
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
- At age 46, he was overweight and had both high cholesterol and high blood pressure (210/160)
- 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
- Because of this – Go to the hospital as soon as symptoms appear
- 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