Life After Right MCA Stroke: Why You May Not Feel Like Yourself After Stroke

Life After Right MCA Stroke: Why You May Not Feel Like Yourself After Stroke

Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This conversation follows stroke survivor Heidi Loveridge as she describes what life feels like after a right MCA stroke at 43, especially when everything looks “fine” on the outside but your emotions don’t match.

Physically, she’s doing well – she relearned to walk, ditched the wheelchair and walker, and is now working toward her driving licence for the first time, saying, “I know I can do hard things now.” Heidi talks openly about the strange personality shifts that came with her stroke.

Before, she was a self-described introvert who took knitting to parties so she didn’t have to chat; now she happily talks to strangers and seeks out connection, from her old childhood church to a weekly women’s circle where eight women share what’s really going on in their lives.

Yet despite this new openness, she says, “I used to be so happy… and now I’m not,” and describes ongoing depression, frequent tears, and the frustration of activities feeling “more hard than fun”. She and host Bill Gasiamis unpack the emotional side of stroke that often gets missed: crying in public and being surprised by strangers’ kindness, the fear of another stroke, and the pressure of wanting to “feel normal again” when your brain just won’t cooperate.

They also touch on practical tools Heidi is trying, from long walks and community support to antidepressants and even red light therapy and laser acupuncture. This chat is especially helpful if you or someone you care about feels different or emotionally flat after a stroke and wonders if that’s “just them”.

Heidi’s honesty offers reassurance that emotional changes are common, recovery takes time, and, as she reminds herself with a sticker on her mirror, “You can do hard things.” What small step towards connection or hope could you take next?