What having a stroke *actually* felt like
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 มิ.ย. 2024
- Four months ago I had a cerebellar occipital stroke - I wanted to share why it happened and what life looks like now! Thanks for being here. 💜
THANK YOU Abby at Trails and Tails Canine - she was amazing, if you are looking for dog training in Colroado!
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0:00 - Welcome
1:18 - What Actually Happened
4:03 - ICU & Hospital TIme
6:10 - Going Home After The Stroke
8:25 - Good News, Bad News
11:12 - What Life Is Like Now
15:16 - A Scare
17:08 - Moving Forward
![Finally Telling the REAL Story: The Lawsuit Over My Amputation [CC]](/img/n.gif)
It's so scary to me that no one called an ambulance for you after the initial incident. Obviously, you were disoriented and have a distorted frame of reference for emergency visits due to your disability (same here, so I get it). However, if you ever notice a substantial shift in cognition, ALWAYS call an ambulance. I wish more people knew that. I'm glad you've been able to recover well.
PSA for strokes remember FAST! Face (any asymmetrical drooping? Especially when they try smiling). Arms (can they raise both arms equally high?).
Speech (Any slurring words? Are they coherent?). Time (what time did this start? This is helpful for medical staff). Catching it early is important!
Yes, seems crazy!
Same. I'm pissed at the gym for not calling 911.
This, very much this.
Agreed. Especially since neck injuries (including damage to the blood vessels) are a known danger of jiu jitsu.
But in general the symptoms she described are so severe, I'm baffled that no one called 911 immediately.
I had a situation with a family member in March where the symptoms were a bit unusual, 3hours of the evenening missing, eye lids droopy and she couldn't recognize our faces (thought we were strangers, standing in her home), no problems with balance or speech, or arms or legs ... I still knew immediately that this was an emergency and called 112 (our 911). She was so not happy about that...
Luckily it wasn't a full blown stroke, "just" a TIA, but still. I just had this saying in the back of my mind "time is brain".
The idea that someone could be on the floor, unable to sit up or form words FOR AN HOUR and no-one called an ambulance or took you to the hospital is horrifying. Where is the duty of care of the dojo teachers? Shouldn’t they have even the most basic of first aid qualifications so that they can recognise when something is *not* just a walk-it-off injury? They need to take a good hard look at themselves and do some serious retraining, as well as putting proper health and safety procedures in place at the dojo so that if something does go wrong, they have a clear protocol to follow. I’m so glad you’re doing better, Jo!
We we're a bunch of Teenage Girls riding horses and we took more Care when someone fell off a horse.... Im pretty Sure If someone couldnt sit Up after 5min they would have ended Up in the Hospital at our stable even with No adults around. But in the other Hand i live in a country where the emergency Services are covered by insurance.
Right! I go to a martial arts dojo that once had a similar incident; someone got chopped right in the carotid by another person on accident and collapsed. When the head instructor saw it, he immediately sprinted to the office and called 911. Turned out to be a stroke and time was of the essence. That's the kind of urgency any dojo should have when dealing with a potential injury like that!
Jo, so glad you are able to produce videos again! Also glad to hear you were able to find a second passion as a dancer. You have obviously come so far after such a tragic accident, I hope you can continue to remember how far you’ve come if you ever get discouraged. Bless you and be strong.
They didn't want their liability insurance to take a hit. I hope she sues.
Well, I guess it is still up to the person and when you get an answer in the direction like 'it will be okay with me', you cannot force someone to get help. A pretty hard descicion to make over someone else in such cases. You also know the 'patient' will get probably a hughe bill, even if it is just the transport in the ambulance.
I cant imagine watching someone collapse, full body shaking, unable to sit up or speak, completely unable to process whats going on arlund them for A WHOLE HOUR and no one calls an ambulance. Thats scarily negligent. I hope i am never in a situation like that. I am so sorry that everyone at that dojo failed you so terribly. Minutes matter when it comes to a stroke, and you would be in a much different place right now if someone had just called 911 at the very beginning.
Yes she could have died?!
I saw a guy who was twitching after a car accident and he didn't hit the windshield I don't think. He was probably that way that caused the accident. I was maybe 8-9 years old and at grade school. The police man told me just remember that's what happens when you do drugs. I filled out what I saw on a witness report. I was the one that ran to the school office to get them to call the police.
Not just that, she also slept with the stroke, which is extremely dangerous, and could have added to the severity of the trauma.
@@jj-if6it She sure as heck shouldn't blame herself because she'd just had a STROKE that affected her cognition!!! 🙄🧐 Plenty of other health emergencies also affect cognition. That's why bystanders need to do the right thing by calling emergency services whenever someone has serious symptoms!
That was my thought as well. I cannot imagine letting someone lay on the floor for an hour, without calling an ambulance, and then sending them home. Mind boggling.
Imagine running a combat sports school and not having even the most basic protocols in place for medical emergencies. Absolutely shocking
That's how you get Ju-Jit-SUED. Seriously though, I'm glad she didn't die due to that place's stupidity.
Getting hit by a baseball bat is exactly how my dad described his stroke as well. He also did not get help right away and did not know he'd had a stroke. He only realized many hours later that he was having trouble swallowing and couldn't speak. So, lesson is--if you suddenly feel like a baseball bat has hit you in the head, please go to the hospital.
Seems like good advice!
Oh wow. How is he today?
I totally understand what you mean, and in her context as she was doing a sport it would also really make sense
but as someone with chronic migraines, a heavy migraine can feel a lot like that too (fair enough i never been hit by a bat either). So i do at least remotely understand why you dont go to the ER everytime you have an intense migraine.
im also chronically sick in terms of my muscles and i collapse sometimes for no reason with significantly impaired muscles. I understand why some people may be hesitant to call for help
If you re otherwise healthy tho and this happens im 100% with you
And in her case the dojo should have called someone asap.
The only way I could describe mine was once the extreme confusion started to settle down and I was turning pretty still and the head pain started, all I could explain was the it felt like Babe Ruth cracked a bat on the back of my head and and elephant was slowly trying to finish me off by putting all of it weight on my brain😭 Most painful thing I have ever been through. Even beat child Labor for me. Couldn’t even cry from the pain because it would make the pain even more excruciating. I had mine at 33, July 22’
If you feel like you got hit in the back of the head with a baseball bat, go to the hospital no matter what. Either it’s a stroke, or you literally got hit with a bat. Either way, you’re probably gonna want medical help.
As a civilian first responder, if I had witnessed that incident on the mat, I would have called an ambulance immediately. I mean I don't want to criticize this dojo that you obviously love to bits, but them not calling you an ambulance at that moment strikes me as gross negligence.
Anyway, it's great to see that you're on the mend and I hope you will recover your fine motor skills so you can relax by making some art again soon!
Yeah, it's super crazy that they were ok with just sending her home. All I can think is that perhaps they thought it was a panic attack/extremely bad migraine? Or a horrendous case of the bystander effect?
But yeah, bonkers that they didn't call an ambulance.
I am quite happy to criticise the dojo! Having policies in place so that there is a clear protocol to follow in case of serious injury or any other major incident should be a basic responsibility for any venue or business where the public interact. Not having any of that in a martial arts studio is unbelievably negligent.
My thought is they probably thought they would get sued. Which is a stupid reason not to call an ambulance, but it happens far too often.
@AccidentallyOnPurpose ironically not calling now puts them in a position where they are possibly liable
Yeah, my partner used to work at a gym as a personal trainer and a huge part is always getting ready to action something given the frequent health emergencies in fitness settings.
The way you waited… my boyfriend did the same thing for FOUR DAYS before he finally gave in and went in. Huge stroke in cerebellum. He is so lucky to be here.
Slightly over 4 mins in, and it hit me. The similarities of what happened to a friend a bit under 4 years ago. So she fell, there was apparently a sort of whiplash effect. When she later went to the hospital, it was written off as just migraine - which was a common problem for her. A couple of weeks later she collapsed at home and was taken to the hospital. She did not come back.
It's such a precious and fragile thing, this one life we have. I'm glad you're still with us, Jo.
😢 I’m sorry for your loss. I Pray for God to Bless you and her family with Peace and Comfort and Closure. In Jesus’ name. Amen Amen
Honestly, your opinion of hospital visits nothwithstanding, this was a failure of everyone involved around the incident. You should have been taken to ER, by force if necessary, within minutes of that happening. Promptness of treatment is a huge factor in stroke recovery and more people should be taught to recognize the signs.
Agreed! Sometimes when folks are in an altered state they need someone else to make them get help.
@@evercuriousmichelle Ive actually had to have the police to talk me into going to hospital when I had a concussion, because I thought I was going to be fine. Basically they refused to leave me alone until I had sorted out a doctors appointment or agreed to go with them.
I dunno about by force, but she absolutely should have had to refuse treatment to EMS directly. The idea she was left to just sit around and be driven home is absurd.
@@gwenc1371 One of the things you learn in First Responder classes is that you cannot force a patient or potential patient to do anything. You learn that you must reach concordance and get to the "destination" together. It can be really hard to do sometimes, but it is essential to protect the autonomy, safety, cooperation, and physical integrity of your patients. If you meet them where they are and know how to help them help themselves then the outcome is far better and you'll keep both them and yourself in a safe situation.
This is apparently a gathering where big men beat up small one-legged women, and that is the planned activity.... Im not sure how much intelligence or compassion you will find there.
Hi Jo. I was a firefighter for 23 years. It wasn’t just a job, it was a calling, it was part of my identity. I experienced an injury to my knee, and shortly after a surgery to repair that, I was in a traffic accident where my back was broken. Basically, if the affected vertebrae moves another millimeter I probably end up on a ventilator, or dead. From the knee injury, I can no longer run. From the back injury, I can no longer lift weights greater than 25 pounds. Like your loss of jiu jitsu, I lost a part of “who I am”. Based upon the loss of use of your foot, and then the physical loss of your foot, I’m pretty sure you know this, but you will need to mourn this new loss. That said, there IS still life on the other side of this. I wish you well, and hope for your steady recovery toward a new normal. ❤
I so feel your pain about the loss of who you were. I was a paramedic, also sidelined by a back injury, although on the job and thankfully nowhere near as bad as yours. Forty years later, it still plagues me, though, and it’s part of why I now use a power wheelchair part time.
The injury was difficult enough, but that loss of identity was so much harder. I was working a paid job at the time, but I came from the volunteer system, and my entire life had revolved around EMS - and so did my social life. And then it was suddenly just over.
Thankfully I learned that I am not my job, and how important it is to always maintain a life and relationships unrelated to work. It was ultimately well worth the effort I had to put in, but it wasn’t an easy path.
And yes, these are huge losses, and whenever there’s a setback or a new diagnosis, we do have to mourn those losses each and every time.
🤍
I’m in same boat. Massive brain bleeds in ten places. I was sent to icu deemed inoperable. But the night dr on call did the surgery. I’m happy to be alive but I did lose myself.
For those who haven't had terrible experiences with doctors, it's very difficult to convey just how much I relates to her putting off the ER visit. Something needs to be done to make the hospital a safe space, a place of healing, and not somewhere a huge chunk of people fear going.
Amen! I feel the same.
I understand her point of view, once she recovered enough to be able to sit up, cos of previous bad experiences she didn't want to go. Understandable.
The problem is the hour she spent on the floor shaking, with no balance, not able to think straight or talk.
People around her should have called 911 immediately.
@@Uapa500
100%. I was only referring to her perspective.
Really for women if the hospital was a relationship everyone would tell us to drop 'em and block 'em! Nothing more worse than a narcissist that gaslights you into believing that you are a whiny little wuss that's looking for attention. And I missed you jo I was worried about you.
It’s like they do it on purpose so disabled people don’t come back for help.
BEFAST!!! I grew up with my grandparents they were older and taught me from a very young age how to call 911, knew our address and phone number. I could never be more thankful for them for teaching me the warning signs and Ill never forget them! I’m glad ur ok Jo and still here with us. My biggest hope with this story is that all gyms will start having a sign with the acronym on the wall and all trainers working in gyms getting basic training in stroke, cardiac arrest, and seizures!
B - Balance
E - Eyes
F - Face dropping
A - Arm weakness
S - Speech difficulty
T - Time to Call 911
My Mom had ESRD and DDD and my Dad had Alzheimer's before they passed. I cared for them at home until the end. I'll NEVER forget that acronym.
The dojo absolutely should have called an ambulance for you as soon as they saw you couldn't move properly or speak coherently. I'm stunned that they just drove you home (and that they waited so long before taking any kind of action at all). I'm glad you're recovering well and hope it continues until you are all better. Luckily, brains are remarkably resilient and can often "reroute" around damaged areas to replace lost abilities. I'm happy to see you back, posting a video, and to get your update.
Especially if she lives alone, that is dangerous, at the very least someone should have stayed with her.
I thought the same thing! I’m shocked no one called 911!
even in my hobby sports like hockey, any head injury you get benched until someone checks you out for concussion. I can imagine at my club if someone just collapses thats sessions done we are getting an ambulance in unless there was a known reason like diabetic issues.
I'm extremely surprised that they didn't at least suspect head injury and at least get her check, it's obvious her symptoms where from injury from fighting the much bigger guy.
I don't know how people watched what happened to you and didn't call 911. Maybe because I'm fresh off a cpr/first aid class, or because I've had people step in when I said I was fine....
I'm so glad you're healing, and have found a new outlet.
Yep, it's shameful no one called, or at the very least drove her to the ER. And I say that as a CPR instructor whose had friends have to step in to stop someone calling an ambulance for me (I'd already taken the meds I needed so there wasn't anything they could do anyway, I'm just naturally very pale so they thought I was gonna pass out).
As a medical student who just had an exam from first aid last semester and has been learning neuroanatomy, this is the thing that really shocked me. There should be more education on prevention and how to recognize and respond when someone is having a stroke since it can be so devastating.
One of the things you’re taught about is implied consent. It was clear that she wasn’t okay. Even paramedics would’ve said so and heavily insisted on taking her in.
the fact that you are able to speak let alone use your body is a God damn miracle since you werent rushed to the hospital. from what i know about strokes is the longer youre away from medical care the worse the prognosis is so the fact youre still (for lack of a better word) standing is a miracle. glad youre doing better
I had a stroke at 37. Thankfully (as much as that can be true when having a stroke) I had first responders within a few miles of my house and my stroke presented with all of the classic symptoms. I was at the hospital and treated quickly so my side effects are relatively minimal. I have known several people who didn't make it through a stroke, so even though you've had some damage done, it's still a miracle you are here. I'm so glad you're doing as well as you are and I pray for continued and quick healing. (please forgive me if i said anything stupid. I'm terrible with words.)
The fact that no one at the gym called 911 blows my mind.
People don’t have to help if they don’t want to.
@@paulwoodford1984 well I hope you are never in a situation where you require help from someone because that is a very shitty way to view the world. Especially for something as easy as grabbing your phone and dialing 3 digits.
@@paulwoodford1984 this is factually not true, a lot of countries have a law about failure to provide assistance/duty to rescue (and also some US states). Also, to avoid liability as a company, being diligent with these things is advisable.
@@CocoLicious Depend what mood people are in really. i always hope no one has an accident when i’m out and about so i do t have to have the hassle of helping. i will pretend i didn’t see anything
@@architecturaldefect i won’t be. i’m very cautious.
You say you’re in denial, but I suspect you’re also grieving the state of “ normalcy” you had prior to the stroke. Whenever there are catastrophic changes in our lives, financial loss, emotional turmoil, loss of a loved one, birth of a child or a divorce, our life becomes different. We have to grieve the loss of life as we knew it and gradually acceptance and moving forward follows. But we all grieve differently and in our own time. Prayers for you Jo, that you continue to improve on all levels of your life. In your time. And we will wait for and support you. ❤️
I'm sickened that you were that bad for over an hour and it wasn't someone else's priority to take over for you when you were struggling so obviously! I hope that others that were there now know the seriousness of such a situation and in the future make better decisions! I'm so sorry this happened to you!
Ps. I can hear you now replying to me saying, "but I didn't want to go, I don't like hospitals and doctors, I was telling them I was fine, etc"... and to that I still stand behind my saying someone else should have recognized and taken over the situation for you! Maybe you could do a safety training on stroke symptoms for the dojo?! It sounds like they might need something like this!
I'm so glad you're doing better than you were and I hope you can make a full recovery! I say all if this with respect, but it's just common courtesy to look out for others in their most dire times of need!
Edit: after I became disabled I too couldn't do the things I lived for and couldn't even teach anymore which was my livelihood... I am still, 10 yrs later, struggling to find my identity now and where I fit in the world so I am SO GLAD to hear you've taken up dancing and you're working toward improving more and more! You're such a role model Jo and such an inspiration!
From one b/k amputee to another, I am a stroke survivor with a strong desire to stay alive and thrive. I follow you for inspiration and motivation, thank you for sharing your journey with everyone. I wish and pray for you a full recovery, I believe you will fully recover and find your purpose for life will be even more meaningful. You are beautiful and strong, you inspire me. Thanks again. ❤
I am so sorry about Jiu Jitsu, Jo. I can confidently say I can empathise fully and completely with you. I understand how it feels, profoundly. For nearly 15 years, I was a semi-pro, competitive synchronised swimmer. I started synchro when I was like 6 or 7 and it became my everything. When I went competitive, I was training 25-30 hours per week while also going through middle school and then high school. My best friends were my teammates, my parents and sister would drive me to competitions, training, I was preparing to pass the test to become a judge myself for junior competitors, my team was getting very good.
We won a couple of championships on the regional level, placed really well in others, until we got to the point where my coach started to talk to us about sponsors, about the national team, about European Championships. This was my entire life. In France, we have this thing called sport-étude (sport-study) which is a special kind of high school where you train for a specific sport half the week and then do normal high school studying the rest of the time. You sleep at the school, you live there, it's to basically make you pro faster than by doing normal training only. We were looking into signing me up with my parents. But I had an accident when I was 13, a stupid domestic accident on a trampoline at my uncle's house. I ripped three ligaments, shredded muscle and shattered a bone, sending bone shards flying throughout my ankle and destroying it all in its wake.
The ER we went to refused to do proper imaging, told me I had a sprain. I walked on that injury, untreated, for nearly 8 months before my pain was finally taken seriously, and by that point it was too late. My joint was completely clogged up by soft tissue where my ligaments had tried to stitch themselves back together and miserably failed, completely freezing my joint in place. I had nerve damage, soft tissue and bone damage, internal bleeding and clots throughout my ankle. I had surgery, got every single complication that surgery could cause and spent years trying to heal from that.
All the while, I kept training, swimming, ignoring the pain from sheer stubbornness alone. It didn't work. The surgeon was sloppy and cut some of my nerves meaning I lost control of my toes and the front half of my foot. In my sport, pointing your feet is an essential part of perfoming and you can be disqualified for a flexed foot or your toes not pointing straight enough. I was in so much pain, all the time. I was walking with a limp for years which destroyed my back, and I had so many weird symptoms and pains.
Turns out I also had Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and MCAS. I had to stop synchro for good in my last year of high school when I was eventually recognised as disabled by the government. I couldn't walk anymore, I had to start taking oxycodone for the pain because the dozens of different pain meds they had been feeding me since I was 14 were not working anymore. Having to quit my sport ruined me emotionally, finishing what the disability diagnosis had started. I entered university suicidal and feeling like I had lost the only thing keeping me alive, the one thing I had loved fully and completely since I was 6 years old.
It's been years and I still wake up from dreams where I'm at the pool practicing for my next championships, dreams where I'm fitting into a new colourful swimming suit, dreams where I get to join the French National Team and compete at a high level. I'm doing better mentally, though physically I have only gotten worse from EDS and 13 years of botched surgeries, failed healing and terrible experiences with the medical field and its professionals. I may have commented it before, but the reason I started watching you is because I am discussing amputating my ankle with my doctors.
So I get it. Dear gods do I get it, and I am so, so sorry. This is a horrible thing to have to contend with and I'm so sorry you were dealt that hand. I know how crushing this is. I hope you have a support system, I hope you'll find new joys, but I know this is no easy fix. I wish you the very best. You deserve it.
Oh this is heart breaking!! I am sorry for all you are going through!
I understand the pain you are in. Just so you know, there are risks with any surgery
had a similar experience, just minus the injury. 15, competitive cheerleader, felt amazing & was getting really good and confident in my ability. my life basically shattered around me. extreme migraine 24/7, dizzy and nearly passing out when tumbling, injuring joints often, in too much pain to even practice, missing so much school. became disabled all of a sudden. i had been saying something was wrong for years, but no one believed me. suspected hEDS, POTS, migraines, etc. i went from an athlete to not even a person in basically a day. at least i felt vindicated when i dislocated my hip two times in two days (competition, couldn’t not do the move) and my parents didn’t believe me that something was wrong even though i couldn’t walk for a week & they forced me to go to school after 3 days & were upset when i asked to get the crutches😂 but now my hip is my worst joint
I went through a workplace accident where they did the same thing "it's a sprain, you'll be better in three days". I was not. I had an inversion injury, my ankle was the size of a grapefruit for almost a year. I was forced to back to work...eventually they started implying I was faking it, to the point where I started wondering if I was imagining the pain... I went back to pushing 100lb carts of food, grinding through the pain until finally someone begrudgingly sent me for an mri...and then people weren't sneering at me anymore. I had ligaments and tendons torn on both sides of my foot, something in the joint that they never really addressed, and permanent nerve damage. I laughed when the surgeon told me, because it was real! It wasn't just in my head! I've spent years after dealing with pain being a new norm, not being able to run, or jump. I used to be the fast walker, the runner...and that's all gone. I'm still adjusting to using a cane sometimes, and the looks I get from people as a younger person with an assistive device. Even with all of that, I can't imagine how you felt, but I am so proud of you for fighting the dread and depression, and I am so glad you're still here to tell your story. Keep fighting, the world is better with you in it.
I am so sorry! Thank you for sharing this story, though it is truly heartbreaking 💔
SOOOO many adults that failed to make you go to the hospital...how scary! Share this video everyone. People truly need to be aware of the signs of a stroke and the importance of acting fast.
she’s rich so who cares
@@paulwoodford1984 anyone with basic human empathy, jerk
@@paulwoodford19841) what a terrible thing to say, and 2) why would you say she's rich? Making a living and rich are two very different things.
@@paulwoodford1984You wanna go over the logic behind that?
@@paulwoodford1984 um what?
You are the incarnation of the quote, " Where there's a will there's a way." Thank you for sharing your profound journey with us. I pray for your continuing physical and spiritual strength and enlightenment.
Fellow stroke survivor here - I really appreciate you putting words to some of the feelings I've also had. Recovery work is arduous and often frustrating: I remember having to go to physical therapy after school as a kid and working so hard just to regain a little function. I remember feeling angry that so many things I loved required two-handed proficiency (playing an instrument, playing sports, etc.). It's so tricky to manage the balancing act of grieving your loss and not letting it hold you back from doing what you love. It's easy to teeter to one side or the other - inability to accept loss can cause you to overextend yourself, while inability to make peace with that loss and find creative ways to do things leaves you isolated and depressed.
I also loved how you pointed out the difference between what is seen by others and what you feel. Sometimes I get really emotional or tired and it can be hard for other people to understand. I think the easiest way for people to understand something like that is to deem a person "lazy." For a long time, that was a part of my identity and it tanked my self esteem/confidence.
So yeah, thanks for sharing. I never met anybody like me when I was in school and hearing you share your story is really powerful to me.
After describing that, I'm horrified that nobody thought to call an ambulance for you. I have been really worried, and you are looking so much better. I'm so relieved you're doing better.
My late mother took up ballroom dancing after her husband had a massive stroke. She danced all over the country and even the world. I'm glad that you have taken up dancing, Jo. You look great girl, keep going.
She looks healthy...that makes me happy🎉❤
How is this applicable to Joe? She's the one with a stroke
@@toericabaker did u watch the video? She says she took up dancing..after ju jitsu...ended
@@HANZELVANDERLAAY i guess i dont get it or am over thinking it
You had me hooked the moment you began talking. I was drawn by your lovely energy !
I wish you well. My daughter had a terrible brain hemorrhage/stroke at age 37. It took much time, but she miraculously survived and eventually recovered quite well. She didn't get help for hours, either. But I believe in a higher power and miracles, and saw them. May God bless you.
As a person who has had a painful, debilitating illness for 40 years, you are one of my heroes. I was feeling depressed, due to a setback. Listening to this video brought me back to the reality that I needed to push forward. Thanks.
You are so resilient, and i know you have no other choice, but continuing on when being in so much pain feels impossible at times, but you haven’t let it become impossible. ❤
I can empathize with the pain. I also hurt every day and sometimes it is worse than others, and I have dealt with it for many years. Many times I was told that I was to young to hurt...at 47 it is really annoying to hear this. Everyone deals with pain differently. I hope you can be out of pain at times.
Hey I'm there with you. I have been struggling a lot lately to keep up with my daily healthy habits, due to increased symptoms of pain and fatigue (also have a debilitating illness). But I need to do those things to feel better long-term. It's hard but we can do it, we can push forward. Hang in there
I am only 4 years into fighting my illness. I can only imagine what 10x does. You are incredible.
I'm very glad you are recovering. On a lighter note: I saw your Nurtec commercial a couple weeks ago. My wife was confused when I glanced at the TV and yelled, "THAT'S JO!". Then rewound the commercial to watch it again. It was really cool seeing you on TV. Apparently Lady Gaga was in it too, but you are the only person I recognized.
I just found the commercial. Jo looks good. Glad she was able to make an income during this time.
lol I did the same. But it was my mom who just gave me a confused look and refused to rewind for me. Because it was an add.
😁😁😁
You did the exact same thing as I did with my wife! Glad to know I'm not the only one.
I saw the commercial too. I was like, “That’s foot less Jo!” My cat looked at me like was insane.
I'm glad you're on the road to recovery. You are an inspiration, and a beautiful person, I hope things continue to improve for you.
It is critical for those around you to know the signs of a stroke and insist on getting you to the hospital immediately. Best to call an ambulance. You were so lucky that you have recovered so well. What a blessing!
It is also essential to know how to assess a patient. Due to a neurological condition I have I often have a left-size Bell's Palsy. If somebody who didn't communicate with me and attempt to assess my situation properly were to jump to conclusions it could cause a huge amount of trouble and possibly actual damage.
Stroke survivor too. I kept nodding and saying "yep" for most of your video. Besides the big challenges Its all the little things like.. "Well, you look ok now", symptoms coming back at random, the emotions, etc. It takes time and there are good days and there are deficit days. Over time you heal... You've got this!
Or my personal favorites
“You’re too young to have had a stroke.”
Or
“At least you didn’t die.”
I've been a stroke rehabilitation nurse for 17 years. Typical stroke recovery takes about 2 years. But the initial recovery happens in about 3 months, for the biggest part of recovery but it continues for years
It varies greatly. I'll probably never fully recover but atleast I'm functioning
As a person that went through a severe neurological episode in the last year (7 month-long non-stop vestibular migraine), I’m so glad you’re finding new things to bring you joy! I also suffer from PTSD from interactions with medical staff, etc, and anxiety from months of not knowing why my brain wasn’t working as it should be. I just want to say that following your journey of healing has been healing for me, too, and that I hope you continue to improve! It’s been over a year now since I couldn’t get out of bed and nearly lost my job, but now it feels like I’m getting my life back-it’s different, but it’s mine. I know you’ll get yours back too.
I was thinking about you yesterday and hoping you’re doing well. Then I came to TH-cam and saw you posted a video! You sound a lot better and you look wonderful. Wishing you a smooth recovery.
Hearing this story just shows, how important it is that people know the symptoms of a stroke. If I were in this situation and I saw you and your symptoms, I would've probably known right away since I know the symptoms of a stroke. This is why first aid classes are soooo freaking important, for everyone!
Always remember, if someone has suddenly trouble speaking, finding words, talking utter nonsense, combined with balance issues, plus the fact that the person has trouble moving one body side compared to the other (FAST-test, google it!: ask them to smile, if only one side of the mouth goes up, it's probably a stroke, also ask them to lift both arms in front of them, palms up, if one arm doesn't go up or twists, it's most likely a stroke), don't waste any time, call an ambulance immediately! The earlier a stroke is treated, the better, not only to prevent deaths, but also to prevent long-term complications and brain damage!
Stay safe out there everyone, and Jo, I wish you a good recovery
I’m an amputee and had a stroke to …big hugs 💕xxx
(*too)
@@daveogarf Seriously?? "I had a stroke to(o)" doesn't make you feel generous?
@@daveogarfwhat a massive AH wow
@@daveogarf 😮💨 People like you… Incredible!
@@daveogarf Dave, oh, Dave. That's a comment you can hit Cancel on instead of Reply. I appreciate your concealing parentheses, amusing.
I'm 5 years post stroke. Don't rush yourself. It truly is 2 steps forward 1 step back. It does take time, continued day by day. Thank you for putting words to it so others understand our journey. We pray for you. And continue to love you.
4 years post stroke for me, and I was 47 for mine, I'm STILL relearning things; but when you learn that you have hard limits on what you can and can't do- it took me falling flat on my face to realize that I can't walk for hours anymore and ignore my exhaustion. When I get tired, I STOP. Done for the day. Yup. Or body parts start to fail on me. I get those migraines, too. Now, I take a day off. My health is more important than yard work.
I hope this can serve as as lesson to everyone…always go to the hospital when in doubt. It is better to go there and not need it than the other way around. Bystanders…take the lead! If no one else is calling, do it! Don’t rely on the patient to do it when they are in an altered state themselves. Especially if there is ANY concern for stroke! As they say, “time is brain” - the faster you get help, the better your chances for recovery. In some types of stroke, you only have a window of a few hours to get the treatment you need. Jo - thanks for sharing your story, I wish someone had intervened better on your behalf but I’m so glad you’re doing better.
Yes, it’s not her fault, she wasn’t thinking straight but at the very least a classmate or coach should have called the EMTs just as a precaution. The EMTs would have been better at assessing how serious it was.
Even after just these few months, your recovery is very noticeable. Since you last video, your arm and head movements are so much better and seem natural and normal. The same goes for your speaking.
I was married to a 10th dan instructor for many years and taught many, many classes in our Kempo studio...
*ANY* loss of consciousness or altered mental state was an instant call to 911
*THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR THEM NOT CALLING HELP FOR YOU*
Please call a lawyer.
Hi Jo. Thank you for sharing this update…I am so glad you are doing better! I know you still have a long way to go, but being in the here and now and taking it moment by moment is sometimes all you can do.
I wish you luck and positivity in those coming moments!
I'm happy to hear you're a lot better! Strokes are really scary, and I'm glad your recovery is going well! 😊 You're also sounding better too!
Giving up martial arts was hard for me too. Time passes, and other interests grow. My life is richer for the time I spent in the dojo, and my life is also richer for experiences I've had since then. Change is hard, growth is hard, life is hard, but this is the ride we're on. Stay amazing!
well-said!!
I LOVE THAT THE AD Before your video WAS YOU!!!! !!! I actually let the whole thing run for one. You’re brave, and strong, and vulnerable. Thank you for sharing these intimate details of your life. 💞
I am 4 years out of my brain injury, I made a full shirt in a day yesterday! I couldn't do that before my strokes , it gets so much better better than possiblely imaginable , also art stuff takes so long to recover I hard mostly I trained my left hand to function instead , but also is still disability , I don't feel like the same person as before ( I was 14 tho) but I'm rooting for you Jo , I can't wait for your 4 years out for the brain injury to see what kind of person you will be ,,
We're with you Jo! Much love❤
My heart aches for you. I was in a car accident that left me unable to play soccer. As a single mom, soccer was not just something I loved, but so much more. I played for my team, plus often played up for others. It was my stress relief, it was my social life, it was my break as a mom because my kids stayed with my parents so I could just focus on resetting and being a great mom the rest of the week. I also coached and giving back to the world is a massive part of my identity. When I got injured, I felt like part of me died. It’s been 13 yrs and I can’t say that I miss it any less now than I did then. I think it’s very much like any grief, that you just find better ways to live with it, but the grief isn’t ever gone. I actually did some counselling which I did over the phone and that helped me a lot in those early months. But will never run again, I’ll never kick a ball, and honestly, even going to the games to see the team was too hard. I’m sending you so much love and hope that you can find something new that brings you some joy. I’ve walked a similar road and it sucks, but you’ve got this. ❤️
Words can hardly describe how it feels to lose a passion that is an integral part of you, especially when you are already in a situation where your health has suffered so severely and nothing about your life or body feels stable. It must feel disorienting on so many levels, and I can only imagine the emotions you are still pushing away in order to keep the sanity to tackle your everyday life and your recovery.
However, as always, I love how you take one step after the other, take care of yourself, and emphasize the positive in everything you do. I hope that dancing can become a new part of you and that it is going to support you even long after you have healed. It might not empower you as much physically as martial arts can, but especially when dancing with a partner, you experience connection in addition to your own body, and you can give yourself to the music and rhythm, which might help you in more ways than just teaching you balance and retraining your brain.
All the love and all the best! 🤗❤
As someone who also has had to heal from a TBI (car accident, not a stroke), your healing journey is going to be one of the most important things you ever do. I’m years after my TBI and I still have times where I have to remember I am disabled via TBI, because my healing journey by this point is done.
If I could give one piece of unsolicited advice, make sure you’re talking to a therapist about grief. Everyone assumes grief is just for loss of loved ones but no, you’re now grieving the life you used to have and that’s where I struggled the most.
In the physical side, take care of yourself and set healthy boundaries with people where needed. You have “brain batteries” now, your A battery is your most useful battery, B and C are emergency batteries and if you drain them it can knock you out for weeks if you’re anything like me. So definitely rest up, know this is not going to be forever, and take care of your physical and mental health. TBIs are so tricky to manage and heal from, but you’ve got at least one person here who has been through it and can empathize. You’re not alone 💙💙
As someone who has suffered with hemiplegic migraine forever, I can totally relate to not wanting to go to the hospital. I shocked myself on a wall socket and I walked it off because it was just an intense migraine sensory aura. Thank you for sharing your story to keep us all aware of what can happen.
I have hemiplegic migraines and migraines with aura too. With my first hemiplegic one, I went to A&E and had a lot of doctors running around because I had stroke symptoms. They kept me in for a couple of days to figure out wtf was wrong. I have other neurological stuff going on that is medically unexplained and I'm considered very high risk for stroke anyway so I think they wanted to be absolutely certain I wasn't about to die on them.
I still have to get checked every time I have one because mine so closely mimic stroke symptoms, so that's fun. I hate it, but the one time I don't get checked will be the time I have a stroke for real.
@@katfoster845 sounds very familiar. I was hospitalized for a week with my first one.
Huh, I have just learnt the word for the migraines I used to get! Never heard the term "hemiplegic" before but looks like that's what I used to get, I didn't realize it's a specific type of migraine aura. I had them occasionally from age 12 to 17, haven't had one in over a decade and I've thought about what to do if I start getting them again considering the symptoms I get are VERY similar to a stroke. It was always very normal to me because my mother and grandmother get the same kinds of migraines so I've never even been officially diagnosed or anything, was always just told to grab some paracetamol and sleep it off
I definitely identified with "I have lots of neurological stuff so 🤷🏻." But also with "I have medical trauma, so 🤷🏻." It's a really tough scenario, especially if you're not cognitively intact
I had a blod clot in my leg, but I didn't go to the hospital for 1,5 weeks. It could've travelled to my lungs and killed me. Reason I didn't go is because I have decades of medical trauma due to being disabled. I was certain the doctor would say everything was fine, I was exaggerating and I was too sensitive. Especially when they see my 20 years of history in the psychiatric care, they NEVER take me seriously.
Once I did go in I got to do an ultra-sound, and it was a blod clot. I'm still very emotionally affected by it, 6 months later.
At 16 I broke my arm, but it took 5 more years for a nerve damage diagnosis. To this day, I have pain in my arm doing ANYTHING. The medical system not taking women seriously can be summed up with this: I have only ever been prescribed to take antiinflammatory pills for my pain, even after they fixed my diagnosis from tendon/muscle pain to nerve. And breaking news, it doesnt help my nerve pain. Your journey with nerve pain and now your stroke…my heart goes out to you. Your honesty and respect for yourself and your audience blows me away with what you face.
I broke my arm playing the sport I love, and did return to it (no longer competitive) but it was not the same. However, I also took up dancing! I am now a group fitness and dance instructor. I have been trying to strength train for years, and finally there is visual progress in the strength in my arms. Partner dancing has given me great communities of people to ralk and lean on, I hope you find the same support from your dance buddies❤
I nearly died because I didn’t want to be a bother and go to the hospital for something I thought was the flu or food poisoning. I am a former EMT and didn’t want to take a bed from someone who truly needed it. Looking back now I know it was stupid and thankfully my husband (then boyfriend) listened to his gut and stopped letting me talk him out of taking me to the hospital. The doc said I wouldn’t have survived the night if I had not come in. Was in the ICU for 3 days and took nearly a year to fully recover. So sorry this happened to you Jo. I hope you are doing better. I am so sorry you won’t be able to fight anymore but you are so incredibly strong and you will find a new passion. I know those are just words that sound nice but, I can only imagine the pain you must feel having that taken from you. I hope the people at that gym realize how much they dropped the ball. Not just the gym owners and trainers but your fellow fighters who should have stepped in and done something. Even if you had said not to, you were clearly not in the right frame of mind to make that decision and they should have done it anyway. I am so glad you are doing better. Keep moving forward you got it.
I had a stroke out of the blue in 2017. I was lucky; my wife recognized what was happening and drove me to the hospital, I was into the CT scan and then on the clot buster within 45 minutes.
Seconds are brain cells.
I lost the ability to speak and proprioception of my right hand.
I recovered quickly - a few months - but it took years before I was back to full speed, and even today I have verbalization problems. Often I didn't realize something had been missing until it returned. It took 4 years before I could sing again. I still can't draw, or even doodle; I have trouble speaking when tired, and I can't write on a whiteboard in a way that anyone (including me) can decipher, but I have hopes that this will slowly recover, too.
It gets better. Every day, I get bits and pieces of my memory and verbal abilities back.
Keep strong. Keep working on regaining what you've lost.
My thoughts go with you.
Welcome back Jo. I’m so glad you are back and looking better than you did last time we saw you. ❤️🇬🇧
i was a cheerleader my whole life before i became disabled & unable to continue. i completely understand that crushing heartbreak of knowing you’ll never be able to do it again, and how it can be so awful on your mental health when it was your identity. it’s 10 years for me in a few months, and i have found other things! it’s definitely hard, but i promise you will find something that can fill that void, even if it doesn’t quite feel the same
Back in 2012 I was 19 years old when I had a suspected stroke. Many of your symptoms such as extreme vertigo and double vision is what my experience was like. I didn't experience head or neck pain however earlier in the day I felt something go twang in the neck as I was reaching in to a cupboard. I have a complex congenital heart condition and have had lots of surgeries throughout childhood. As I was with my parents, an ambulance was called straight away.
I like many others on here are suprised no one called an ambulance for you. I live I the UK and at the time there was an ad campaign on how to spot the signs of a stroke.
It's good to see your are on the mend and finding a new ways and hobbies to keep yourself motivated, dancing sound like a good one. I have been missing your videos and I is great to see you back with your four legged companions ❤
You strike me as intensely, deeply sane, which is hard for most people to be with far less to deal with on their plates. So glad to hear you are feeling better, and I wish you all the best in your new adventures.
Been thinking about you. Glad to hear you are doing better. Wishing you a smooth and complete recovery. ❤
Good to see you back. A friend had a stroke earlier in life than generally we think of happening to people. He was no where near old and as fit as the butchers dog. Its been a few years now and he is pretty normal. But he isnt 100% what he was. Nothing big. Nothing most people would know but i know he feels bad about it.
Obviously strokes are different depending on where exactly its all going on in there.
But the more you do mentally to stimulate yourself the better you will do
So glad to see you posting again. All the best on your recovery journey.
I've had brain injuries and from that damage, I have functional neurological disorder and functional seizures. Your story reminds me of my last fall and the damage I sustained. The grief is real, and so is the healing; though you will never be the same again, you will find your new you. Give yourself grace and love. It takes time to be able to process everything.
My light sensitivity has been massive, and I now wear grey/green contacts from my medical eye dr that have allowed me to be in light again. I also used prism glasses to be able to retrain my brain with my balance. Hope and recovery is always in our future. ❤
Quickly I want to share something with you that I saw on PBS a few years ago. The main topic of the program was the wonders of the brain.
There is this man who through a serious incident physically lost portions of his brain. They are regions that control functions of actions like coordination, memory retention, thought processing. On of his favorite activities is playing the piano, which they told him that he would not be able to do again.
Several years pass as he goes through his healing and rebuilding process. They began to notice that he would be sitting at a table and his fingers began to have up and down movements. They then noticed slight movements of his arms sliding his hands back and forth.
They asked him what he was doing. Simply put, he simply said, "Dreaming of playing the piano".
They mapped his movements, and yes, he had begun to play some of the very first pieces of music that he learned at an early age. He explained that he knew that he could play the piano in his dreams, even if his body didn't. The startling thing was that his body was doing what he dreamed in his mind.
The short part of it is that through all sorts of scans they found out that this man brain had rewired itself so that he could play piano again. True, it took years of work, and is difficult for him some days. His brain rewired itself, they are chasing that so that they can help others in the same way. Our brain is a muscle that operates on and generates electrical impluses.
I am so pleased to see your progress. You have scaled mountains that most folks can't fathom. I however do know, of which I will share more of later.
Keep pressing on. It is going to be hard. The good stuff is always worth the effort.
Some days we get to walk to the corner. Some days we get to the bathroom. The important part is that we press on. The victory isn't in the amount of steps, the triumph is in the step.
Keep doing Jo.
We are human beings. Keep being.
I am grateful for an update and glad you are taking this journey at your own pace. I know you'll find a way to keep moving forward and with more fulfillment and joy. Wishing you all the best!
You’re so strong Jo, only in your 30’s and you have survived losing a leg and having a stroke. It’s crazy, you should be proud! ❤
I earned my black belt before amputation and was determined to get back on the mat after amputation, but a series of setbacks have made that difficult. Each time I try, something new forces me to stop. Being a martial artist was part of my identity, pre-amputation. I've experienced a lot of grief and deep loss, not being able to embrace that part of myself. I'm sorry that you're going through the same thing, only worse, without the possibility of returning. Even though it'll never be the same, I hope you're able to find something new, like dancing, that can bring sunshine into your life on the hard days. 💙
I’ve seen you on the migraine commercial, it must have been filmed before this event. I’m so glad you’re back and feeling better. It had to have been terrifying.
Yes! I noticed her in that commercial as well!
So very glad you are doing better and creating content again! Can’t even begin to imagine what you’ve had to endure but am so grateful you’re still here doing what you do! You are such a shining light of hope and determination. Love you. Thank you.
Wow. Thanks for sharing this update, and the struggles with stroke recovery. I’m cheering for your continued recovery and emotional healing.
I know that feeling of losing a sport that was a lifeline for you. I grew up as a professional dancer. And I was GOOD. It was my first love, and my safety and freedom for 18 years of my life. I had to stop due to an injury, and I still miss it every day. In the beginning, it was HARD. I didn’t feel like me. My body missed the feeling of that muscle memory and the smoothness of my body moving perfectly in time to the music. It’s such a hard feeling to explain… and it’s still hard. But I hold those memories so dear and I am so grateful I got to express myself in such a cathartic way for so many years. It made me who I am today.
Your acknowledgment of not being ok, needing time to heal, and needing to greive are so valuable . Those of us with chronic illness can forget so easily that we are experiencing similar things. Thank you for normalizing physical challenges. You're helping to challenge so much of our internalized ableism.
I'm so glad you're alive and glad you're recovering so well. I've had a total of four mini strokes. It's a scary thing. Continue to stay hydrated and go at your own pace. I can't help but think that your relatively young age (I was 56 or 57) and excellent physical condition was a benefit. I'm glad you found a new love...go and dance your butt off! Stay hydrated. From time to time, your brain may itch. My brain itches when I'm over stimulated. I have a brain injury specialist...she comes to my flat twice a month. She's multifunctional: she's my therapist/counselor and companion and confidant...get yourself one of those. I wish you continued healing.
Thanks for the update, Jo. Keep doing what you need to do to heal. We're all behind you.
It's so good to see you. Your vocal cadence sounds like you again. I'm so sorry about the permanent losses; TBIs SUCK. It's just....I'm so glad you're still here with us, that you're able to begin to have moments of feeling like you. So many super good wishes.
I'm glad to see you back!
I had a heart attack followed by a TIA a couple years ago. The heart attack was minor, and the main symptoms of the TIA (at the time) were aphasia (I remember that I couldn't remember the word 'malaria') and an inability to type. Like you, I didn't go to the doctor for a couple days. I called my GP and he told me to go to the ER. Perhaps foolishly, I drove the 30 miles to get there. (Oh, the joy of living in the mountains.) I am still working to get back to doing some of the things I did before, but now I can do the things that matter.
Be gentle on yourself. Well, push yourself, but gently.
You're so strong about all this. There's nothing that can stop you. Wish you the best.
Howdy hi hi,
For those who might not know, a stroke is a blood clot that either completely or partially blocks blood flow to some portion of a person's brain. From what I've read, and has been told to me by my late grandmother who suffered strokes for many years. It is an excruciating experience.
I'm glad to see that you've improved. I know from experience that clots can be a very scary experience. I appreciate that you've chosen to share these experiences with us. And yes it's hard to talk about this stuff. It is a reminder of our own mortality and how frail we can become in just a moment of bad luck.
I saw the ad you did with Lady Gaga for that migraine medication. Grats on that big win. I hope life is more kind to you from now on. You seem like such a wonderful person. You deserve all the success in the world.
May dancing and so much more bring you joy and help you heal. ❤
Two or three weeks ago i was watching a program when a commercial came on. It was for a migraine medicine. At the end of the commercial there was a whole line of people sitting and standing representing people who use the medicine. All of a sudden I said out loud, " That looks like Footless Jo." If it was not you it was your twin. I am so glad you are doing better. And starting to cope with what has happened.
thank you for being so honest and vulnerable. you are REAL, you are a human being and you are allowed to process this any way you feel like.
hope you get better and feel better soon. love you!
Soooooo glad to see you! Resilience is THE most important character trait and you've got a boat load. Amazed by and proud of you. Wishing you continued progress in your recovery. 💜💜💜
It’s good to hear your voice again! Don’t rush things; physically or emotionally. We’re rooting for you. #rockon
When my mom had a stroke it took almost a year before she was at your level of recovery. You are doing so well, and don't forget it can take a very long time to recover from just a concision and what your brain has gone trough is soo much more than that.
I’m so glad you’re doing better, Jo! Keep up the good work.
I'm so glad you're doing better. As someone who also had a medical emergency with her brain 4 months ago I can empathize with this whole situation, I'm sending my best your way.
Head injuries are crazy! I'm so glad you're getting back up. (also this weird internet thing, crowd-funded emotional support where a complete stranger makes me realize we're all in this together. Cheers!)
Welcome back 😊
So happy to see you back, Jo! You look fantastic. Its amazing how far you've come. Praying for your continued recovery
Thanks for the update Jo! Glad you're on the mend. Keep thinking good thoughts and take it slow/steady.
Theres a mnemonic that the NHS teaches over here in the UK for the most common symptoms of stroke - FAST. F is for face, is there muscle weakness, problems seeing etc; A is for arms, can you lift and move them properly; S is for speech, is there slurring, stuttering or struggling; T is the letter stuck on there to make it memorable, time to call for help, but its super useful if you're not familiar with the symptoms.
I'm so glad you're doing so well, and I hope your recovery continues as well as it can do
US uses the same mnemonic but here the T is to tell you to both act fast in getting to the hospital and to record the time the symptoms first appeared (if possible) so medical staff can make the best decision on treatments since some avenues of care are dependent on the amount of time elapsed
Your stroke symptoms match almost exactly to what I’m going through with my severe concussion. I’m so sorry this happened to you, I know how scary it is to all of a sudden not be yourself and how lost you feel when you can’t remember things or find words. It sucks. I hope your healing continues to go well.
I had the most minor of concussions and I was miserable for weeks- I can’t imagine how impacted your life has been, and I can’t imagine how painful everyday tasks are. I wish you as swift a recovery as is safe for you ❤
Hope you fully recover Jo. Sending you lots of strength
I am so glad you survived this. Best wishes on your continued recovery.
I’m glad you’re feeling better, I’ve missed you. It’s been a long journey you’ve been on. I’m rooting for you!
So glad to see a new video from you:) Hope you're doing well Jo💚💚💚
I subscribed to this channel about 3 days before the first video came out and it honestly encouraged me in a weird way. I've been dealing with very very different medical issues for a bit over 6 years and it's been really hard for me to keep doing things with my life and seeing people who have "worse" issues physically keeping going and moving on, working through everything is really encouraging. Thanks for posting updates and I'm hoping and praying for a fast recovery. You've got this.
So good to see you again and so positive about your future. You’re an inspiration.
Nice to see you back. My goodness Jo, no one called an ambulance for you and you went home for days. I thought you had gone to the hospital straight away, you could have died at home on your own. Please please take better care of yourself from now on. ❤❤