myhome

Now I know I haven't been active here lately, sorry about that. We're getting ready to move in with the kids for awhile, we're both downsizing then it's off to our new life in Pentiction BC, a trek of only 1300 miles with bag & baggage. The kids wanted us to move with them, not sure how living together 24/7 is going to work ( after all I'm pretty set in my ways).... lol Just thought I'd bring you all up to speed. Now the reason for this post... My 10 Anniversary is coming up June 22 nd. 2016 (2006-2016) We may or may not have internet on my anniversary, hopefully we will, so I'm posting now. Laying on that gurney in the hospital 10 years ago I thought my life was over, it's not! I hope all you newbies read this and get some hope, work hard and never give up, and you may be posting on your 10th. anniversary as well. I wish all of you well and hope you all have a great summer. Bye Bye for now Stu

he he I really haven't left, see you in chat fred

I was thinking about my stroke the other day, and how I wasn't really scared while it was happening. I know that's a strange thing to say but it's true. Sitting in my office at work having supper while my wife while the stroke onset was happening (and I wasn't scared) while I felt my body starting to shut down. I was thinking just how much this was going to scare Kathleen when I ask her to take me to the hospital ( she knows I hate hospitals). According to her I was quiet calm, wanting to lock up the building before I went. Thinking I'd be maybe a a few days or a week before I was back at work, little did I know it was going to completely change my life. Even the ride to the hospital I remained calm, until the ER nurse told me to lay down before I fell down, "You're having a Stroke". It was only then I realized I was in trouble. The first year was a blur, rehab, rehab, rehab, now I help clean the apartment (sold the house ..just couldn't handle the constant up and down of two sets of stairs), help do laundry, go shopping, drive, and love my grand daughter Ava who I am so lucky to have in my life the last four years (yes she's 4). Something I would never of thought happening is becoming addicted to online gaming. It's great for keeping your brain sharp, and great for dexterity. So if you play battlefield bad company 2, we may bump into each other ;-) Remember " never give up ", you owe it to yourself. Have a great summer.

Well eight years have passed, some good, some not so. But for the most part it has been a learning experience, learning that there are some things I can still do and some I can't. I use my cane sparingly,only take it when going out. I've got 85% use of my right arm back , the leg has a limp but I can live with it. I never thought I'd see my son happy again, nor did I ever expect I'd be here to see my grand daughter grow up, she's 3 yrs right now. So don't believe it when someone tells you that you can't do something, smile and prove them wrong. So if you're reading this 'Don't you dare give up", you owe it to yourself to keep going. No one will do what has to be done except you, if you give up then there's no one you can blame but yourself. Stu

Fred, hello my friend, haven't had a chance to talk for awhile. Basketball and baseball, seems you're putting your time to good use ;-)

Fred, Thanks for the welcome back. I replied to the I'm Larry post of yours so I'm sure you'll see it. Take care and we'll talk in chat. Chow my friend.

Well I'm back, I sure many of you new survivors don't reconize me but many of the older members will. Maria asked me to start stopping by for the Wednesday Reunion night chats. I popped in Monday and last night into chat and I only reconized one person, how things change but then stroke never stops so it shouldn't be a great surprise to me. So if you're a newbie here reading my blog, you can believe me that things will get better, Don't you ever believe the doctor when he says you can't do something, he's wrong and I'm living proof. The doctor told Kath that I'd never walk again, he was wrong, he said I'd never be able to drive again, he was wrong. So if you're reading this 'Don't you dare give up", you owe it to yourself to keep going. No one will do what has to be done except you, if you give up then there's no one you can blame but yourself. Now just alittle about me: I'm a survivor, I stroked on June 22, 2006 at work. I've been a member here since 2007 I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Hope to talk to many of you in the coming months, take care all .. Stu

Well here I am again, it's been almost five years since my bout with stroke and for the most part I've won the battle. It's hard to remember what life was like before my stroke, but to anyone reading this I can tell you that if you work hard at rehab things will get better. I'm sitting here typing, and since 2006 I'm back driving, I go shopping, infact anything I want just alittle slower is all Daniel and Jenn are expecting their little girl Ava Kathleen any day, if Jenn hasn't given birth by thursday she will be induced, either way Ava is coming into this world before Friday. So I'm gonna be a Grandpa (Gramma Kath can't wait) this week, I never thought I'd see this happen. If you're a newbie here you can believe me that things will get better, Don't you ever believe the doctor when he says you can't do something, he's wrong and I'm living proof. The doctor told Kath that I'd never walk again, he was wrong, he said I'd never be able to drive again, he was wrong, I think he was talking the standard line to cover himself if something went wrong, it did he was wrong. So if you're reading this 'Don't you dare give up", you owe it to yourself to keep going. No one will do what has to be done except you, if you give up then there's no one you can blame but yourself. Believe me life can be good after stroke.

Four days and it's four years post stroke, five to my 60th. birthday. What's life going to be like in five years from now? Will I still get better, or level out to that's all you get? I think I'm bummed that I'm hitting 60, I know that I shouldn't be but I am. It seems like I was just 18, and had the world by the tail. Now I've got stroke and I hope 30 more years, god willing. I know I'm just feeling sorry for myself, but I can't help it and you bunch i know will understand. And what's with the new board, stuff missing and not the easiest to get around. It's may be only me but new members or guests are going to have a tough time navigating through it, I don't find it user friendly at all. Ok, I'm done, hope you all have a great summer.

Well here I am back at my blog, back acting up again making it hard to walk. God what am I going to do at 70... ten years from now, will I be crippled and in a chair for good? I'm hoping it's just the weather changing, come on Summer Dan's got a new girlfriend, she's a cutey, Kath and I are very glad he's started to date again, he was in so much pain when Marli left last boxing day. Well it's only 20 months and Kaths done, retired, then what, a cruise,a trip, or vegetation? I'm trying to get us volunteering at Riverview the rehab Hosp. I was in. She can help the New Cargivers and I the strokies. We have so much info to give these people, info to help understand and to help curcumvent the government red tape (been there done that). I think my approach willbe like the time Kath was told while I was in rehab that I'd never walk again. The doctor did this just outside of my room, I'm not sure if it was to prewarn kath or to motivate me. If that was the case, it worked.Well I've whinned enough, back to the strider and more exercise, remember NEVER GIVE UP. BTW... I still haven't got around to getting that colonoscopy, I'll do it, I'll do it this summer, after all the other tests came back ok so why am I heddging? Maybe just scared of the unknown, but if I can handle stroke, what is there that should scare me anymore?

Well I'm glad to state all my tests came back negative. My hemoglobin is back up to 139 (140 is excellent), butt .... the doctor still want to have a look around. So it looks like I have to go for a physical, and then will get contacted by the specialist for my colon look see. He says that he'll probably just go for a look and find nothing (then why do it?) He says I'm getting close to 60yrs. and it's a good idea, hmmmm for who? It's my butt he's going to look around in. But honestly, this guy seems like a straight shooter, he seems confident that he'll find nothing as all the other tests came back negative, and this test is only be preventative in nature. So sometime in January I have the physical and then his office will contact me with the procedure date, which won't be till early Febuary. btw... Kathleen had the same thing done on Thursday last week, and it seem to be nothing to worry about. I just don't like being off my plavix for 10 days prior.

As I write this it's -24C here with about two feet of snow. Yes we Canadians are nuts for living in the frozen north, the city I live in is loving called Winterpeg instead of Winnipeg You southerners really have no idea what cold is, there have been sometimes as much as a week at -40 here. Be glad you don't live here Jeanniebean, stay warm...and yes all you have to do is dress for the weather

Seems that the stool smear kit is almost the same test. If there's blood in the stool they will look at the GI track and the colonoscopy is the tool. Now if theres no blood, wonder where they'll look? He said it could be an ulcer, I'd go for that rather than other things I've read about.

I'm alot nervous, last doctors visit we went throught the normal tests ( Kathleen because of diabetes comes along and is tested as well), three days later I get a call he wants to see me. So my appointment shows up, and my doctor mentions my hemoglobin was alittle low and we should keep an eye on it ( he didn't seem concerned). While we were there he sent us off to the lab for some blood letting, thank god they ran out of leeches and had to use a syringe :yikes: They also gave me a stool smear kit to do over the next ten days. Just a precaution or ?? My doctor says if he doesn't call then there's nothing to worry about, so five days later I get a call from his office that they want to set up a Colonoscopy ( I haven't even finished the stool smear kit...two days left). Now I'm starting to get worried, what are they looking for, what is he not telling me? ... or am I just being silly because he's being pro-active???

Many won't know who Gunter (Smurf) is. He's been a member here for along time, he was a mentor, a chat host and a friend to all....and close friend for 20 years.... he doesn't come to the board anymore. He's had a set back. He's got congestive heart and just had a stint installed ( makes us sound like a CAR DOESN'T IT...INSTALLED). His sight is slowly going and is his memory, I think I'm slowly loosing my friend. With the stroke, diabetes, and now the heart problems it still doesn't stop him from being happy every day. I'm going to see him more often, I've got more memories to make with him. You never realize what you've got until you don't have it any more.... I'm glad I realized it now.

You'll never reconize me, want to get under 200 ...doctor wants me 190 if possible. I will keep doing what we're doing and eventually get there. thanks. btw...starting to get my girlish figure back