke?

You may notice changes after a stroke. On a physical level, it can lead to difficulty moving and swallowing but it can also affect the way you think and feel.

Although fatigue can be more common as you get older, a stroke can also increase fatigue. Between 40-70% of people who have had a stroke experience fatigue even one year after.

You may experience some of the following after a stroke:

Muscle weakness or paralysis – you may now need more physical and mental energy
for day-to-day activities like walking, dressing and shopping.

Changes in medications – some medications have side effects which may increase levels of fatigue. Talk to your doctor about different medications.

Disturbed sleep patterns – you may find it difficult to fall asleep, and stay asleep.

Stress and anxiety is common after a stroke, leading to sleep disturbances.

Depression can also be associated with stroke, which may lead to fatigue.

Problems with your bladder and bowel movements may make you tired.

Weight loss caused by changes in eating patterns, poor appetite or difficulty swallowing. Without adequate nutrition, you may not have enough energy to get you through the day.

For more information about fatigue or download a fact sheet click here

By Alison Bakker

Fatigue has, by far, been the worst symptom of my stroke. I was fortunate that my physical recovery was relatively fast and consistent. My physical symptoms are now
minor and very manageable. This wretched fatigue however, is another matter entirely.

The best word to describe it is dispiriting. It takes the spirit out of me, somehow disempowers and depresses, in effect, hobbles me. This is the agonising paradox for me five years after my stroke; it feels to me that without this wretched fatigue I could conquer the world!

So I did some research into post-stroke fatigue (this wretchedness does have a
name!) It is a poorly researched symptom, especially in the later lives of stroke survivors. It’s been researched mainly in the first year after stroke.

There doesn’t seem to be a definitive cause or reason for fatigue, just a brain injury and its recovery. And as there’s no definitive cause, there’s no definitive cure. So I’ve decided to take the fight up to ‘this wretched fatigue’ as it has become, many years after my stroke, the bane of my life.

Pooling together my experience with what I’ve learnt through speaking to other stroke survivors in the online StrokeConnect Forum and reading medical research
and advice sheets, I’ve made myself a plan!

Firstly, I’ve spoken to my GP about what medications I can change or stop that might be causing fatigue. Secondly I began seeing my personal trainer with a view
to increasing my strength and fitness, (as advised by the National Stroke Foundation).

A user on the StrokeConnect online forum recommended exercising through the fatigue. That worked well, cleared my mind and increased my ability to concentrate, though only during mild fatigue.

Then I thought about my diet. I lost a couple of kilos, making sure I got all my meat and veg plus a multi-vitamin. One of the user’s on StrokeConnect online recommended cutting back the caffeine, so I did that, with considerable reluctance and difficulty. I also limit alcohol.

Last was rest. Not staying up too late and scheduling rest in the afternoon when able.

The changes I have made have helped my fatigue, not cured it. I certainly feel better
and more capable. For me the eye-opener was the caffeine reduction, it made a huge difference; alas for my beautiful double-shot skinny latte in the mornings, I knew it well!

Alison Bakker survived a stroke and is a sometime writer from Melbourne. She is married with two children and works part-time as a registered nurse.

For more information download the NSF Fatigue Fact Sheet.