September 11, 2019

How to Survive a Stroke with Bill Monroe – Upside of 40 with Sean Mooney

Listen to the episode here

Key Takeaways 

• Certain medications for breaking up blood clots in the brain are only effective within the first few hours after symptoms appear
  • For this reason, go to the hospital as soon as you think you’re having a stroke
• High blood pressure, high cholesterol and sleep apnea are leading stroke risk factors
• Use the acronym BE FAST to remember the signs of a stroke:
  • Balance – sudden loss of
  • Eyes – blurred vision
  • Facial drooping
  • Arm weakness
  • Speech difficulty, slurred
  • Time to call 911 if these symptoms are present in any combination
• 20% of strokes have no known cause

Intro                                                                      

• Bill Monroe (@CurrentlyBill) is a podcaster, writer and Gen-X stroke survivor
  • Check out his podcast, Strokecast, and website

Life Before a Stroke

• Did Bill have any health problems before his stroke?
  • At age 46, he was overweight and had both high cholesterol and high blood pressure (210/160)
    • Plaque accumulates in arteries from high cholesterol causing them to narrow and become less flexible
• Did doctors warn Bill of the risk for stroke?
  • “They had given me warnings, but at that point, it was white noise- sure. I didn’t think about it.”
  • 20% of strokes have no known cause

The Story of Bill’s Stroke

• When Bill woke up on June 3, 2017, he noticed his left arm felt funny and that his left leg was wobbly
  • The left side of his face had also started drooping
  • He continued to lose functionality until 3 pm

If you think you’re experiencing a stroke…

• “Because I woke up with symptoms, it meant that I was outside the window for some meds that mediate effects of stroke”
  • Because of this – Go to the hospital as soon as symptoms appear
    • Certain medications for breaking up blood clots in the brain are only effective within the first few hours; it’s a very narrow window
    • The more quickly the clot starts dissolving, the quicker blood starts getting to the part of the brain that’s starving for it
• Use an ambulance for transport: paramedics recognize stroke AND know which hospitals specialize in stroke care

The Aftermath of Bill’s Stroke

• Bill was left with paralysis of the life side of his face as well as his arm/leg
• A couple of days after the stroke, Bill began his rehab
• A few notes on the rehab process:
  • Nerves have to regrow to teach the brain how to talk to muscles again
  • In rehab, the goal is to bring back the brain-muscle connections through movement
    • Movement provides the signal/data that’s then sent back to the brain so it can start building new connections
    • Nerves that fire together, wire together!
  • The term “muscle memory” isn’t entirely accurate because memory is in the brain, not the muscles
  • The fastest recovery happens in the first couple of months
  • Rehab pace varies based on:
    • Where the stroke occurred in the brain
    • How you were wired to begin with
    • ATTITUDE
  • Progress is NOT limited to what you do during the first two months
    • Bill is still getting function back 2 years later

How has Bill changed the way he takes care of himself?

• He watches his cholesterol and tries to keeps his blood pressure down
• He focuses much more on exercise
• He focuses on sleep
  • Getting poor sleep can contribute to weight gain which, in turn, increase the risk for stroke

The 5 Key Lessons Bill Learned from His Stroke Recovery Process

• Repetition is how the brain learns
  • Do physical and occupational exercises as often as you can – they build connections in the brain
• Solve life’s everyday problems like they’re puzzles
• Be responsible for your own recovery
  • Therapists are not with you 24/7- “The only one that can make it happen is me”
• Prioritize sleep
  • The brain needs downtime for “maintenance”
  • If you’re not getting good sleep, your brain can’t make crucial repairs or build new nerve connection
• Celebrate small victories
  • Celebrate the little things along the way (like being able to bend your wrist or make a fist) – it makes the recovery process so much easier

Closing Advice from Bill

• Know your numbers – blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar
• Use the acronym BE FAST to remember the signs of a stroke:
  • Balance – sudden loss of
  • Eyes – blurred vision
  • Facial drooping
  • Arm weakness
  • Speech difficulty, slurred
  • Time to call 911 if these symptoms are present in any combination
• Don’t get best, get better
  • “You don’t have to be the best at everything you do, just get a little better every day”
• Be positive – mental attitude helps with recovery
• Don’t wait for something catastrophic to occur to make changes to your lifestyle
  • “There might not be tomorrow”
• According to the CDC, 800,000 Americans suffer strokes every year – about 140,000 will die annually