• A  blog is a personal journal of your daily life as a stroke survivor or stroke caregiver.  Surprisingly, countless members have called it therapeautic to write down their thoughts and to vent their frustrations.  You can make it private, just for your eyes or public and share your personal thoughts with your friends.  Why not try it, create your blog and start writing and see if it helps you.  

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  • swilkinson

    Living on angel time.

    By swilkinson

    I went to see the neurosurgeon on Tuesday. I was interviewed by a young Asian associate doctor and sent for a 3D MRI and angiogram, a brand new way of showing  the blood supply within the brain. The results were given to me by the associate and then I saw the specialist. It appears the aneurysm is larger and deeper than previously thought but at my age they are not going to operate as it would mean a full brain surgery. Coiling, one method of dealing with an aneurysm, is not an option. I think I
    • 12 comments
    • 2,595 views
Standing up

standing up for my self as a caregiver

I have been Dans caregiver for 6 years . 4 at home with me and the last 2 in the nursing home. ARGGGHHHHH .... I try and I try.. but his brain injury is just to profound and the OCD seems to get worse daily. His life is so limited. Because of himself - of course the stroke is the real culprit. But the daily manipulations continue. Yesterday I pick him up from the nursing home, take for lunch at Mc Donalds --#8 coke with no ice..... barf... but it is his choice every day, and I know why. It is al
nancyl

nancyl

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nancyl

ECT

ECT --- works . ( electro convulsive therapy )   Yes the "barbaric" "one flew over the cuckoos nest" - Zap the brain.. Works.  Old timers know about my battle with depression after caregiving proved to much for me. But taking care of Dan is proving challenging for the nursing home as well. He is frusterating. For even the most seasoned medical Pros. I get a bit of satisfaction knowing that. I did 4 years, the nursing home just completed their second. It is so nice to not wake instantly ( if i wo
nancyl

nancyl

0
Ksmith's Blog

my ah-ha moment

Well I have a life coach I talk with every now and then and he asked me tough questions. that make me think. Take an honest look at myself. The kicker is I spent three years in therapy to figure out why I am who I am but it was overshadowed by my stroke, then it changed to cognitive thinking to make a more positive recovery.  He was asking me questions and while I was explaining my why's..you could see that I answered it happened..... A-HA. realization ... THE TRUTH became clear.We now have a be
ksmith

ksmith

3
Jayallen's Blog amazing days

I don't mind the pain

I believe I posted that 3 weeks ago I had foot surgery too much walking since the stroke that's my little joke anyways last week I would had an appoint with my podiatrist and I was healing up pretty good but he had to do a little flushing in manipulation of the incision and I jumped you said are you okay I said listen. Considering 3  years ago if you'd done that to me I would have been able to feel it I don't mind the pain. It is all about attitude and perspective isn't it?   Be b
Jayallen

Jayallen

1
SassyBetsy's Blog

A Visit is a visit no matter how small!

My son made it two days late passed Mothers Day but he arrived and brought me this slice of gourmet pizza. OMG ! Artichoke and spinach with a topping layer of cheese. It was welcome change from my usual custom made tuna salad with celery tomato lemon. I had waited for a shower knowing he was coming. That is what I miss. my beautiful bathroom. But he waited for me. He just dropped off after work. tired. a long drive to see me. He remembered when he came on Easter and I touched the canvas in the b
SassyBetsy

SassyBetsy

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Sue's Sentiments

Reflecting on Friendships

I guess some people wonder why I still post on this site, after all my husband Ray died in September 2012 so I ceased to be a caregiver way back then.  Well, the answer is because I have made friends here, friends who gave me their support during the long battle Ray waged with strokes, TIAs, fits and seizures and supported me after he died.  Some whose journeys I have followed since I joined in 2005 or whose supporter I have become in all the years between then and now. When I first started as a
swilkinson

swilkinson

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Gizmo, Gadget Guy

Mum is here and well

Lesley's mum is now here and settling into life in North East Tennessee. She handled the long flight from New Zealand to Los Angles very well. She and Lesley spent 5 days there resting and spending time with relatives. A 5 hour flight here and all is now going very well. The paperwork and medical exam are in the hands of the immigration lawyer and mum's health is good. She has a nanny nap once or twice a day and awakes bright and cheerful   What a joy it is to have her with us at this
GeorgeLesley

GeorgeLesley

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spacie1's Blog

Nearly 13 years of service

Right after Gary came home from stroke rehab in September 2004, we got our little peek-a-poo as a puppy.  We named her Pookie and she immediately recognized that Gary needed help with all aspects of daily living and made it her job to be as much help as possible with his care.  From the early days of helping me to screen caregivers, to supervising them as they cared for her "Papa", to alerting me if he was trying to get out of bed or out of his chair when I was in another part of the house, to s
srademacher

srademacher

3
achandra's Blog

its new day & I am here to enjoy life''s all blessings

Its Saturday I am surrounded by my family who I love dearly yes sometime they do drive me nuts my mom, brother, sisters, hubby & kido every one lol. but I love all of them with whole of my heart, & can't imagine my life without single one of them. Anyway today its rainy day. made sure hubby did not put his early morning alarm on weekend & he listened :D. So woke up on reasonable time 7:30am feeling happy  & good about life. Today its rainy day which means lot of birds on our feed
HostAsha

HostAsha

2
SassyBetsy's Blog

Passing on Gift

I am going for more PT and speech. To go and be accountable. Just going is therapy. And b bring a food item back for later snack. fun. tomorrow will be good.   my bf  sent me a cloth crayon case. I do not use crayons if for color pencils I would keep cherish. .instead I gave it away.  the woman likes it for daughter. great. I like to get things but if I not like it I pass it on hoping someone may use it. It was super nice. I think a child will love it.  it made me cringe a bit. I adult
SassyBetsy

SassyBetsy

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achandra's Blog

not in good mood entry

ok today is bit of blah day nothing I can do quickly. I am slow in learning, person I carpool with who is my brother not very pleasant always ready to pick fight so while carpooling he will rather listen to his sports radio station then talk. Anyway yesterday I almost lost balance while getting out of car luckily able to grab person near me & did not go down. but I know falling with me is very very easy. my ankle from my car accident finally healed to be able to put weight on without feeling
HostAsha

HostAsha

3
SassyBetsy's Blog

That Voice

The cna who touched my leg has a booming voice and perhaps thinks everyone wants to hear her every comment or wants to wake the dead. She makes comments. snide scarcasm. she laughs. like that was a joke. weird. dumb comments. cruel.   That voice chills my soul. Now she takes care of the rooms around mine. not in here but her voice is in here. constantly. except her break. she talks naturally projecting. She is a big woman too. Already established she does not have concern for others. s
SassyBetsy

SassyBetsy

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SassyBetsy's Blog

Big fatigue

I am so fatigued. I recently want to sleep all of the time. I can hardly stay awake for manicure or shower. I go to appt and then I sleep hard.   My leg gave out and I plopped in a chair hard with a painful scream. Another lady wheeled over to get therapists to help me. But I said I was fine and it happens my leg gives out. I was told the brain signal is weak and my leg is lost for a moment. It buckles. My leg goes to sleep a moment.   It happens before meds alot. I need mecl
SassyBetsy

SassyBetsy

1
Sue's Sentiments

A few mostly domestic matters

This is really only a domestic update. Autumn is here, shorter days, and just lately much colder nights. The sun is still warming but is strong for a shorter time so I love to spend time in the garden when I can. As usual there is much to do, just the usual jobs like repotting, weeding, resettling plants to maximise sunlight to keep them going through winter so there will be blooms in Spring. The weeds are still growing after all the rain we had in March and April so still a lot of maintenance.
swilkinson

swilkinson

1
SassyBetsy's Blog

Mothers Day

I helped a woman here get a free cell phone smart phone that the government pays for service. It is really nice. arrived fast. Now she comes to practice learn to use it. She calls for me to visit with her. Her son cut off her phone service among other problems. She is heartbroken. She was thrilled to learn she could have a phone independently.   It is not like mine but I consider why I do not use that one. We have a nice family plan. It connects us. We share movies and amazon. I 
SassyBetsy

SassyBetsy

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nancyl

alone

I haven't been able to be alone for a very long time. This weekend I have been. No one here. It is nice, not only the freedom of it, but the fact I can do it. For so long being at home alone was something I just made sure never happened. Not on a conscience level, but sub consciencely. I have a little anxiety this morning, but thats only because i have "thought " about it. Dan is doing as well as Dan can do. Good days, Bad days the same cycle repeats itself. Trying hard to just hang on and
nancyl

nancyl

6
SassyBetsy's Blog

Good Blessings

An urgent care doc caught that the nursing home was giving me medication wrong. I called their pharmacy and it was confirmed. it was meclizine. it cause drowsy. They were giving it every 4 hrs when it should have been every 8 hrs. wow. I failed to keep up. The nurses make mistakes. It happens. Sometimes I miss it until later. Glad it is fixed. Blessed.   I am going for an echocardiogram. again. last one in 2015. new doc wants to see if swelling comes from my heart. I constantly live wi
SassyBetsy

SassyBetsy

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SassyBetsy's Blog

My leg hurts believe this.

A cna who knows better touched my leg. I think she did it in intentionally. I was asleep sitting up and instead of touching my shoulder hand she touched my thigh to wake me. She knew but forgot that touches brand me lie fire. Is that intentional?
SassyBetsy

SassyBetsy

1
Jayallen's Blog amazing days

Post rehab regression?

Real quick question I met a gentleman at the hospital followed him to a long-term rehab facility got to know him and his family quite well he is now home and his wife is frustrated with her perception of regression simple question since my memory is so bad of what what I am what happened to me as soon as I got home from Inpatient Rehab is there a is it normal to have some regression in the progress moving from a structured facility to home? This caregiver is really struggling right now I'm tryin
Jayallen

Jayallen

3
nancyl

oops

so for my "blog", well the latest I wrote the blog under the description of the blog.... lol... it is under NancyL -- and it is mostly directed towards ECT... which has been my depression treatment. 
nancyl

nancyl

1
Sue's Sentiments

when time stands still

I had a funny phone call from a friend this morning.  She and her husband had been to an Anzac Day Dawn Service.  Somehow with all the items that needed to be plugged in at the Town Hall the power circuit blew and the town descended into darkness.  An electrician was called in and finally fixed the power and the ceremony recommenced.  But when she glanced up at the Town Hall clock it was slowly going backwards!  Her husband is a clockmaker so after a hasty breakfast he went to fix the clock.  I 
swilkinson

swilkinson

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