Eurocracy

Hey never say never, time, work and effort is what it takes....It is possible

glad you found this site too.

Thank you all, your messages are wonderful. I am willing to be patient, work hard and will never stop the effort - just knowing I can "get there" is what gives me hope, just as many of you have done. I so want to be the person that can say to people, hey you'll get there in the years ahead.

Welcome to BTG Polyanna!

Your journey has been a tough one, yet you remain so positive - very encouraging! So happy for you that you've received some excellent help and have come so far. You're right about support - I'm sure it makes a huge difference in our recoveries and outlooks on the future!

Glad you're with us and hope to hear lots more from you!

Carolyn

I think you are all very inspiring, as someone just 9 months after their stroke. I hope I am feeling so positive after 2 or 3 years.

Thank you, hope you all keep on improving and get right back to your "factory default settings",

Sally, Wow, no physical defects after 2 years!!

Damian

Thank you Louise. I am a bit of a "drama queen" so I need it telling straight

Counselling? Yes, have been promised it but then nothing happens. I had a session with one community counsellor who just told me " you do know you won't recover don't you". That bucked me up no end!!

I'm doing well one-handed but must now battle to get my affectedhand and arm useful. As you say, a positive mind is needed to make it happen I think it's only human nature to brace yourself for the worst and try to be happy with that - I won't be but only time and effort will tell.

take care

Hello everyone, thank you again. it is just so hard thinking that all of my current deficits are permanent. It chills me to the core. I can't see most of them ever improving.

It's in my head now that people just never recover - it can't be true because my own mother stroked and her affected arm, after two years is a million miles ahead of mine. I just think it won't ever be me - which is probably just the stroke dragging me down

I worry that this is all just blind hope against hope. It's on my mind all of the time.

Damian

Hey never say never, time, work and effort is what it takes....It is possible

glad you found this site too.

I can't thank you all enough. It is hope that I need most of all. My physio tells me to look at how far I have come so quickly - from paralysed to a half-useful arm in just 8 months. I just keep trying to do everything I can do with it - I'm guessing that will get me there in the end. I do see improvements - I did press-ups yesterday. When I tried that in hospital 6 months ago, I just ended up kissing the floor...

I am so glad I found this site. THANK YOU ALL!!

Damian (Eurocracy)

Hi there welcome if I havent said it.....

The only way to gain movement or strengh is to keep going with excersise physico dont think of it as being 'disabled' its a new challenge I gained great determination in order to get to where I am today.....

I SO know that its not easy I SO know that it dosnt just happen in a few months.....

the black days are filled with more postive days and life gets better...

take care

Thank you all so much. I so hope the physios can get me better. I'll do whatever it takes to improve. It just feels so hopeless to think I will never drink a drink without spilling it, nor never use cutlery again; just "normal stuff". I can move my hand and fingers but it is just so uncoordinated.

I'm coping well with one hand but do so want that affected hand to improve.

I'm just glad I've found the site, these are the toughest days of my life.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1383868/The-stroke-risk-index-Drinking-coffee-blowing-nose-cause-brain-aneurysm.html

Has anybody read this Daily Article article?

No but since my stroke I startle at loud noises, nearly jumping out of my skin. After getting an ischemic stroke, I really don't want to become a stroke collector. One stroke "medal of honour" per lifetime is enough!

Thank you Ladies. It is hope I am running out of.It seems so hard to imagine that this useless, uncoordinated thing on my body will ever do anything useful again. You're exactly right at my frustration with my lack of progress. By just getting on with life as best I can with one hand, it feels like I've given up on my affected hand. i can be patient but fear so much that it's the end of my recovery. My family say to me they see improvements and there is evidence it's improving too - it gets faster in physio tests.

Yes, patience is key; So too is battling anxiety. Since the stroke i see only worst case scenarios, hence the title of this thread.

\thank you again,

Damian (Eurocracy)

Hi everyone, I've been lurking these past few weeks and chatting in the ShoutBox to some of you.

I stroked in August of last year -it was a clot caused by Hughes Syndrome. I have left side weakness now but stopped improving since I left rehab in December. I can walk and talkbut my left arm is useless. I'm doing really well with my right arm only but despair at the lack of improvement in 5 months- my leg is clumsy and wooden; I try running but fail badly; my left arm is uncoordinated and useless. My fingers move - I'm lucky. I can pinch, grasp and release thin objects but now fear I am disabled for life. Physio doesn't seem to be helping - I asked for a Saeboflex but was told I am too advanced for it. Will Physio get me there in the end - plus a ton of determination from me? Is there hope? Should I just get on with being one-handed and give up on it? It sends shivers down my spine thinking of being disabled for life but I am bracing for it now. i get fed up of physios saying I'm one of the best recovered they've seen and that I'm full of potential; which all counts for nothing when you see no improvement yourself:crazy:

Any positive thoughts and experiences welcome - I'm running out of steam with trying to be positive.

Thank you,

Damian:razz:

Hi All,

Just wondering whether anyone can give any suggestions as to a new hobby Richard can take up. Remember that he has no use in his left arm, very limited use in his left leg so cannot walk far and has concentration issues. Before this happened he had no hobbies - worked as a builder 6 days and then spent Sundays in the pub drinking with his mates.

Any ideas would be gratefully received.

Don't suggest computers or reading as we have already tried them without success.

Thanks all, Zoe.

Why not have a look at Lumosity.com? It's a brain training website, developed by Neuroscientists and might help with his concentration. It remembers scores so he can see if he's improving or how he ranks globally. It can be a bit addictive; time passes quickly when you're determined to just get a better score next time.

Other ideas - what about Scrabble or Monopoly- easy to learn, hard to Master. You can all play then?

What about wheelchair bowling? As in 10 pin, not crown green - most centres have the ramps to roll bowls down. There might even be a league or teamnearby he could join.

There is wheelchair ice-skating too. i saw this on different strokes:

http://diffstrokes.webfactional.com/ds_plone/different-strokes/recovery/802013776

I hope this helps in some way?

I realize there have been many threads regarding depression. I am still having problems in this area and I'm wondering how those of you afflicted with this, are coping? What is it, in yourselves, that keeps you going and motivated?

I'm on several anti-depressants, anti-anxiety meds and seem to be on a back-slide. I know that my home circumstances; lack of job, medical care, etc... aren't helping my situation but feel stuck as to make certain changes due to financial problems. I haven't been able to become gainfully employed and I'm barely able to contribute to the household finances. I know that there are so many people out there whom are suffering from far worse than I, and this makes me feel bad for whining about myself!

I have moments and times where I feel good and thankful to be alive. I can easily encourage others and am empathetic to their plights, but I'm unable to do this for myself most of the time. I have suffered with depresion for MANY years prior to the SAH, but was able to function quite well - had medical care, counseling, etc... I have read hundreds (yes hundreds!) of self-help books, been part of different support groups and the like. So I do know the things I should be doing on my own, but lack the motivation and support to do such at this point. I'm not looking for sympathy, but maybe some experiences of others who've found some relief and been able to turn their lives around.

I am inspired by so many people who've been able to move on and live fulfilling lives, while at the same time living with devestating disabilities. What is it that keeps you/them up and moving forward?

I keep going becauseI'm still alive, a husband, son and father and I owe it to myself to give me and my familythe best life I can and not drag myself/them down. Are you on antidepressants and having any form of therapy? You need to talk to your GP about this, you don't deserve to live like this. CBT therapy can be very good at helping you fight these demons - ask for it.

Plan some "be good to yourself days"; go somewhere nice with friends and family, invite friends around. What you put into this you will get out. Your mood and anxiety can be managed by you. Give yourself worry time if you need it - promise yourself not to worry or think about anything negative until that worry time. I aim for 4pm each day and put all bad thoughts off until then; not easy but it does work. Make sure you are talking about worries to people who care about you and listen to their problems too. Just be you and let your inner light shine through. it's in there, I promise you!

I've seen posts about whooshing noise in your ears. Like wind being blown into your ears or hearing the ocean but really loudly.

The noise stopped in my right ear yesterday.

It stopped in my left ear this morning.

I cannot believe how quiet it is!!!

I think I've had this extra noise for almost 6 months now. It is oddly quiet.

Sandi K.

It's worth checking this with your gp or consultant. I'm no doctor but it might be a carotid bruit - it's possibly the sound of your own blood flowing that you can hear. Your GP can check and might want you doppler ultrasoundscanned - it's best to be safe than sorry here. Can you hear your pulse? Which is a different issue altogether - pulsative tinnitus.

Again, ask and get it checked.

Damian

Hi everyone,

Now that's a welcome! I do need to talk to more people about recovery - so many aspects feel permanent ( e.g clumsy hand, stiff ankle, heavy leg, tight shoulder), which is at the heart of my anxiety.

I am on antidepressants - sertraline now after citilapram. I had counselling but they discharged me without reason. I was referred for CBT after a suicide attempt - never happened. We really are just "let out of rehab" once we tick enough Bartel Index boxes and left to get on with it. I'm in a whole new world I never knew existed :confused:

and I'm a stroke survivor - had a clot last August while on my way on holiday to Greece. Collapsed at the airport - felt minor at first but soon rushed to A&E; woke up half-paralysed, incontinent wondering what the hell happened.Lucky to get to hospital within an hour, had tpa treatment, survived the stroke, a pulmonary embolism and then double pneumonia.

Now walking, continenty,no balance problems - weak left side, useless hand (my arm and hand have been moving since the stroke, so plenty to use as a base for getting better but feeling totally plateaued at 8 months. I'm still getting physio, at home (and privately).

I'm finding things hard now - so much of my life has gone and I'm not coming to terms with being disabled at all well. I've awful emotional liability and depression, both worse than the physical aspects.

Look forward to getting to know you all,

Damian