blueday

These days I'm more an Observer....a Spectator but reading through these posts this struck me as good advice. Lorraine........your first Post could be the most important ever. Thankyou for sharing your more recent experience and infection not with standing your SAH. So Angela are you listening? Do it today...turn off your PC and go to the Hospital. I honestly do not want to hear you saying "see how it feels tomorrow" So catch you later Angela as (you go out of your door). We will be here when you get back when you tell us the outcome.

Michelle.........thankyou for asking. No....they stayed with a AFO...slightly amended with a jointed ankle. My problem continues with the knee so I am a bit confused as I was told to be fitted with a KAFO. Nevertheless they will review it again in December 2010, so four months to review...2 months before any KAFO so that equals another 6 months of deterioration of my knee. Thanks though Michelle....hoping you enjoyed your break and holiday and received good Karma up there. My colour is definitely Blue.....but hoping the colour of 'Orange' was good Karma with the Buddhists for you. Bbbblueday....:frown:

Thanks.... Eddie for the update Sorry about the complication with a touch of pneumonia......but as you know he's in the right place at the moment with the Doctors around him to regain his own strength with the Pneumonia before his own rehabilitation after his stroke. I sensed you were pleased with the progress, seeing him eat himself and talking again. Even if it doesn't always make sense to you, it will improve quite quickly as he is more alert and realises his own mistakes first. He will need more time for his memory and his walking again. I feel you know what I'm going to say.....when you were young... a small boy, your Dad kept his eye on you to keep you safe. Now he needs someone to keep an eye on him. Thankfully he had a Son like you.....Father and Son Ltd. To me it sounds like you and the family have a good strong relationship.....well done and good luck to you all. 祝你好运 (Good Luck)

Welcome to the BTG.... seems you kept us waiting for 10 years, we will all await 'Your Story' and look forward to your updates and recovery. I made them wait 4 years before I joined.....ah yes ...I couldn't write again then...but I can now. Welcome and look forward to hearing more from you.

Hiya Donna...haven't heard from you a while...where you been living abroad (Carribean)? Thanks for that post. Yes 2 1/2 years on.....by my standards still early! Made me laugh a bit when you said a lost cause.....! as the BTG spank you as you deserve..lol. You are going in the right direction...better and better and upwards. I'll bow out as you are one of the other ones (female) talking about weight and feminine things. Talking about family's. My best thing to say is watch you blood pressure.....if it's half good to good...then go for it! Straight away. Do what you need to do now.....don't delay about weight etc. as you lose that rushing around for a baby. You know what makes sense. Take Care...

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I am not an 'Accepting' person....more like a 'Lone Wolf' still a Fighter. I am sure that in different degrees (is that a song? ah forget it) we are all very similar. Yes your approaches will be different. Calmer on the surface....but in the heart and in the mind still fighting. Fighting is the wrong word...creates images of 'duels at dawn'..'boxing'. Someone will give me the right word? I have concerns about meeting new people. Not in the safety of my writing world. I say to Angel, I won't wear my Caliper...I'll scrub up and shave, smile and say "Hello" as I shake hands. Standing upright concentrating on my legs....two glasses of wine to look 'Normal'. No notes or reminders....smiling and talking in short sentences...if I don't understand just smile and laugh as I say "Yes"....hold glasses in my left hand only, and keep smiling, hopefully they won't even notice. As Angel drives me home...all I will say is.."Put me back to bed Angel"....as I go back to Aphasia world.

Bagpuss.....a very good point. I just never put it in writing as such.

Michelle...I must have turned Pink in my head when I read this. You trying walking backwards. Yes it does work for me but stating the obvious you have to be careful. Me turning Pink isn't a colour that suits me much anyway. Now I wish I could send you a video or show you what I mean. We all know we are all individual and are very rare to be exactly the same in differences. My best example is to show me walking forward with drop foot and hyperextension knee. Then show you me running backward....I'm sure you'd chuckle. But for me it works. I actually like it as I train my brain to work. Like you said Michelle in reverse it is different as you send different messages from the brain. I have that sussed and worked out. My hard bit is to get it forward to work. All clever stuff, all I need is the answer. I know what your going to say, "Well, if it works just walk backwards." Mmmm.....I do sometimes. If I'm late for a bus....I do turn round to get their quicker! I send this link to show a certain gait being different....backwards. Same legs, covering distance...just backwards.....? Running Man(backwards)The second link shows how the mind works backwards..... but just for FUN! This is my life now....just doing things ...differently. So I'm not the only one. (sadly the English was recorded backwards too)

Hiya Michelle and thanks for your note... Hopefully I will catch you here. Thanks for giving us more background. Like you said it felt good writing that....so crack on and write your 'My Story' when you get the chance and the inclination. You asked about my Caliper, so I know you will follow when I say: it is a full K.A.F.O. Look forward to reading more from you in your own recovery.

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Welcome to this site.....BTG I do like your name...I normally include pictures or gifs of your name as it helps my memory. Maybe not today. Sorry about your experiences right now....they will improve over the weeks to months. I can't add much more as I am a 'popper'...SAH. I can't use the other word here as I had internal bleeding when the aneurysm popped. But Welcome... and we look forward to hearing about your definitely improvements. Catch you later Bagpuss

Eddie, I am in England of course so in miles....we are a long way away. With your Dad, you and your family, I can assure you we are with you right now in spirit knowing what you both are going through. Your Dad is a mature man....in life I'm sure he has seen most things too. Hopefully his strength will recover as you know he was a fighter and a strong man. Take it a day at a time...as he will too....all will come back to him. Any memories can be forgoten at times....we all do it too, but the memories are never lost. Keep us in touch how things develop if you get the time. As we will be with you.

Welcome to BTG. I have read your post and I see your concern for your boyfriend. I even understand the shock to his own family...but accepting any responsibility as they feel it was your fault.. forget about that as we all know that is verging on madness. You could have been in Timbuktu....Australia it would have still happened. You may have never known him it would have still happened. At the moment the shock of his own parents upset them. If they have to point their own fingers to blame, they should look to their own genes first. It's still unfair....but it makes more sense than madness. I imagine you are both quite young and as you said he has made a good recovery. His age is on his side. Give him time and he will be fine and make an excellent recovery. Good Luck

n.

Michelle… Your left foot has been partially effected as mine is on my right side. That means your right hemisphere has been partially affected whereas mine has been affected by my left hemisphere. See, so if we put our own half of brains together we’d be perfect again. (Lol, excuse my own bizarre humour) Needless to say we are all perfect anyway. You must have had Physio to improve things? Any luck? Having said that I think I know the answers. I’m sure you’re like me and want to walk well again without thinking of every step. But here are some thoughts… which I’m sure you know about but just my experiences. I have had little walking success with my leg, my arm yes. For me simple answers, certain brain damage. The wrong messages going to the wrong places or blocked. My walking is bad. I know that. Tripping, wearing out shoes on the right side, hyperextension of the knee slapping every step. Mmm…accept it or work on it. I had good phsyio’s who tried everything but with little to no success. On holiday once in Spain I was walking with a walking stick to help. Acceptance. Over the years I was a good swimmer…like a duck with webbed toes! On holiday I got in the sea again….not really thinking or medically thinking, just a hot day to cool down. For me it was amazing, a dream. NO PARALYSIS! I could swim like I swam before (other than being out of condition). My God I was loving it….swam here…..swam there…further and further to strengthen everything again (and increase my condition too). I swam out all the people in our group who had no problems, you couldn’t get me out. So my bit of brain starts thinking. I had no hyperextension because in the water or sea you have resistance. There was nothing to trip over with the drop foot. I was so happy after the whole day I got out. Paralysis was back straight away…tripping and slapping. Good therapy though. Got me thinking more…same brain, same leg just different messages to my legs. The next day, early in the morning on my own at our apartment I found some clear garden area. Something not to bump into. Do things differently…send different messages to my legs. Think differently….Bingo….think backwards. So in the garden I walked backwards. No slapping of the knee, no tripping. Use my dodgy muscles to strengthen them again. Like a weirdo I was walking around the garden backwards with great success, then jogging backwards and running backwards. It works! I haven’t quite found the secret yet as I am using the reverse muscles. (The return muscles as opposed to the forward muscles) This exercise may well not help you as my injury is on the other side. But who knows. I would try anything. Just don’t bump into things! Or if not try swimming again?

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Hiya Michelle, I was beginning to think I was the only one with leg problems. No, I had no tests over nerve control. They have said everything except, "Live with it". Thanks for answering this...

To assist walking and increase mobility some require Braces or Calipers. I still have to wait for my Caliper as to prepare it takes a long time. I don't want to criticise the Medical people...but, as we know people make mistakes. To see someone, make an appointment, wait weeks for it and it takes weeks again before anything happens.Tieing the Doctors with the Orthotics together....takes weeks. You see how time marches on before you have any results. Since my SAH and Stroke I am paraplegic on one side with drop foot and hyperextension knee regarding mobility and other problems, when I was sent home, I was home and that was it. Nothing was addressed. OK, so for two years just manage yourself. Probably my own fault being in denial and not understanding. Trying to walk and learn myself I aggravated my knee...and in time it affects your back if your gait is bad. So after two years the Orthotics fitted me with a brace. That was just a dream, but do understand at the time I did not want a full Caliper for obvious reasons. I tried so hard for another two years just with the Brace. Now I can't wait for the Caliper...hoping reduced pain in the knee, walking more again, no back ache....taking the dogs for walks again. Now I don't care...

Now I am surprised by several answers. Migraine...yes I know....this word that I struggle with Aura...well yes they have said that to me too...but what does it mean! I feel as I know my own answers, in my own body yes I know. I am not a Medical person so it's wrong to answer. All I can say is things hurt for a reason. I had difficulty explaining this. I had severe headaches over a 10 year period. Since my SAH I don't get severe headaches as such just pressure. I have had disturbed vision like looking down a bottle to see. Only had that a handful occasions, which they call Migraine Aura.

On this Aphasia page….Aphasia is never far away. In these posts today it will have a certain variation as the word is meant to be “Inspiration”. You could say I should have just put it in the Inspiration page except I want to add on a line about Aphasia. I’m sure many visitors at BTG may have just had a stroke or Subarachnoid Haemorrhage, a loved one instead as they care for them, a person in their recovery are searching for answers, “Why Me?”. Yes we have all been there too. Those that read here, read for a reason. Those that read here because of complications I pray their experiences are just mild, but after a Stroke or SAH I have to accept some will be moderate, how their lives have changed and then of course knowing about Strokes (as I do) I have to accept the more severe cases. In a way it’s just a label. The Medical people have to categorise, to help and treat people. But yes we are in the same boat on our own journeys…I can assure you we didn’t plan it, we didn’t order it like a holiday. I have a charming friend who had a mild stroke. After weeks she was talking, walking, helping, driving and smiling and working again. I have been guilty too when I thought “You were lucky”. How wrong was I! WE WERE ALL LUCKY. We are all survivors. Of course what you can’t see with her is her emotional turmoil. Her tiredness and mood swings but she has learnt to deal with things. Some of the questions people ask when they experience Strokes and SAH’s: “Why Me?” “When will I get better?” “Will I improve?” “How long will it take?” “What about my kids?” “What about my job?” “What about my partner?” etc etc …..I’m sure you have some of your own questions too. I have included some inspirational survivor’s stories. We don’t see that as such at the moment, but it can be done! One of the strange things I notice at these links is the amount of “clicks”….how many has seen it. Personal stories of somebody’s recovery….50 or hundreds, generally not a lot. Lacking in interest. When I put on Music links the ‘hits’ are in millions, 4,500,000 clicks. Maybe we pay more attention for our reasons. Wes Varda. A young good looking man….and he still is! Jim Mead. He had Faith, keep your own Faith too. Lenice Hogan. Beauty is always there…it never goes.OK there is a selection which will hopefully inspire you all….just refer to them rather than seeing them all now. All must understand that everybody’s Strokes are absolutely individual. Some of this will not be relevant to you but you are here because you want ‘answers’. I am in my recovery after my own denials. I am semi-paraplegic with Aphasia and Cognitive Memory Disorders…..just labels for the Doctors. After 4 years of my SAH and therapy and rehabilitation Doctors and Therapists say polite things “How well you have done” as I have improved. Now I hear more medically that I have ‘hit my plateau target’. Is that it?. Those are euphemisms. I say “No,No,and No!” This is not my dream. It took 8 years for Harvey Alter to climb his mountain…and he’s still climbing it. No… Doctors this is not my plateau. It will just take more time.

Well.... Yes it's a disability at times when the Door is closed. It is a talent and a blessing when you can find the handle. (Couldn't help myself either)

Sorry Leo... I don't know about this.

Ben... Your life has been turned over.........at the time. You have been left in the driving seat for your family....so you will need some strength, and wise thoughts. It has so recently just happened your life is in turmoil. Right now you worry about the worst...the fears...your daughter. But just stand back, you know Janeys strengths and good points. Even her weak points too. She went through her own battle on her own. Now you have your own battle too. It's too raw now for me to say the wrong thing. She will improve, give her time. One day you'll all be dancing again. Power to your strength Ben.

Hiya Denisse.... Nothing to be scared of...honest. The reason I say that is how you feel....you said you felt normal....great! Yes you are young...but we all learn what can happen in life. Yes...you have been through a difficult time but you beat it. Were you ruptured at your haemorrhage or non-ruptured? Not that I should be asking you questions at this stage...so answer that another time. You said you feel well...good, but all of us will give you the same advise. Don't jump in and charge for your life back. Take things easy, the pressure on you will happen straight away having young kids...and they won't know of course. Just have a quiet pray one day that you were lucky. I say thank God you beat it. So nothing now for you to be scared of....you did the hard work. Now just think about your future.