Medication – what have I been prescribed?

MedicationsWhat they do

Antiplatelet drugs:

  • Aspirin
  • Clopidogrel
 Reduce blood clotting
They do this by making the cells in your blood, known as platelets, less “sticky”. This lowers the chance of another clot forming.		 disc_tablets
Anticoagulants:

  • Warfarin
  • Apixaban
  • Dabigatran
  • Rivaroxaban
 Reduce blood clotting
Anticoagulants interrupt part of the process involved in the formation of blood clots stopping your blood from clotting as quickly or easily. This lowers the chance of another clot forming.If you are taking an anticoagulant you should be issued with either an alert card or booklet specific to the drug you have been prescribed.
It is important that you carry this on you so that in case of emergencies, a doctor attending to you knows which anticoagulant you are taking and at what dose.		 Anticoagulant Alert Card
Statins:

  • Simvastatin
  • Atorvastatin
  • Pravastatin
  • Rosuvastatin
 Lower cholesterol
If you have a high cholesterol level, fatty deposits can start to build up in blood vessels and increase your risk of stroke. Statins work by reducing the amount of cholesterol in your blood by blocking the chemical in the liver that produces it.		 disc_statins
Blood Pressure medication: Lower Blood Pressure
If you have high blood pressure you may have been given a tablet to help lower it. These tablets may cause side effects, but they are doing an important job in helping to lower your risk of another stroke or heart attack.
To find out more about high blood pressure treatments and medications see more information		 Blood Pressure medication

Key point

As every patient and stroke is different, medication is tailored to meet each individual’s needs.

David’s story

Since his stroke David feels upset, frustrated and a bit ‘down’. Now that he is no longer getting therapy his mood has dropped further.
He can’t be bothered with reading or looking at the TV; food doesn’t interest him and he is having trouble sleeping.

Select the arrow keys to hear more about David’s story.

View text alternative


Scene 1

  • Wife: ‘Why don’t we go to the park to get some fresh air?’
  • David shouts: ‘What’s the point. I can’t do anything like this and everyone stares at me in the wheelchair. I hate it.’

Scene 2

  • David: thinks ‘I’m fed-up being like this. If I don’t talk to someone about this it will only get worse.

Scene 3
David feels bad that he shouted at his wife and recognises he needs someone to talk to. He calls his stroke nurse to ask her advice.

  • David: ‘Hi Susan, I wonder if I can ask your advice’
  • Susan (the stroke nurse): ‘Hi David, yes of course. Let’s see what we can do…’

By calling his stroke nurse David took the first step to addressing his warning signs. Chatting to the nurse allowed him to get things off his chest and to look at his goals again.

Key point

If you do not have a stroke nurse you can always phone the Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland Advice Line Nurses on 0808 801 0899 for advice and support. This is free from landlines and mobiles.

Let’s remind ourselves about how to set goals.

Have I been putting things off?

Sometimes we put things off and don’t realise it. Have a look at the questions below  and try to answer as honestly as you can.

Q. Since your stroke…..
(Select yes or no for each one).

1/10
1.
Have you ever made up an excuse to avoid meeting a friend?
Start again

View text alternative

Since your stroke…….

  1. Have you ever made up an excuse to avoid meeting a friend?

    2. Feedback – Sometimes it can be difficult to see friends if you are worried about how they will react to you since your stroke.

  2. Do you avoid answering the phone?

    3. Feedback: You may not like speaking to people on the phone.  It is often harder to follow what they are saying and judge their reactions when you can’t see them face to face

  3. Do you avoid eating in company?

    4. Feedback: If you have problems with eating or swallowing it can be embarrassing if you need to eat more slowly or if you think you make a bit of a mess.

  4. Have you deliberately avoided someone you know so that you don’t have to speak to them?

    5. Feedback: Speaking with people or even just making ‘small-talk’ takes effort and concentration. You may also want to avoid having to explain what has happened to you

  5. Have you stopped going to a regular club or social gathering?

    6. Feedback: You may find it easier to speak with people on their own, rather than in a big group.

  6. Are you happy that friends or family do things for you that you could easily do yourself?

    7. Feedback: Allowing family and friends to do things for you means that you can avoid meeting and speaking with other people, perhaps because you don’t like to be seen using a walking stick or you feel flustered in a crowd.

  7. Do you find yourself working differently for example sending someone else in place of you for meetings?

    8. Feedback: Often a stroke causes tiredness and affects memory and concentration. You may feel out of your depth with the job you did before your stroke.

  8. Do you have an excuse at the ready to get out of meetings or leave social functions early?

    9. Feedback: You may feel the need to give yourself a way of escaping from situations where you feel anxious or uncomfortable

  9. Do you use ‘dutch courage’ to help you cope?

    10. Feedback: Sometimes people will use alcohol to try and help calm them if they are anxious or worried (?link to alcohol following a stroke)

  10. Do you act differently in company?

    11. Feedback: Trying to act differently to how you feel or “putting a face on things” can be very tiring. It can also become increasingly difficult to keep up the façade.

Click here for some feedback

(4- 10 yes – feedback)
Your answers show that you do sometimes put things off as a means of dealing with difficulties you are experiencing since your stroke. This is common and allows you to cope with the day to day issues that you are finding challenging.

It is good that you have recognised this. You can now use some of these examples in the next section. This may help you in tackling some of these difficulties at a time when you feel ready.

(0 – 3 yes – Feedback)
Your answers show that you occasionally put things off as a means of dealing with difficulties you are experiencing since your stroke. This is common and allows you to cope with the day to day issues that you are finding challenging.

It is good that you have recognised this. You can now use some of these examples in the next section. This may help you in tackling some of these difficulties at a time when you feel ready.

Lets look at what Eric did

Eric found it hard to get back to feeling sociable again following his stroke but he managed to with self management. Select the arrow keys to read Eric’s’ story.
Prior to his stroke Eric was a physically active man who worked as a self employed landscape gardener. He had a large social circle and was full of life.In 2012 Eric suffered a stroke and was in hospital for four months. On returning home Eric was still unable to work and he felt he was unable to do the things socially that he had been able to do previously.Eric found it increasingly difficult to go out resulting in very little physical activity. Eric's wife noticed that his mood had stared to deteriorate. He became less motivated and felt down that he was unable to work.Eric's wife, Janet also felt that her mood was low – she was not used to Eric being at home every day and struggled to deal with Eric’s change in mood.Eric's stroke nurse suggested that he joined one of the local CHSS stroke groups, which would help his confidence and allow him to increase his social interaction gradually as well as providing him with more physical activity. This would also give Janet some time to herself.Eric attended the weekly stroke groups and became more confident again in social situations. After a few months of attending the stroke group Eric decided to try volunteering at a local nursing home with gardening work. Eric felt that the goal setting allowed him to introduce different activities into his life at a pace which suited him and this also helped his relationship with Janet.

Key point

View text alternative

Prior to his stroke Eric was a physically active man who worked as a self employed landscape gardener. He had a large social circle and was full of life.

In 2012 Eric suffered a stroke and was in hospital for four months. On returning home Eric was still unable to work and he felt he was unable to do the things socially that he had been able to do previously.

Eric found it increasingly difficult to go out resulting in very little physical activity. Eric’s wife noticed that his mood had stared to deteriorate. He became less motivated and felt down that he was unable to work.

Eric’s wife, Janet also felt that her mood was low – she was not used to Eric being at home every day and struggled to deal with Eric’s change in mood.

Eric’s stroke nurse suggested that he joined one of the local CHSS stroke groups, which would help his confidence and allow him to increase his social interaction gradually as well as providing him with more physical activity. This would also give Janet some time to herself.

Eric attended the weekly stroke groups and became more confident again in social situations. After a few months of attending the stroke group Eric decided to try volunteering at a local nursing home with gardening work. Eric felt that the goal setting allowed him to introduce different activities into his life at a pace which suited him and this also helped his relationship with Janet.

Key point

It took time for Eric to regain his confidence but with the help from attending stroke groups and speaking with others, he was able to get back to feeling himself again by setting goals.

I want to be/keep active

Meet Isa
Isa looking at a CHSS brochure

View text alternative

After I had my stroke I wanted to get out and about more. I realised that although I was busy and had a good social life I was sitting down for most of it. I decided I wanted to be more active.

This leaflet says that we should aim to be physically active for at least 30 minutes on at least 5 days of the week.

How will I go about that?

What I used to do What I do now
Watch television Put my remote next to the television so I have to get up to change the channel and walk around the room every time there is an advert break.
Chat on the phone Stand up whilst chatting on the phone.
Spend time online Set the time on the kitchen cooker to break up my time spent online.
Get the bus to bingo Walk the short distance with a friend for confidence.
Meet friends for coffee Meet up with friends for Tai Chi and Yoga and then go for a coffee.
Spend more time in the house now that I am retired Look at volunteering at my local CHSS charity shop.

As you can see from Isa’s experience being more active does not need to mean big changes to your lifestyle. Increasing your activity levels can be enjoyable, fit into your social life, improve your mental wellbeing as well as improving your fitness.

If you would like to explore this area in more depth please visit our Being active topic.

Key point

Remember small changes to your activity can make big differences to your health.

More information


Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland factsheets:

Research papers:

What am I putting off?

Something to try

Now that you have done the quiz you will have identified things that you avoid or put off. Lets look at this list again and choose a few things that are the most important to you. You might want to ask friends or family to help you with this.

What am I putting off?
Have you ever made up an excuse to avoid meeting a friend?
Do you avoid answering the phone?
Do you avoid eating in company?
Have you deliberately avoided someone you know so that you don’t have to speak to them?
Have you stopped going to a regular club or social gathering?
Are you happy that friends or family do things for you that you could easily do yourself?
Do you find yourself working differently for example sending someone else in place of you for meetings?
Do you have an excuse at the ready to get out of meetings or leave social functions early?
Do you use ‘dutch courage’ to help you cope?
Do you act differently in company?

Now that you have made a list of some of the things you have been putting off,  let’s look at how you can begin to move forward.

Take home messages

We heard from Karen, Stuart and Richard that;

  • Karen

    Talking about things helped

    It’s good to have the support of someone close

  • Stuart

    Accepting change is an important part of moving forward

    Stroke can affect the whole family

  • Richard

    Don’t overthink things and be prepared to give things a go

    Accepting change can take time

Something to think about

Have a think about your own relationships, would any of these strategies work for you?

Scenario 2 – Glen

Glen in his wheelchair

18 months following my stroke, I returned to work with the help of the Access to Work scheme. It was a long journey and there were many obstacles that had to be overcome. I had to learn to carry out all my duties without the use of my right hand as unfortunately I did not regain the movement of my arm. I also had to use my wheelchair some of the time. I felt however that I was finally moving on from my stroke. I can now think of some of the positives that have come from me having a stroke.

Q. Can you tell us about your life before your stroke?

Before my stroke I was financially secure earning a reasonable wage that allowed me to provide well for my family. This however had its downside as I:

  • Worked 12 hours most weekdays and also had meetings on a Saturday.
  • Rarely exercised, smoked 20-30 cigarettes a day and had a 1-2 pints each evening whilst waiting on train home from work.
  • Rarely enjoyed family days out or attended school/social events. I was rarely around to support the wife with the kids.
  • I always felt stressed.
  • I suffered from high blood pressure, too busy to get checked regularly.

Q. Can you tell us about some of the positive changes to your life since your stroke?

Positives following my stroke:

  • The stroke has made me think about what matters most to me.
  • I’m enjoying being able to spend more time with family because I have shorter working days.
  • I still have good days and bad days but I’m proud of the fact that I’m no longer smoking; I’m drinking less and I have started active health classes at the leisure centre.
  • I have made many great friends from my local support group.

Key point

For more information on some of the things that helped Glen, please see:

How to improve communication

There are lots of different ways you can help improve your communication with others.
Lets have a look at these:

what can I do

View text alternative

What can I do?

  • Be confident
  • Be assertive
  • Not be too sensitive

What can others do?

  • Knowing what helps
  • Sharing with others
  • Advocacy

Something to think about

Do you think you can improve on any of these areas?
Let’s look at these areas in more depth by moving onto the next page.

I can’t do it on my own

THE DAILY NEWS

  • www.dailynews.com
  • THE WORLD’S FAVOURITE NEWSPAPER
  • Since 1879

“I can’t do it on my own”

  • Picture of Jean“I was told there was nothing more they could do for me, I think they thought I couldn’t get any better, they just abandoned me and left me to do it all on my own ”
    Jean, 50 years.

  • Picture of ArekArek, 42 years, takes a self management approach. He had a stroke last year and lost his ability to speak. “The speech therapist took me as far as she could then explained the importance of me carrying on with the support of a communication support service and my family. I have been delighted with the progress I have made – my hard work has paid off.”

Key point

If the NHS, charities and social services work together, it can have a better result for me.