Sleep & Stroke

When I returned home after spending six weeks in hospital the challenges at that time were huge. Initially, I was scared to sleep incase something occured which presented all manner of other problems. These days I try to be active and lead as normal a life as possible during the day and if I need to go to bed early then I do.

 My sleep is very cyclical: I can have unbroken and long periods of sleep for a few weeks and then it can be disturbed sleep where I will wake during the night and not be able to get back to sleep. I do not let this worry me but just accept it as another consequence of my Stroke. I have found an article called: "Tired of Post-stroke Fatigue" by Lisa O'Neill Hill, of which the following are extracts:

As a stroke survivor, you may be struggling with fatigue. That’s not surprising. Strokes are physically and emotionally exhausting. Most stroke survivors grapple with some sort of fatigue and many have trouble sleeping.

 If you’re a stroke survivor and you never feel rested, consider these recommendations:

Wake up at the same time every morning.

Go to bed only when you are ready to fall asleep. Bed time isn’t as important as the time you wake up. Don’t go to bed until you feel really ready.

Don’t worry about the number of hours of sleep you’re getting. There’s no right amount of sleep in terms of a number. In general, sleeping seven to nine hours is a really healthy duration,some people need more and some need less. The key is whether you feel refreshed.

Avoid sleeping on your back. Sleeping on the side can make a huge difference. Sleeping on the back may not be right for everyone. Ask your doctor if it’s OK for you.

Consider pillows. They are not just for your head. Using a body pillow can be helpful and keeping a pillow behind your back may help you stay on your side.

Get exposure to light in the morning. “It could be a natural source—sunlight—or a light box. Morning light will reset your time clock in the brain.

Sleep is really important in restoring function back.