• A  blog is a personal journal of your daily life as a stroke survivor or stroke caregiver.  Surprisingly, countless members have called it therapeautic to write down their thoughts and to vent their frustrations.  You can make it private, just for your eyes or public and share your personal thoughts with your friends.  Why not try it, create your blog and start writing and see if it helps you.  

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  • swilkinson

    Living on angel time.

    By swilkinson

    I went to see the neurosurgeon on Tuesday. I was interviewed by a young Asian associate doctor and sent for a 3D MRI and angiogram, a brand new way of showing  the blood supply within the brain. The results were given to me by the associate and then I saw the specialist. It appears the aneurysm is larger and deeper than previously thought but at my age they are not going to operate as it would mean a full brain surgery. Coiling, one method of dealing with an aneurysm, is not an option. I think I
    • 12 comments
    • 2,519 views
Kevin Rider

Isolation

Well this virus will definitely put a dent in routine. My wife and I have decided to self-isolate as much as possible. We have cancelled all appointments and the Gym is closed and Yoga cancelled for now. We only have 20 cases so far in Arizona and they are all in the valley. Were going out for animal food later today but are paying in advance by credit card and they will just dump the stuff in the back of the pickup when we arrive. Better safe than sorry! On a more fun note the weather brok
KevRider

KevRider

5
I'm Back

Keeping Busy

I can't believe it's been a month since Gary's passing, but it certainly has been a busy month.  At times I felt overwhelmed with all the paperwork and phone calls, but got most of it under control now.   It seems I'm the only one who was efficient and organized, so a lot of things were "hurry up and wait."   I was told by the local Social Security office "It all takes time, don't get ahead of us.  You're just one person and we deal with millions on a daily basis."  Good to know I'm nothing more
SarahR

SarahR

5
Kevin Rider

Nephew Visit

Life is getting back to old stuff. I have enough stamina to make evening events now, I was  crashing about 6Pm before. Yoga leaves me rather trashed for the rest of the day but motion and balance seem to be improving. My headiness has also reduced to a light background annoyance. A bit worrying is that my blood pressure is trending up suggesting my arteries continue to constrict. My nephew is here for spring break so I have him doing tasks most of which involve the tractor , which he loves
KevRider

KevRider

2
Sue's Sentiments

A new adventure

I have just been on a cruise. The last time I went on a cruise I was  twenty and went to Fiji and Tonga, we can't go from here to Tonga any more. This time I went to New Zealand. I shared with the sister-in-law of an old friend, the old friend and her husband went too. Also on board were two couples from the Stroke Recovery group WAGS that I still belong to.   It was good to have other friends on board and I did spend quite a lot of time with Bill and Jill. Bill was on his scooter. Bei
swilkinson

swilkinson

11
This Blessed Life

Memory Lane

I usually don't like to reminisce. I'm sure you know what I mean, reminiscing is a constant reminder of what we could do. Although... At the moment, I'm having Carrah scan old photos into my phone, then I'm making digital scrapbooking layouts.  My current lot of photos is me and my main bestie when we lived in England during the mid 90s. I've been texting Jennelle some photos and we've been having a great laugh. Maybe remembering old times is good for the soul. After all
GreenQueen

GreenQueen

7
Kevin Rider

Busy

Well I had intended to do a blog every Wednesday but the best laid plans of mice etc.. Yoga seems to be paying off as walking etc seems a little easier but I seem to get out of balance more, but I also recover the balance  quickly. In the mornings you could hardly tell id had a stroke but as the day goes on fatigue will start to show. Headiness/dizziness has receded considerable =. I think that's more the acupuncture.  Im engaging in life more like I used to do. So time has been full and taking
KevRider

KevRider

2
achandra's Blog

adore my weekends & my AHAs

This Saturday class was no different in feeding my soul with goodness in life & getting me prepared in providing tools in whatever we may come in my life in future.  One of the best teaching of our Geeta class this weekend were two things & if I am able to master these two things then life will be truly bliss 1. lesson is whatever karma(or actions I am doing do it as my offering to God without any attachment to results 2. whatever results I get it from those action take it as G
HostAsha

HostAsha

3
This Blessed Life

Card Making

Since becoming disabled, I have had to alter my interests. I love to read, but can no longer hold a book open and turn pages. Well, I guess I could have the book on a flat surface and use my head to hold the book so I could turn the page, but you lose fluency. So now I read on my iPad.  I used to tap dance and play badminton.    My interest now, has been for about 4 years, is card making. I have this you beaut machine that trims paper. I'm also very selective about which
GreenQueen

GreenQueen

11
achandra's Blog

my super soul saturday

As you guys are aware favorite part of my weekend is to spend time on things which feeds my soul. Saturday is the time we spend learning & discussing our ancient literature bhagvad Gita. I find in that particular book all questions we human being face are answered like  what's the purpose of this life & what is right thing to do in this particular situation &  so on  & those other self defeating thoughts too , like  why do it in fear of failure & so on. In this particular boo
HostAsha

HostAsha

2
This Blessed Life

Counselling

I've been to counselling about other...issues...besides all This.   It was really useful.  I've been to this lady before, when Carrah was a baby.   Even though it's been years since I have seen her professionally, we still had that connection.   It was really nice not having to tell old stories for Kathy to make sense of new stories.    We all cope differently, but it is something I would recommend giving a go.
GreenQueen

GreenQueen

4
This Blessed Life

Rain!!

Excited much!!   We have rain!!   Everything has been so dry here.  We've had catastrophic fire warnings, but no fires to speak of.   The rain is such a welcome event. I hope it sticks around.
GreenQueen

GreenQueen

8
Kevin Rider

New Mexico

My father was a master Marine on the Great Lakes run. At 7 he brought me a View Master 3d viewer and I remember most a cavern wonders of the world disc and image of Carlsbad Cavern. Well I finally got to see it. Deb and I took a 5 day road trip for valentines and our 19th anniversary, From a recovery point of view I probably did more walking than ever since my stroke. The caverns were a couple of hours of very up and down and uneven trails but the hand rails were a great help. The trip was fun a
KevRider

KevRider

9
Sue's Sentiments

My secret place

Life does not always go the way we plan. Sometimes when I am sad and lonely and I want to give myself a lift I lay down and shut my eyes and go to my secret place. It is a rose garden. The scenery is based on a real garden in a little country town I have visited but the nice thing is that in my meditation it is whatever I want it to be. I can build a pergolas and cover it in pink roses. I can put garden seats along a long wall. I can even have a fountain if I want to, it is my secret place.
swilkinson

swilkinson

8
This Blessed Life

Morning Tea

My church, whilst not old, needs a new roof. So, me and two of my friends are determined to raise money to help pay for the roof. Last year we raised $450 selling handmade Christmas cards.   This year, so far, we've decided to hold a morning tea in the church hall.   We are going to have raffles, a small craft stall and some entertainment.    I'm so excited! I love all the behind the scenes stuff. Who am I kidding?? I love all the stuff.  I'll probably be
GreenQueen

GreenQueen

4
Kevin Rider

BP tracking

So after years of trying to keep my blood pressure down and taking lisinopril my stoke doctor likes the Bp elevated some. My arteries in the base of my brain are very narrow so hes or with higher blood pressure is supposed to push though this restriction. I track it every morning and graph it. It all over the place and no trend is readily visible. Over time a drop would suggest improvement which is what my Dr hopes for. Some improvement are so subtle that it may be several days before I rea
KevRider

KevRider

6
I'm Back

Heavy Heart

It is with a heavy heart that I felt the need to inform friends from the stroke network that after having a massive brainstem stroke 15 years and 8 months ago, our beloved Gary passed away in his sleep last night after a short bout with  flu like symptoms.  Memorial services will take place later in the spring in Colorado - for now I can't think straight and in much need of a nap.   Sarah
SarahR

SarahR

10
This Blessed Life

After Everyone

I kept thinking,  after I've done ____ for ____ I'll get back to the site. But along comes the next Fill In The Blanks. Is it wrong to put myself first? Is it? It feels wrong. But good wrong. Like, I just got a puppy wrong. Her name is Riley, she's 12 weeks old and we got her from the dog shelter.  I love her so much. We didn't need another pet, she's #7, but hey. What are you going to do? She snuggles in, licks my hand, and looks at me with unconditional love. She's all
GreenQueen

GreenQueen

3
Ksmith's Blog

F.A.S.T indeed

SOOO.. For someone who is one Plavix or another blood thinners you must stop for at least 5 days to 7 before and same afterwards. And , i found out later, is just the amount of time for clots to form that could cause for another or your first stroke.  SO I had to stop 5 days before and 7 after. No problem for I've had to stop it before for a medical procedure.   OK..   Before I proceed, I'll give some history.   When I had my stroke, in 2009, I had to be intuba
ksmith

ksmith

8
Sue's Sentiments

Rain at last and other news.

You all know about the devastating bush fires we had in January. They were accompanied by high temperatures, the very hot and dry westerly winds and added to the dry bush conditions what devastation they caused. Well we have rain at last. Here on the Central Coast it is very welcome, a full day yesterday and some showers today. In some places there has been flooding  and a couple of the lakes with a sea outlet have been "let out" which is a good thing.   It has been a strange year so f
swilkinson

swilkinson

1
Kevin Rider

A Day late

I normally try and update my Blog early Wednesday morning but I was in Phoenix yesterday. Im finding that the Yoga , although not as strenuous as physio-therapy, eaves me pretty trashed for the rest of the day. I can feel it stretching some muscles and trying to active others which I have not used since my stroke. It seems to be working since the day after I always move/walk more easily and with slightly better form 🙂 The problem with road trips is that I tend to use the excuse that we can't coo
KevRider

KevRider

2
achandra's Blog

I am going to toot my own horn here

you are forewarned with my blog heading, in this blog I am going toot my own horn. all my life there is voice inside my head told me oh how you are not good enough in anything.  but I have lived 50 years of life & as people say hindsight is 2020, I see one of the remarkable quality about me which actually brought to my attention by Sue & I have started noticing it too now & realizing to pat my back for that quality., so thanks Sue, & now I feel like great human being  who has abi
HostAsha

HostAsha

3
Ksmith's Blog

Why can't we all get along? * personal views*

I received a Facebook message from a friend that I've not spoke to in a long time that made my mind spin. If you have views that you TRULY believe in, make sure to share it with someone you know shares that view. I have been studying and practicing Buddhism, and with that I try not to let myself get really involved with the zeitgeist of today. WELL, I just had surgery and being on a bunch of pain medicine, my mind isn't as focused  . I may have caught that  person off guard by immediately sharin
ksmith

ksmith

11
Kevin Rider

Gardening

So I wrote of certain activities after my stroke, one of which was growing veggies. I have a 48ft hoop house and come 13 out side beds which had gone to ruin over the summer as I was out of action. Well my wife made a deal with a neighbor & friend who has just retired and wants to get into growing. So now hes going to do the heavy work and I'll do lighter work and we will split the produce. So Saturday he came over with his son and daughter and her boy friend. They did an amazing job and the
KevRider

KevRider

2