northernstars

I don't know whether or not you might be interested, but stress is what caused my stroke. I am still unable to walk without a walker or cane, but am determined to get on with my life so I have been studying a lot of books while looking for answers. Right now I am reading Spontaneous Healing of Belief and trying to get a handle on how and what I believe deep down and changing some of what I am telling myself that is detrimental. Hope this info might help you.

Happy Birthday! Your photo sure looks nice! Sounds like you had a very nice birthday.

I took a piece off my brace so that my foot can drop down in hopes of driving someday soon. I am sure that Orthos guy would not be happy, but I was not happy not being able to get my foot in a position for pushing the gas pedal either. I am also not wearing the brace all the time, now. I know the stroke made me unable to walk, but it did not take away my drive for independence! So, I intend to fight it all the way to success using whatever I can come up with to advance my plans.

I can't say that I was in denial because I was doing everything I knew to do such as walking for at least an hour several times a week at the stores even though it was mostly browsing and strolling, and relaxation techniques, as well as just beginning to eliminate meats and dairy. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite early enough as I still was unable to lose any weight until I totally gave up the meats and dairy. I think the clot made it impossible for me to really get into the exercise part of walking. Had I known about the clot I probably would have done things a bit different. I knew my cholesterol was running a bit high but even that was not very high. Just every time I would exercise I would get very weak. That must have been because the clot wasn't letting the blood flow through the artery very well. I figured it was because I hadn't really exercised for years and was just out of shape. But the stressors just kept on keeping on. With me, everything I did eat (and I wasn't over eating at all), but everything turned to fat and I gained the 100 pounds eating about 1800 calories every day! I also never ate fast foods or combinations that were unhealthy and full of preservatives and chemicals. The people who knew me were really surprised when I had the stroke because I was the one who continually was giving info on what to eat that is good for the body. Nutrition was my passion! Unfortunately, most of the stressors still continue. My husband has been quite a big help, but in all honesty, HE is my biggest stressor! When he gets angry or upset, the whole family suffers. He finally went back to work part time a few months ago as armed security for the oil refinery to help with the ever increasing bills. Finances caused a big part of the stress, too. I am still unable to get my blood pressure under control even though I am still doing everything right there, too. My cholesterol seems to have gotten in the normal range but as I am not eating any meats or dairy, that doesn't surprise me. The biggest thing I have noticed is that even though the stress continues, I don't feel the anxiety that I used to feel from the stress!

My mother retired from BLM and left Anchorage when she was a GS11 and moved to the main office in Washington DC. She headed up the coal leasing section if I remember correctly. I had to give up my beading. I was considered to be a master beader, too. Before I started beading I was a cake decorator, so I have been into artsy things for many years, but did not have what it takes to be a quilter. I tried, but my grandmother had to undo the quilt and put it back together. The front was beautiful but the quilting part was pathetic. I don't think I would have gotten much better IF I was unable to talk! I so enjoy visiting with people, talking on the phone, and am still busy volunteering Crimestoppers and such. Several people on the raw food talk room have MS and the raw food diet has helped them tremendously. The address if you are interested is www.rawfoodtalk.com Thank you for responding.

I am sorry for your loss, but glad that thing are going well for you now and that you are able to stay at home and care for your son. I know that is incredibly important. I have 3 sons and 3 daughters and was fortunate to be able to stay home with them for the majority of their growing up years. My sons are all eagle scouts. Parenting is very hard and still under appreciated by some.

My name is Sharon Nusunginya. Were you under a lot of stress? Stress also causes a lot of strokes and that is what caused mine! Then again I know several people who stroked with anuerisms, not sure about the spelling there. We are having a cold spring and have only had one nice and warm day so far. Thank you for replying to my post.

Happy birthday. If I calculated right that should be for tomorrow. I, too, am hoping to drive again soon. I did renew my license this year and was walking using my walker and nobody said anything about restricting my driving. I just won't drive until I feel as though I will be safe in doing so. Different states are also different in how they handle things.

I am sorry that your doctor gave you such bleak news. I don't know what type of stroke you had so I don't know how anything I say will help, but whatever the reason there is a good possibility there is something nutritionally might really help you.

This seems like a good, safe place to be as I muddle my way through my new life! I am 61 and had a massive stroke last March 16, 2007 and spent the next 2 1/2 months in several hospitals for a total of four different hospitals! Apparently my stroke was caused by stress which then caused weight gain (about 100 pounds), that then caused the sleep apnea, which apparently caused the stroke. Even though I had spent all that time in the hospitals, the third hospital did a quick one-night study and determined that I should have a complete study done. The fourth hospital never got that report so I wasn't checked for the sleep apnea until I asked for a sleep study at hospital four the week I was to be discharged! So, I had the study done and had to stay an additional night. I was told then that I had SEVERE Sleep apnea as I had not only quit breathing several times, most of the times it was for a minute or more. They said it way too long for any woman and would have been a long time even if I were a man. So, then I got to wondering how it all came to be. My dad and brothers have/had sleep apnea, too. My daughter also has it as well as many other health problems. We are certainly predisposed for problems in that area. My daughter and one brother are making dietary changes now too. I had studied nutrition and always made certain that I followed the guidelines put out by our government. I did not eat anything with chemicals and made most of my own foods from scratch. However, even though I did everything right, I did not have my stresses under control and therefore my cortisol and triglycerides were way too high. Those were the reasons why I could not lose weight even though I always ate 300-500 fewer calories than recommended! I also knew that pharmaceuticals would be of no help as everything that come from them just causes the body to become more acidic. I know that once I started drinking kombucha tea, my asthma disappeared as well as the six prescriptions I was taking every day in an unsuccessful effort to control it. I went totally asthma free for many years until I had the stroke and surgery to bypass the clot and was put on medicines while in the hospitals. Now, I am just taking Lisiniporil but will be off that very shortly! My diet now consists of fresh fruits (including dates and dried fruits) and my blood sugar is in the normal range again now that I have eliminated meat and dairy from my life. I also drink at least 32 ounces a day of smoothies both green (usually made with romaine lettuce, celery, spinach, some water, and apple or banana) and fruits (usually berries and bananas) , have a huge salad of many veggies, and a bowl of oatmeal with raisins, cinnamon, ginger, and walnuts. I am about to start a water and juice fast for the next couple weeks to lose more weight and keep my health going in the right direction! The last fast I did was several years ago and IF I had done that routinely, I probably would not have stroked in the first place. Fasting is an incredible thing to do for your health.