glaidice

Bless you Leah, I can certainly empathize.

THANKS SUE

Thank you all for your very helpful insight. My best friend in North Carolina also suggested that whatever equipment that I may need in the future or not need for that matter, get it while I can. Who knows how our insurance might change. I thought that was an excellent point also. Anyway, much love to all of you.

I have home health care except for going in for electrical stimulation on my foot and leg for neuropathy. I am not diabetic but developed neuropathy from the damaged nerves when I had my stroke 7 years ago. I've come a very long way from being completely paralyzed on my left affected side to walking a mile around the park next to where I live. I've always lived alone (my preference) from day one when I came home from the hospital. I figured I'd have to learn to do things on my own anyway so I decided to start right away. To make a long, long story short, I still live very happily alone, drive, cook my own meals and so on. That's why my feathers got a little ruffled today when this doctor told me that it's been 7 years now and you know that people never return to themselves 100%, so I should maybe sell some of my furniture and think about getting rid of my library (though he likes it very much) so that I could use a rolling walker because as we age our balance naturally gets worse and I could be subject to falling easily)! :yeahrite: He said this because I told him I tripped in the kitchen and fell (anybody could have done this). I was fine though. His advice would have been taken a little better had I had a history of falling, but I don't. And I always have a phone on me for safety purposes anyway. He further asked if I intended to keep my apartment for any length of time and that maybe I could live with one of my daughters eventually if necessary. I know that he meant well but I was fuming when he left. I've taken care of myself all this time, grocery shopping, cleaning, socializing, exercising my body and mind. I've taken all of their tests and I have no blockages, no diabetes, no heart problems, no high blood pressure, and I'm a pesto/pollo vegetarian been told I'm healthy. Some drs. can be so discouraging. Thanks guys for letting me vent. :Tantrum:

Truly there should be more information about stroke and it's survivors. People seem to think that it affects us all the same way. They seem to also think that your life is over. I'm a pretty easygoing person but this type of thinking just plain makes me mad. I know some people mean well but when I'm told "honey you shouldn't cross in the middle of the street" or "you shouldn't drive in the snow" or "don't drink that glass of wine - you're on medication" etc. . . grrrrrrr - It will be 7 years in December since I had my stroke, I think I know what meds I'm taking, whether I can drive in inclimate weather, what I should and should not eat and drink and most certainly know where and at what speed I can cross the street! Sometimes I want to just :ranting: and say :yeahrite: but I don't I just try to understand that they don't understand. :bop:

Haven't written for awhile but since I last blogged, I moved to a senior building. This particular building is a historic building here in Detroit called the Whittier. It sits on the Detroit River next to a marina and park with a track. A developer has and still is restoring it to its original splendor with the beautiful chandaliers, ballroom, spring garden, exercise room, beauty and barbershops, TV room, library and anything else he can think of to make the tenants comfortable. I absolutely love it. I've joined the dance class (cane and all) on Wed and Thurs evenings plus I play cards with some of the residents on Tuesday evenings. The track is a little over a mile long and I walked all the way around last Saturday. I'm trying to do it at least 3 times a week to work on my gait and maybe just maybe get rid of my cane by the end of this year. Although I'm only on the 2nd floor, my windows overlook the park so it's inspirational to see others walking the park. Today they had a father's day dinner. I didn't attend although I did go to the mother's day dinner. It was nice with entertainment and good food. It was beautiful outside today, but I'm still unpacking so I decided to hang a few small paintings and just enjoy being alive. I thought I had uploaded my photo but I don't see it so I'll try again. Bye for now. . . Me

Congrats on your retirement Fred. I absolutely love it and I'm sure you will too.

Get well STEVE we love you as Jan expressed so well.

I am 5 years post stroke and I only worry when I have a bad day with a lot of pain and when I'm approaching my anniversary date (New Years Eve). Otherwise, I don't worry, I just try to take good care of myself.

Hi Silly Bunny, I'm sorry you are sad, but your life isn't over - it can be a new beginning and and an exciting one too. I am 5 years post stroke and a better person than I was prior to my stroke. Yes, I do occasionally have down moments, though not often; but then I had those before my stroke. I live alone and count my blessings that I can. At one time I was completely paralyzed on my left side, in a wheelchair and on many medications. Now, even though I don't have fine motor skills in my hand, I can still use it, I can walk and I can drive. So, it DOES GET BETTER. I know it's a slowwwwwwwww process but so what! Just try and explore all the things you didn't have time to do. Give yourself something to look forward to every day. I look forward to my coffee in the morning, a few tv shows like American Idol and Animal Planet shows, planning what I'm having for dinner each night, talking to my best friend and my daughters, a glass of wine at night and playing the Michigan lottery every day. These are small things but It seems I don't have enough time in each day. Before I know it, I'm sleepy and it's bedtime. Don't expect people to understand, even those that love you - THEY CAN'T - You just get on with the business of doing what makes you happy - not sad - Ok. virtual hugs to you.

THANK U FOR THAT SUGGESTION - i HAVE THE SAME THING, I'LL TRY YOUR METHOD - MAYBE DURING THOSE TIMES THE FIRE WILL EXTINGUISH. :big_grin:

:Clap-Hands: THAT WAS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL AND TRUE

AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERE :Clap-Hands: WE'RE FULLY INTEGRATED HERE :big_grin: LUV BLACK HISTORY MONTH, HISTORY CHANNEL, PBS,ETC

YES, YES, YES - here in Michigan it has gotten cold - even had a little snow and my affected side hip down to the bottom of my foot has been more painul and spastic. saw a neuro today she told me that i probably needed a splint on my foot - don't have foot drop but a tendency for my left foot to turn over on my ankle if i'm not concentrating. the spascicity is extreme at night. gotta get an mri and ct scan might have a disc problem in my back too that's helping cause pain. also, i have thalmic pain. only good news was that my blood pressure was good, blood work good, i can see 20/20 with my glasses. i told her i was a social drinker she said fine - so i guess i'll fix me a cocktail to celebrate being here. :cocktail:

HI AGAIN - I MET MY HUSBAND AT A HIGH SCHOOL REUNION FOR HIS SCHOOL A YEAR BEFORE I HAD THE STROKE. I WAS SUPPOSE TO GO THERE WITH ONE OF MY GIRLFRIENDS BUT AT THE LAST MINUTE SHE COULDN'T GO, SO I WENT ANYWAY. I HAD BEEN THERE A COUPLE OF HOURS, DANCED A LITTLE AND HAD DECIDED TO LEAVE WHEN I SAW THIS WELL DRESSED, HANDSOME GUY COME IN. BEING THE RESPECTFUL LADY I AM I WAITED TO SEE IF HE WAS MEETING SOMEONE (I GAVE IT 5 MINUTES) AND THEN BOLDLY WALKED OVER AND ASKED IF HE WOULD LIKE TO DANCE HIS REPLY WAS THAT HE WOULD BE HONORED ---- THE REST IS HISTORY WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER 4 YRS NOW. WHEN I HAD MY MASSIVE STROKE HE WAS THERE FOR ME AND WE ELOPED AND MARRIED IN THE LITTLE WHITE CHAPEL IN LAS VEGAS LAST JULY BUT - THIS IS GOING TO SOUND CRAZY BUT HE GOES TO THE VETERANS HOSPITAL FOR ANY MEDICAL TREATMENTS AND I'VE NOTICED AND CHATTED WITH SEVERAL SINGLE GENTLEMEN THERE. THE CAFETERIA HAS SUPER GOOD FOOD AND IF I WAS SINGLE AGAIN I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE LUNCH THERE FROM TIME TO TIME - MANY OF THE GUYS SEEM SOMEWHAT LONELY AND LOOKING FOR CONVERSATION, BUT I ALWAYS LET THEM KNOW I'M HAPPILY MARRIED. A LOT OF GUYS THERE HAVE PHYSICAL PROBLEMS AND THE LIKE JUST AS WE DO BUT STILL DESIRE COMPANIONSHIP. OBVIOUSLY I'M ADVENTUROUS EVEN THOUGH I'M SHY. I JUST FIGURE THAT THE WORST THAT CAN HAPPEN IS A NO THANK YOU ANSWER - WHICH IS NOT A REJECTION BUT JUST THAT YOU'RE SIMPLY NOT THAT PERSON'S TYPE. YOU HAVE BEAUTIFUL CREATIVE SKILLS - GET THE HECK OUT OG THAT DEPRESSION AND USE THEM. WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER REMEMBER. :hug:

HI ELLEN - SORRY FOR YOUR PAIN - I TOO AM A CREATIVE PERSON IN THAT I PAINT AND DRAW. I'M 2-1/2 YEARS POST STROKE AND HAVN'T PAINTED A DARN THING EVEN THOUGH I HAVE BEAUTIFUL NEW ART SUPPLIES. I'M RECENTLY MARRIED AT 57 YEARS OLD WITH A NEW STEP SON 13 - MY HUSBAND IS 64 SO MY DAY IS QUITE FULL AS MY HUSBAND GETS ATTACKS OF GOUT AND HAS GRAND MAL SEIZURES RECENTLY DIAGNOSED AS A RESULT FROM HIS STROKE 13 YEARS AGO. WE CAREGIVE EACH OTHER. ALTHOUGH MY LEFT SIDE IS AFFECTED I DO HOUSEWORK, COOK, DRIVE AND IN GENERAL JUST KEEP ON KEEPIN ON EVEN THO SOMETIMES I FEEL OVERWHELMED BECAUSE SOMETIMES I JUST SIMPLY WANT TO PAINT OR DO SOME OTHER CREATIVE THING. ORDER SOME NEW BOOKS ON CERAMICS MAYBE THAT WILL GET YOU GOING - BUY A SET OF PLAIN DRINKING GLASSES AND PAINT FLOWERS ON THEM - ANYTHING TO GET OUT OF THAT DEPRESSION. I DON'T HAVE TIME TO BE DEPRESSED - DIDN'T KNOW I'D BE A PARENT AGAIN AT THIS AGE. I HAVE A NICE HUBBY AND JUST DEAL WITH THE HAND I WAS DEALT EVEN THO SOMETIMES I WISH I HAD NEVER PLAYED CARDS. :big_grin:

i had no support group to go to until i stumbled upon this site which has helped and continues to help me understand and recover. I THANK YOU ALL! :beer:

hi - bless you first of all - my strokewas 2-1/2 years ago. it affected my left side completely paralyzed. at the time i lived alone, had a nice job nice gentleman friend and was very active. although for some reason i've been blessed not to be depressed, my life most certainly changed - actually some for the good - i got married; i retired (heck, i was ready although i was only 54 at the time); i can now relax and enjoy painting, reading or anything else - as others have said the flowers, sleeping late, many things i didn't have time to enjoy. i came home in a wheelchair, couldn't stand for 3 seconds literally, had a real tough time with transfers from the wheelchair to the bathroom or bed. i could have gone to stay with one of my daughters, but i was determined to EVENTUALLY be able to do many of the things i use to. that included walking, cooking and cleaning. i was absolutely thrilled when i was finally able to stand for 5 minutes and sloppily wash a dish. even more thrilled to be able to finally tie my shoes. BUT it was a very slow process and still is. just yesterday i braided my hair. it wasn't perfect, but so what. i recently ordered some new pretty clothes, even though i still walk like frankenstein - i can look pretty while i'm doing it. :big_grin: do things to make yourself happy whatever those things might be. give yourself something to look forward to everyday. me i play 1.00 in the lottery everyday, who knows i might just win big one day which will probably start out as just another day as you say . . . you never know! :dribble: