Hi Tina, congrates to your children graduating! Yes, they are getting older, time does not stand still.

So you feel that you have plateaued in O.T. Tina you have been doing it for nine months, I know it seems a long time but in "stroke world", it is a short time. I understand about been a realist, and you want to think about other things then strokes and therapy. But please keep up the work at home, do then in the morning, and late in the evening.

I left the hosptial, no therapy care for home, just what the hosptial therapies show me, I was on my own. My right side was not working, and I only got a quad cane when my husband asked our doctor. He told my husband I should be alright after six months! Not, he was a fool! So after a good talking from my 85year old father, and I was tired of my lack of progress, I began to move more, doing what I learned at the hospital, I was slow and steady. I began to feel after a couple of months that the cane was enableing me. So the first time I moved without my cane, I was a baby taking my first steps! The joy was great,, and I was tired! Every day I moved and each day I went farther, and father. Now after two years, I walk 2-3 miles a day! I feel like a gladiator!

Wishing you all the best! Hope you enjoyed the fair and got your elephant ear!

Yvonne

I've found over the last three years, it's good to occasionally take a break from therapy, especially when the weather is nice and you can get out and do things on your own. That is therapy too! You only have so many sessions per year anyway, so why use it up all at once? Save it for when it turns dreary outside again and you're stuck inside anyway, nothing wrong with that.

Tina :

stroke recovery begins once you come home, BTW for me walking was very important since I did not want burden on my husband who has to push me around in wheelchair , load unload & whole nine yard. twe bought treadmill fir our home & it was best exercise equipment we invested money in, initially I could only walk at 1.2mph for few minutes, but I had whole day to me so I made exercise part of my routine. Today I walk on treadmill 3 hours ofcourse in short interval of 5-10 minutes while watching my morning shows since I am up since 6 am doing my mothers job. I always felt more you can do for yourself its less of hassle for your loved ones, and being able to walk unassisted was biggest blessing of our life.

Asha

Thanks Yvonne, Stingray and Asha! All of you are absolutely right! I plan on keep moving at home--not giving up at all. I know the farther you go post stroke the progression is a lot slower. I like Stingray's suggestion about not using it up all at once. I am on state insurance, so I don't know how that works. I know it has been more than fair and it has paid for a lot. Most of my therapists say it is highly unusual for my insurance to cover so much. For that I am eternally grateful and thankful. My occupational therapist was the one telling me I was at a plateau, I started asking