FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE FOLLOWING, I POSTED A FOLLOW-UP TO MY SLEEP TEST UNDER "STROKE SURVIVOR SUPPORT". I DIDN'T MENTION MICHELLE, THE NURSE WHO TOOK CARE OF ME LAST NIGHT. PRETTY, PERSONABLE, ATTENTIVE, AND THE TYPE YOU WOULD TAKE HOME TO MEET THE PARENTS.
ON THE NEGATIVE SIDE, MY WIFE CAME WITH ME, SO I HAD TO CONCENTRATE ON BUSINESS. OH, WELL.
MARTY
THIS AFTERNOON, IT WAS PARTLY SUNNY, 75, LOW HUMIDITY, AND A SLIGHT BREEZE. I TOLD MY WIFE IT WAS TOO NICE TO BE INSIDE, SO WE WENT AND DID MY FAVORITE THERAPY. BLUEBERRY PICKING.
NOT BUSY, LOADS OF BIG, RIPE BERRIES, AND PERFECT WEATHER. I PICKED SIX POUNDS AS DID MY WIFE WHO IS NOW IN THE KITCHEN CLEANING AND FREEZING THEM. WE WILL PROBABLY GO BACK LATER THIS WEEK AND PICK MORE. WE ARE INVITED OUT TO DINNER SAT. AND THEY LOVE BLUEBERRIES.
I NOTICED A BIG DIFFERENCE IN MY ABILITIES FR
I WAS RIGHT. THE THERAPISTS IN THE REHAB CENTER WERE NINCOMPOOPS (spelling). WHEN I WENT TO THE NEW NEUROLOGIST, HE SET ME UP WITH THE DR./THERAPIST IN HIS OFFICE. HE REVIEWED MY PROGRESS AND NOTED THAT WHEN I GET TIRED, I TEND TO GET LAZY AND DRAG MY LEFT LEG A LITTLE. MY OVERALL WALKING IS MUCH BETTER, LIKE A DUCK.
ONE THING HE SUGGESTED WAS TO HAVE MY AFO TRIMMED TO MAKE IT MORE FLEXIBLE AND ADAPTIVE. I DO TAKE LONG WALKS AND THIS WOULD HELP ME KEEP FROM DRAGGING WHEN I TIRE. I ASKED THE
OOPS, I ALMOST FELL OFF THE PAGE. COMING OUT OF WATER RHAB, TAKING A 2 MILE WALK, A 2 HOUR NAP, AND GRILLING STEAKS, IT'S BEEN A STELLAR DAY.
OF COURSE I'D RATHER BE GETTING UP AT 8, WORKING ALL DAY, BEING UNDER STRESS, WORRYING ABOUT EVERYTHING AND SETTING MYSELF UP FOR ANOTHER ILLNESS.
I'VE ACTUALLY LEARNED TO ENJOY RETIREMENT. IF I COULD ELIMINATE DOCTORS, THIS WOULD REALLY BE FUN.
I REALLY DON'T WANT TO RAMBLE TONIGHT, SO I'LL JUST WISH EVERYONE WELL.
MARTY
YESTERDAY, I WAS AT MY DAUGHTER'S. SHE HAS TWO GREAT ADOPTED KIDS
2 AND 6), AND A MONTH AGO DECIDED THEY NEEDED A DOG. SHE TOOK THE 6 YEAR OLD WITH HER TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY, WHERE SHE WAS TOLD THEY PREFER NOT TO LET DOGS GO TO A FAMILY WITH SMALL CHILDREN. SHE CALLED ME AND ASKED MY OPINION, AND I TOLD HER I CONCUR. HER DEPRIVED HUSBAND NEVER HAD A DOG WHILE GROWING UP, AND SHE IS BULL-HEADED.
SO SHE GOES TO A PET STORE AND BUYS A COCKER SPANIEL PUPPY. IT'S CUTE, STILL BEING HOUSEBROKEN, A
LAST NIGHT, I HAD MY FIRST SLEEP TEST. THE HOSPITAL IS AN HOUR AWAY, SO MY WIFE AND I DECIDED TO DO SOME SHOPPING (OK, I WATCHED), AND GO OUT TO DINNER. AT 8:15, WE ARRIVED AT THE EMERGENCY ROOM WHERE WE WAITED FOR THE EVENING'S FESTIVITIES. THERE WAS A LARGE FAMILY, ALL ADULTS, THERE (12) WITH A VERY SICK BABY. AS WE SAT THERE, ONE OF THE GROUP RETURNED WITH FIVE BOXES OF PIZZA. THEY HAD A PARTY WHILE THE BABY SUFFERED. GOD FORBID THEY MISS A PIECE OF SAUSAGE.
THERE WERE 4 OF US SCHEDULED
WELL, TOMORROW NIGHT I GO FOR MY FIRST OF TWO SLEEP TESTS AT THE HOSPITAL. I GET WIRED UP FOR 9 HOURS. I REMEMBER WHEN I GOT WIRED AND IT WAS MORE FUN. IN ANTICIPATION, I'VE BEEN STUDYING ALL DAY. I THINK I HAVE IT DOWN. CLOSE YOUR EYES, FALL ASLEEP, DON'T GET UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, PAY $2000.00 AND GO HOME. PIECE OF CAKE.
IF I DO GET SOME SLEEP, THEN MY WIFE (WHO GETS TO SLEEP ON A LOUNGE CHAIR) AND I ARE GOING TO SEE THE GRANDKIDS SAT. THE HOSPITAL IS ON THE WAY. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
NOTHING UNUSUAL LATELY, SO I THOUGHT I'D FEEL GOOD AND SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT JAKE, ONE SWEET GUY.
I HAD A FEMALE CAT NAMED SAM FOR 12 YEARS. SHE LOVED TO TRAVEL IN THE CAR, WALKED AROUND ON A LEASH, AND SPENT EVERY EVENING ON MY LAP WHILE I READ. SAM GOT SICK 2 YEARS AGO AND HAD TO BE PUT TO SLEEP.
AFTER WAITING 6 MONTHS, I WENT TO THE HUMANE SOCIETY WITH INSTRUCTIONS FROM MY WIFE: NO MALE AND NO WHITE ANYWHERE ON THE CAT. WELL, I LET THIS ONE OUT OF THE CAGE, I SAT ON THE FLOOR AND HE
TODAY STARTED OFF A LITTLE HECTIC. THE REAL ESTATE AGENT CALLED AND ASKED IF SHE COULD COME OVER 15 MINUTES EARLY, AS HER CLIENTS WERE READY. MY WIFE SAID OK. NOW I DON'T GET DRESSED AS FAST AS I USED TO, SO IT WAS A CHORE GETTING READY POST-HASTE. WE TOOK A LONG WALK WHILE THEY LOOKED AT THE HOUSE.
THE WE WENT TO ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN. HAD LUNCH, AND SPLIT A DAIRY QUEEN HOT FUDGE SUNDAE. EVERY FIRST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH, THEY HAVE ANTIQUE VENDORS ON THE BLUFF OVER LOOKING LAKE MICHIGAN. WHAT
WELL, IN 6 HOURS, I REPORT FOR A COLONOSCOPY. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH IT, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. YESTERDAY, I DRANK MY PRESCRIBED AMOUNT OF DRANO AND GINGER ALE. I STAYED AT THE COMPUTER MOST OF THE DAY TO OCCUPY MY MIND. ALL OF A SUDDEN.............BANG...............THE FIREWORKS INSIDE ME BEGAN. I COULD FIND MY WAY TO THE BATHROOM WHILE UNDER HEAVY GUNFIRE, IN THE MIDDLE OF A HURRICANE, WHILE BLINDFOLDED.
ANYHOW, I THOUGHT THE DAY WOULD BE QUIET. THEN I ANSWERED A POST ABO
TUSHEY IS ANOTHER WORD FOR REAR, RUMP, BACKSIDE, OR THE ALL FAMILIAR ASS, FOR THOSE WHO NEVER HEARD OF THE WORD.
SELLING A HOUSE IS A PAIN. YESTERDAY, MY AGENT TOLD ME THE HOUSE WOULD BE SHOWN BETWEEN 9 - 11AM TODAY. SO WE STRAIGHTENED UP, AND I OPENED BLINDS, TURNED ON LIGHTS AND OPENED SOME WINDOWS A LITTLE. I WENT OUTSIDE FOR A MINUTE AND WHEN I CAME BACK THE BLINDS WERE PARTIALLY SHUT, THE LIGHTS WERE OFF, AND THE WINDOWS WIDE OPEN. YOU WOULD HAVE SWORN WE WERE GEORGE'S PARENTS FROM SEI
WELL, TODAY WAS NORMAL ( WHATEVER NORMAL IS FOR ME). WATER THERAPY THIS MORNING, WASHED THE CAR, AND WENT FOR A LONG WALK. THE WEATHER WAS PERFECT. SO TONIGHT WE JUST DECIDED TO CELEBRATE FOR THE SAKE OF CELEBRATING.
I GRILLED UP 2 RIB-EYE STEAKS, MADE MY FAMOUS BAKED/GRILLED POTATOES,
COOKED UP SOME CORN ON THE COBB, MY WIFE MADE A BIG SALAD, HER APPLE SPICE CAKE, AND WE ATE OURSELVES SILLY. DAMN IT WAS GOOD. BACK TO THE DIET TOMORROW.
GEE WHIZ, I DIDN'T MEAN TO GET EVERYBODY'S JUICES FLOWING. BUT ISN'T IT NICE TO FORGET ALL OUR ILLS AND JUST HAVE FUN WITH A TOPIC WE ALL RELATE TO?
THIS IS JUST HARMLESS BANTER. AFTER ALL, WE CAN'T SEE EACH OTHER, THIS IS NOT A POLICE STING OPERATION, AND THE CHANCES OF WINDING UP TOGETHER ARE SLIM AND NONE. LAUGH, WISH, THINK, BUT MOST OF ALL, FORGET ABOUT ALL THE CARES AND WORRIES THAT HAUNT US EVERY SO OFTEN.
THIS WHOLE THING HAS NOT AFFECTED ME AT ALL. KIM, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU
WELL, TODAY I HAD A FOLLOW UP MRI, BLOOD TEST AND THERAPY REVIEW. RESULTS WILL BE JULY 19. I'VE POSTED SOME FINDINGS APPROPRIATELY TODAY.
TUESDAY IS COLONOSCOPY AND IF I GO TO THE PODIATRIST, I CAN HONESTLY SAY I'VE BEEN GONE OVER FROM HEAD TO TOE. TOMORROW I REST.
MARTY
YESTERDAY. THERE WAS SOME POSTING CONCERNING THE CHAT ROOM. WHILE IT MAY SEEM TO HAVE GOTTEN OUT OF HAND, I DON'T THINK IT WAS HARMFUL. STEVE, JEAN, PAM, AND ALL OTHERS WHO GIVE THEIR TIME SO THAT WE CAN HELP ONE ANOTHER DESERVE A BIG VOTE OF THANKS. BUT FOR THOSE FEW MINUTES WHILE WE WERE BANTERING BACK AND FORTH, I FORGOT I WAS A STROKE SURVIVOR AND WAS JUST A GUY VOICING MY OPINION ON SOMETHING OTHER THAN MEDICINE, THERAPY, OR HEALTH IN GENERAL.
I'M TOO OLD, BUSY GETTING BETTER, AND CRA
TODAY, I AWOKE TO THE SOUND OF THE AIR CONDITIONING MACHINE RUNNING AND WARM AIR IN THE BEDROOM. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS TO CALL FOR REPAIR, UNTIL I GOT OUT OF BED. ALL THE SLIDING DOORS WERE OPEN AND SOME WINDOWS CRACKED OPEN. IT WAS 88 DEGREES OUT AND HUMID. MY WIFE TOLD ME SHE LIKE THE FRESH AIR IN THE HOUSE. SO, I TOLD HER AS LONG AS SHE WANTED TO COOL THE ATMOSPHERE, THE NEXT POWER BILL IS HERS. BETTER YET, I THINK I'LL BUY HER A TENT FOR THE SUMMER.
TOO HOT TO REALLY DO ANYTHING, SO WE W
I'VE POSTED 658 TIMES SINCE 4/04. I'VE BEN READING POSTS AND BLOGS AND I WONDER HOW MANY TIMES I'VE USED THE WORDS, SLOW RECOVERY, PATIENCE, HOPE, NEVER GIVE UP, SMILE, EXERCISE, DON'T WORRY, WILL GET BETTER, ALL STROKES ARE NOT ALIKE, ETC. ETC. ETC. SURVIVORS AND CAREGIVERS FEARING THE FUTURE, LOOK FOR ADVICE ON WHAT TO EXPECT. WOULDN'T BE NICE IF THERE WERE 1 POST TO COVER IT ALL
"WELCOME TO THE RECOVERY NETWORK. THE STROKE YOU HAD IS MUCH LIKE THE FLU AND WILL PASS IN ABOUT 2 WEEKS. IF
WELL, I JUST GOT NOTIFIED THAT MY 50TH HIGH SCHOOL REUNION IS IN TWO YEARS. I WENT TO MY TWENTY FIFTH, AND HALF THE PEOPLE THERE SEEMED OLD THEN. MY WIFE GRADUATED ONE YEAR BEHIND ME, SO WE KNOW MANY OF THE SAME PEOPLE. IT SHOULD BE AN EXPERIENCE.
I HAVEN'T BEEN BACK TO MY HOMETOWN, UTICA, NEW YORK, IN 12 YEARS. IT'S SORTA DEPRESSED THERE AND MOST EVERYBODY WE KNEW MOVED AWAY. SO, I'VE GOT 2 YEARS TO GET MY LEFT KNEE BENDING MORE SO I CAN DANCE?
50 YEARS! WHERE DID THE TIME GO?
MA
WHEW. IT'S OVER! WENT TO MY DAUGHTER'S HOUSE FOR THE WEEKEND. HER HUSBAND WAS IN CALIFORNIA, SO WE DECIDED TO SPEND THE NIGHT. (NOT BECAUSE WE DON'T LIKE HIM). HAD A TIME GREAT WITH THE GRANDKIDS (2 & 6) AND THE FOOD WAS WONDERFUL.
THERE IS NOW A 3 MONTH OLD COCKER SPANIEL AS PART OF THE FAMILY. HE LOVES ME, SO GUESS WHO HE STAYED WITH MOST OF THE TIME? YUP, ME.
THE SOFA BED ISN'T THE EASIEST THING FOR ME TO SLEEP ON, SO I SLEPT FROM 11-2, 3-4:30, AND THAT'S IT. THE DOG HAD DIAHRREA,
MY FATHER-IN-LAW AND MOTHER-IN-LAW ARE 92 AND 90, LIVE IN ASSISTED LIVING IN FLORIDA. THEIR HEALTH IS MARGINAL AND THEY HAVE ROUND THE CLOCK HELP WITH THEM. FOR YEARS MY WIFE AND HER SISTERS (ONE IN OHIO AND ONE IN CONN.) HAVE URGED THEM TO MOVE NEAR ONE OF US. NOW MY FATHER-IN-LAW HAS COME UP WITH A BRAINSTORM. WE ALL SELL OUR HOMES, MOVE TO FLORIDA, AND BECOME THEIR FULL TIME CAREGIVERS. ME WITH MY STROKE, ONE BROTHER-IN-LAW WHO HAD A HEART ATTACK IN THE LAST YEAR, AND THE OTHER WHO IS NOT IN
WELL, IT SEEMS MY IDIOT NEIGHBOR WENT TO THE TOWN MEETING LAST NIGHT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE HEIGHT OF MY DECORATIVE FENCE. I RECEIVED A CALL FROM SOMEONE WHO WAS AT THE MEETING, SO I CALLED THE POLICE CHIEF TO FIND OUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED. MY WIFE WON'T LET ME WATCH THE TAPED REPLAY OF THE MEETING ON LOCAL TV.
HE CAME OVER AND IT SEEMS I'M ONE HALF INCH HIGHER THAN THE THREE AND ONE HALF INCHES ALLOWED. BUT I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT THIS INFRACTION. THIS TOWN IS A CESSPOOL OF IGNORED ORDINANCES
GEEZ, THIS WAS A MIXED DAY ON THE POSITIVE SCALE. FIRST I WENT TO A NEW NEUROLOGIST (SEE POST IN "SURVIVOR STROKE SUPPORT" ON MESSAGE BOARD UNDER "SLEEP ALERT" ).FORMS, FORMS AND MORE FORMS. THEN I DROPPED THE CAR OFF FOR NEW TIRES. WHILE IT WAS BEING WORKED ON, MY WIFE AND I WENT TO LUNCH WITH SOME PEOPLE I WORKED WITH YEARS AGO. LOTS OF FUN.
AT LUNCH, I FOUND OUT ONE OF THE GROUP WHO HAD MOVED TO NASHVILLE, TENN. SUFFERED A STROKE RECENTLY. SO TOMORROW I CALL HIM. THEN I FOUND OUT MY EX-P
I WAS GOING TO DO A FAKE BLOG, BUT MY WIFE DOES THEM ONCE IN A WHILE. (I'M SO OLD, IS THAT WHAT THEY ARE CALLED?).
ENOUGH OF THAT. I'M GOING TO TRY A NEW NEUROLOGIST TOMORROW (ONE WITH A BRAIN I HOPE).I HAD TO PICK UP FILMS AND RECORDS FROM THE HOSPITAL, SO WHILE I WAS THERE, I WENT TO THE SECOND FLOOR WHERE I SPENT THE FIRST WEEK AFTER THE STROKE. SAID HELLO TO ALL THE NURSES WHO GAVE ME THE BEST OF CARE. THEN I WENT TO 4TH FLOOR REHAB WHERE I SPENT THE NEXT THREE WEEKS. BIG HUGS FROM T
WELL TODAY WAS A PEACH. FIRST THING THIS MORNING, I WATCHED MY NEIGHBOR STRUGGLE CUTTING DOWN THAT PORTION OF MY TREE THAT FELL ON HIS PROPERTY. DID MY HEART GOOD.
MY WIFE DECIDED SHE WANTED TO GO TO SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN FOR THE DAY. SO WE FIRST HEADED TO SOUTH HAVEN. THERE WE HAD A NICE LUNCH, VISITED SOME OF THE STORES, AND WALKED TO LAKE MICHIGAN WHERE WE WATCHED THE GOINGS ON. AFTER A WHILE, WE HEADED TO SAUGATUCK, WHERE THE SIDEWALKS WERE WALL TO WALL PEOPLE.
WE CHECKED THE STORES O
OK, JEAN, I'M BOGGING AS PROMISED. I DON'T FEEL LIKE WRITING ANY STROKE RELATED MATERIAL, SO I THOUGHT MAYBE SOME OF YOU HAVE IDIOTS LIVING NEAR YOU.
WE MOVED IN THIS HOUSE SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS AGO, MAINLY BECAUSE IT WAS IN THE WOODS AND NEAR LAKE MICHIGAN. WE NOTICED OUR NEIGHBOR LIKED TO CUT DOWN TREES AND CLEAR SURROUNDING AREAS THAT DIDN'T BELONG TO HIM. SO AT A TAX SALE, I BOUGHT THE ADJACENT TREED LOTS TO PRESERVE THE NATURAL BEAUTY. SO BEGAN LIFE WITH MY REDNECK NEIGHBOR.
HE I
