• 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
    • 2,817 views

My story

Hello, my name is Louise. I had my stroke 4 years ago at the age of 17. The only thing I knew how to do was to get on with life.   My stroke left me with speech problems, cognitive problems and mild perception problems. However, after 3 months of sleeping, I went back to work and managed with it. 11 months after my stroke I went back to college and then progreessed onto Uni doing occupational therapy.   I have had diffuculties but just got on with 'normal' living. Well, that was until

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Today- day one

Well history is being made, my first blog entry. It is 10 a.m. and I am showered and dressed. Wonders never cease! Well really we are refinancing our mortgage and today is the closing, so I had no choice but to be on the ball today. Once we refinance, I'll get a line of credit to renovate our small barn in our backyard into a small little house for me. I'm excited about renovating and designing and decorating the barn. It is a whole new life and chapter. I'm looking forward to it. Actually I'm

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I'm going to give this a try ;)

Well, I'm not very good at keeping a journal but I though I would give it a try. I doubt I will write here everyday, but I will try to as often as I can. For now that's all I have to say. Will try and come back later and type some more. God Bless!   Tania

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My Stroke Story

I had my stroke on New Years Day 2004. On Christmas Eve '03 I went to a Chiropractor for the very first time and had my neck adjusted. I had been having neck spasams after having the flu and thought a Chiropractor might help.   After the adjustment I got real dizzy, nauseated and broke out in a cold sweat. I asked if this was normal. The Chiropractor said "NO, but it's probably just a shock to your system" He offered to let me set in the office until the dizziness passed. I knew he was getti

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Rehab/Recovery

I came home with a walker but don't have to use it now. I also came home with a shower chair, which I still use from time to time. I also had a feeding tube which was finally removed on March 29th, 2004. I had around 4 months of re-hab and have recovered a great deal. Although I will never fully recover (I don't see how anyone can after going through such an ordeal) I do feel like my life is finally getting back to normal.   This has been the bigest ordeal of my life(that I remember) I am a

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My Daily Routine

The following is what a normal day consists of for me:   I get hubby off to work and kids off to school. I then go back to bed for a few hours. When I get up I do my morning chores (ie - make beds, pick up floors, clean off things) and eat breakfast. Then I relax and watch tv for a while or take a walk. After lunch I do my afternoon chores (ie - do some laundry, start dinner, sweep, mop, vaccume)   Throughout the day I get on the pc and check my e-mail, come to strokenet and check things o

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Celebration!

I have had many blessings over the past year and I'm sure many more are to come! When 2004 started I never thought I would see my 29th birthday much less 2005. I spent my 29th birthday in the hospital not knowing if I was going to live or die.   So this past Thanksgiving and Christmas were very special to me. I enjoyed them tremendously. My 30th birthday is tommorow and I am very much looking forward to it.   When I had my stroke my hubby and I were trying for our last child. The

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Coping with long distance

For 3 1/2 years, I lived in Phoenix while my dad took care of my mom. It was just as stressful as living here with them. Maybe more so. I talked to them every Wednesday and Saturday for those years. I never made plans on those days, because I didn't want to miss their call. I often wondered if something happened to my dad, would my mom's caregiver call me? Would she just keep taking care of mom and not let me know. I was a nervous wreck if dad was 3 minutes late calling. I gave him 15 mi

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day two

i guess this works alot better when you publish it snow bound today still waiting for the guitar,guess i won't freak yet,my dealer was having problems with some of the saplyers(no pick-ups on hand ) i'll just have to wait what to do today oh-hum

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day in a life

o.k. seemed to have figued out this blog deal fun!! just did a light scubdown of the place(home sweet home),it's snowing today so i'll stay in no reason to leave the house,took out the trash,HORRAY! for garbage shoots! got most of evry thing i needed to get done bills<check> rent<check> quit my local y stash money aside,just need to go food shoping for the human,cat has plenty of food maybe friday??sapose to clear up a little crossed the street yesterday with out my leg brace(b

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Fear of Florida

For the past 12 years, every winter my family would go to Florida to visit the parents and in-laws. As the years have progressed, our visits have become more important. Our parents are getting older and look so forward to our arrival. We go places they wouldn't go to and take care of things they have difficulty with. This year I'm different. I don't look different but my left side is numb and weak and I tire. I don't want them to worry and I also want to continue to do what I've always done

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Periodonist Day

January 5, 2005   I don't mind the rain. Actually, I love to sit in front of a window while I am on the computer to watch the rain and enjoy the sound. But today I do not need rain, especially when it is cold. I have an appointment for a periodonist at 1:45 and yesterday, I was trying all day to find how to get there. Sadly, there is no public transportation here in Manchester, New Jersey.   If I want to make my appointment, I have to take our village residence bus to the bus terminal

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The stroke

September 15, 2004. Vinny was driving, he was all alone. He was walking back to his car when he had the most incredible pain in his head. He sat there for a while until the "headache" eased up a little. Then he started the car and started driving. Out of nowhere he couldn't move his entire right side, his vision was blurred, he was confused, and he saw a school bus stop full of kids. Thank God he still had enough of his thinking to pull over and hit a parked car. "it was either hit the car or ki

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Using a telephone

This is the begging of my journal.   Couldn't sleep well last night because I was nervous that I had to make calls this morning. I never liked the telephone when I was healthy but now it's worse because I have problems to speak. I didn't know how I was going to wake up, will be a great actor remembering lines or will I be a baby talking learning how to say words.   Finally got the energy to make calls. First for New Jersey Health, trying to get information about Medicaid. Of course, I

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day two -night too

It's 8:35 here, Ryan's taking a shower, the cat's already asleep in her basket, and I'm bracing for another long night. Why do the nights seem longer...darker...emptier... when you are alone? It wasn't like this before my stroke. I would have just been getting ready to go out and party with friends. .... Dinner at 9, movies at 10? or the bar scene at 10:30? Now, I wait for, and pray for the sleep, that doesn't come. Sleep comforts me because, I'm not expected to be ok when I'm sleeping. And for

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January 2, 2005

Today was a wonderful day. I went into the city with my best friend to take my daughter for brunch for her 30th birthday. Everything was perfect...the day, the restaurant, the food, the people around us and I was able to enjoy every moment.  

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Optimistic New YEar

Today ends a five day break from work and while I dread going back to work every weekday, it will be good to get back in routine. My hubby who is the survivor has been doing very well during this holiday break. The two granddaughters that arrived this year sure help! John will be calling a stroke survivor in North Carolina who has been isolated we understand from her sister. We are excited at the possibility of helping someone. That seems to be what John enjoys most these days. I feel good

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Day one -alone

Well, I made it through the first night. Sleeping on the couch in the living room with the tv on. On top of all my anxiety last night we had an ice storm. So, I sleep closer to the front door which makes no sense at all. Only two more nights to go. The nights are the worst, I'm even starting to watch the late night infomercials. It seems you can buy nearly anything and get a second set free! I wonder how Jerry would like that...."dear, I know we didn't need "a scooping up batter and flipping eg

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pneumonia fatigue

i have been having rolling illnesses-colds etc since late november-culminating in this pneumonia over xmas-new year-my immune system is really low-trying vitamins and special yoghurts

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The New Year

Well I made it through my first New Year as a stroke victim. I'm still having a difficult time accepting that for no known reason a blood vessel collapsed in my brain causing my whole left side from head to toe to feel like it's sleeping and so heavy. From the outside no one would know there's anything wrong which in a way makes it even more difficult. I try to keep up with the pace but it becomes exhausting. I can't believe this is to be my daily battle. I know it could be so much worse but I d

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Sleeping so much

He sleeps so much! I know he needs more rest than he did before but if I can't keep him entertained he goes back to bed. He got up at 11 today and its 330 and he is back in bed.   How much is too much.

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First entry

This is a great idea! I will post my first update on Blaine in a while. He came home from rehab (4months) just before Thanksgiving. He has been doing great. His speech is coming back and he is MUCH easier to manage. Don't know if it is the meds, or time, or therapy but the anger is gone. The throwing and hitting are gone.   This is a momentous improvement. Mainly because I can pay someone to look after him or have him attend an adult daycare while I work. My next goal for him is to have him

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Alone

I'm alone today and nervous - My parents are on the way to Orlando, my husband is headed for Vegas, my sister is in Rice Lake near Minnesota, my closest friend is visiting family in Detroit, even my daughter is over an hour away from me, at her apartment in Sun Prairie. I know it's totally irrational to be nervous. I'm 42 years old - it's not like I've never been alone before! But, who would I call if something happened? I feel every little ache or pain more intensely today because I'm almost fr

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