Deigh

My wife Valerie has weak fingers and some difficulty breaking pills out of the pensioner proof packaging from the chemist. To aid her I have created this device which I purchased as a kid's stapler from the local op shop. I have modified it so that thumb pressure on its head will press a pill out the packaging and make life easier!........It is known as Petra, the pillpopper. Deigh

I don't have the 'curling' problem but to help with exercise I carry in my hand when out walking a palm sized, flexible toy and spend all the time trying to destroy it one handed. I have actually destroyed two of them! one was a duck and the other a penguin but my present 'Marmaduke' replica is proving to be of sterner stuff! Deigh

I havn't had an opportunity to try that one out but I don't think it would work with me. There are times when I've been upset and tried to make myself understood and nothing comes out at all. At the moment I am trying to whistle more to improve my voice. Trouble is remembering to do it! It is a good trick to do because there is nothing wrong with a person walking around whistling, but a person walking around talking to themselves rather suspect! Deigh

Previous to that I experimented with Super Glue and told my wife that If I forgot what I was doing and had to dash to the bathroom and she heard me scream, she must not call an ambulance, I would sort it out myself somehow! Deigh

Maddox, Send me your postal address using the private mail system and I'll send a 'Deighpick' off to you. Deigh

I think it was pattern number 31. I made lots of different things till this one worked. Best one before that was using double sided sellotape to glue the plectrum between finger and thumb. That worked well but meant that one was stuck to the plectrum for the rest of the day and a trip to the bathroom was out of the question! Deigh

A brilliant solution. I am fortunate inasmuch as I am still a morning person. I was doing floor exercise push ups the other mornng when my wife emerged from the bedroom and stopped to watch me. I only do eight pressups and had just done number three but I changed my count to calling out forty-four, forty-five, forty-six. She was not fooled for an instant and burst into laughter!😒 Deigh

Maddogx, Did you see my design for a plectrum on this forum some time ago? Designing this has made all the difference for me, I can now play again. With a lot less speed and dexterity than before true, but at least I can handle it!. Deigh

Chika, Welcome to the site but please accept that we are not doctors, just fellow victims. Between us all we will have amassed a fair amount of knowledge on how to overcome the deficiencies our strokes would have left us with and that is the strength of the forum. At this time, here in New Zealand the authorities are trying to reduce strokes by working on the overweight, non exercising couch potatoes. Not one of the stroke victims I know locally fit this bill! So you see, even the experts can't forecast the event! Which is rather infuriating since an acquaintance of mine went to his doctor to discuss a problem and in his investigation the doctor found heart shortcomings and booked him for a triple by-pass to avoid a heart attack! I wish someone could forecast strokes as easily! Deigh

Tarina, Every stroke is different and we all start off with a whole range of problems that are different from others. There are one or two standards and one of them is tiredness. As many have told you, don't fight it. Give in. The Aphasia is extremely frustrating but you are young and fit enough to make a great recovery, but, as everyone has told you, don't rush it. The standard expression is that recovery is a marathon, not a sprint. As you go on you will find other minor problems that the stroke will have left you with. The problem there is deciding whether they are something new or just stroke related! The only extra advice I can give you is to try to laugh about things whenever possible, Your sense of humour is your greatest asset. Regards Deigh 😂 PS, sorry for dismal emoji, having problems with internet! D

Nicole, I can't add anything to the advice you have been given by the last letters but I can endorse them. I am in my fourth year of trying to recover some of the losses the stroke hit me with. It is easy to give up looking for progress and I frequently fall into this trap but fortunately the mood doesn't last long and I am soon back on the treadmill. Deigh

I was in the local hardware store waiting to pay for my purchase. In no hurry I sat down at a display settee to wait till a teller was free. When this happened I got up rather slowly and made my way forward. Being clumsy I collided with someone else in a hurry. He seemed surprised about where I had come from. I tried to explain humorously that I had been waiting in the 'Executive Lounge' but do you think I could say the word 'EXECUTIVE' ? We had a few laughs about it and he obligingly deferred the teller to me. Been practicing that word ever since! Deigh

Janelle, Hospitals can be very inefficient at times. These are usually the times when you are most in need. Nearly four years ago I was sent to an Auckland hospital following my stroke. They were very good with their diagnosises, prompt with scans and other electronic diagnostic devices. Even their food was very good. On my third day in the ward I was asked if I'd seen the 'introductory pamphlets'. I said no and they were promptly supplied. The foolscap envelope was full of information and knowledge which I badly needed to understand and cope with the frustration of my stroke. The infuriating thing was that I should have been given them three days previously! Unforgivable! Deigh

Peter, It was probably my mail on the UK site which lead you to here! I've been ranting on there for some time hoping to convince the authorities to revert to the previous format which was excellent. The experts in stroke do not seem to realise that victims don't want official names for their problems, they need contact with others so they can compare and read about other's tribulations and attempts to return to some sort of normality. Anyway, welcome and please join in with advice or just questions! Deigh

Janelle, Only an Aussie could abbreviate the noble sport of Badminton to BADDY! I understand what you are saying, it is true for me too, I am seeing slurs when none are intended. Very thin skinned these days! Deigh