heathber

I'm not in a position where I can retire yet, the first couple of years post stroke wiped out my savings, just as well my super is/was preserved and Is still intact. I now get NDIS funding for therapy and basic supports which means I'm no longer going backwards financially, but reality is I'm not going to be able to retire early as I had once hoped to do. I'm 9 years off standard retirement age. On the bright side I currently have a very helpful and accommodating employer, so working is not as much of a burden as it might be. Pam I so get that breakdown at the front desk. That was me before I started on the meds, the tiniest things could upset my equilibrium and once I started to cry I just couldn't stop. And the more people were sympathetic and tried to comfort me the worse it would get. You know you're overreacting but you just can't do anything and sympathy adds to the emotional overload you are already dealing with.

pita pocket

Go for it Will, I know Deigh has pretty much got it under control without using meds. I chose the meds path knowing that it would be long term and not super happy about it. But I needed a quick fix at the time. My plan is to wean off them once I retire and don't have to appear professional 5 days a week. I've had a foretaste of what it will be like as I was put on another med at one point that interfered with the absorption of the lexapro and it was not fun, until I worked out what was happening and was able to readjust schedules/doses. What I find helpful is knowing that the problem is in the executive control function which is a learned process that most of us master as toddlers. So this is no different to learning to walk and run again. So expect to fall occasionally and be prepared to pick yourself up and start again until the skill is reestablished.

In America it's also called PBA (Pseudobulbar affect). It's very common with stroke damage. it affects your ability to control emotional expression. Most commonly the result is weeping, but it can also be laughter or swearing. I take a low dose of lexapro for it

Hang in there Pam we're cheering for you. Fingers crossed the lungs get a bit better soon.

Hi Janelle, have a look at a condition called dysautonomia http://www.dysautonomiainternational.org/page.php?ID=34. A friend of mine has POTS and it sounds awfully like a lot of the stroke deficit stuff I get with cold foot, bad lymphatic drainage, neuro fatigue etc. where our autoimmune system is a bit screwed up by stroke damage. She's given me the name of her neurologist but I haven't gotten around to doing anything about it yet. I think I'm a bit wary of poking that bear. fat ankle in the bad leg was a real problem for me after my calf surgery. My physio got me to put a pillow under the foot end of the mattress so that it was raised ever so slightly overnight, and that was enough to get it to reset to normal for the start of each day. I'm always listening to my footsteps so that I can notice if I'm slapping that bad foot, I can't always stop it happening, but I figure being aware of it is the first step (urgh 😝) The big thing with not dragging seems to be don't let your hip swing out (might be where some of that hip pain is coming from) and lift that knee, try practicing marching. Then its heel down transfer/roll the weight over the big toe and step through. Also get a calf stretcher and use it every morning I have this one https://66fit.com.au/products/66fit-multi-adjustable-stretch-board?currency=AUD&variant=7421771644993&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&cmp_id=11797013888&adg_id=114751385676&kwd=&device=c&gclid=CjwKCAiA1aiMBhAUEiwACw25MfLOBzI0ZZXp5MoEkD1IANAKS3e_NikUkYBzWhp0p9vEKpM7aFvDaRoCqnwQAvD_BwE But there are plenty of other types around But yes sometimes walking sucks,especially when you have curled up toes (chronic spacticity)

Tracy that makes me think of a training course I was sent on years ago where the trainer said "take a seat where you like, I want everyone to be comfortable" and I nearly caused a riot by promptly crawling under the desk and taking up lotus position under the desk with my training manual on the floor in front of me. Apparently that wasn't what he meant, but I've always felt more comfortable on the floor than in a chair 🙂 and I could still see everything so why not 😛 But that's just a side note When emotions a running high it almost doesn't matter what you say people still hear what they expect to hear, not always what you said. Hang in there team and remember it's never as bad as think it might be. ((HUGS))

Pam that sounds exhausting, no wonder you want to sleep lots. Crossing my fingers that they find you a solution.

None of us are perfect, and sometimes things happen that hurt (both to us and by us). The trick is to step back mentally and give yourself some space to understand what happened and why and then decide what you are going to feel/do about it. Often it's just about acknowledging that it happened, and letting it go, sometimes you need to say "that hurt" either to yourself or the other involved, sometimes it makes you change how you interact with the other for a while. The main thing I find is to remember it was mostly/usually not deliberate on either side, however opening yourself to hurt is part of being close to others. Hang in there everyone. bad days and good days are part of life try to appreciate and enjoy both.

door bell

Sometimes they just aren't there. Try reading a soppy book or watching a tear jerker film. You may find that weeping over something less vital is enough to unblock the reflex. or arrange to see a counselor and talk about the problem, remember your GP can set this up for you if you don't want to ask family to do it, and these days it can be via telehealth so you won't need a driver either. Also remember that we love you and you can contact me via Messenger if you want a private chat (text or voice) with someone outside the situation. -Heather

Very true Nancy, you have to keep smiling the alternative is too hard to live with. Enjoy what you have and try not to dwell on the might have beens. Glad Dan is feeling better, tummy bugs are no fun when you can't run easily (they aren't much fun when you can either 🙂 )

So relieved to see the site back, Thankyou to all those who worked on and fixed the problem. I'm well and it looks like Melbourne might finally be coming out of this last lockdown. Fingers crossed out patient services at the hospitals will reopen soon too, I miss my therapy sessions.

Can you call it out of lockdown when we still aren't allowed to go to other peoples homes at all. If it wasn't for being on NDIS and needing on site carers I would never see anyone in person, other than my weekly visit to the shops for necessities. p.s. I have moved out of Melbourne and am now Regional.

Making a plan and doing the risk assessment in your head before you say yes is a good idea but also don't only go out when there's no risk, it would be lovely but it's not realistic, and you do need to live life, especially as you can at the moment (with Covid 0 status all around you, make the most of it while it lasts) and if it helps ask for help with the expected risks before you accept the invite.

Yep agree with the full time vs intermittent thing. I've been falling quite a bit the last few months. The physio says its probably because I'm now living in a more physically challenging environment. So the stabiliser muscles, which are the small ones that I have most trouble with coordinating properly are over worked and sometimes they just don't function 100% and because most of the time they are fine when they quit unexpectedly the larger muscles don't compensate like they should, so with my propriaception issues that means I fall. I just say rude words and hope I haven't done any major damage (so far I've been lucky)

evil spirit

Oh goodness US 13, I have enough trouble with US 11, I highly recommend Mary Jane styles with either velcro or buckle strap. I find them a great compromise of style, comfort, and ease of putting on one handed. My most common brands are Keen or Merell, I have no idea if you can get 13s in them though. Good luck with the hunt 💜 I also wear Merell brand sandals, lots of options, I've found best to look for structured heel enclosure, rather than super strapy looks.

Yep same here in country Vic Sue. Be as safe as you can, and hope others do to. Very aware that being vaccinated doesn't stop you getting it or passing it on, just slows it down a bit, and means you probably won't end up in hospital. Even with 70-80% vaccinated it could be very bad for our hospitals and health care workers. At least our governments are now recognising that it can only be managed not eliminated. But sad that I won't get to have my trip to WA in November (no way they'll have their vaccination rates high enough to open borders before I'm due to leave.)

many colours

At one point Mel had a reputation for being D&D and destroying hotel rooms etc. My memory is something about throwing a phone at a subordinate, when phones were heavy and attached to the wall.

yes, I know the areas worst hit here in Vic have the same thing. Multi generational homes with kids, adults and grandparents all living together under the same roof, and if not the same house a group of houses very close by. Also usually the adults in these homes are working multiple jobs to make ends meet. It's very hard to stop any germ from spreading in such circumstances but delta thinks it's great.