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oh heck is'n life grand


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My stroke affected my memory like many others but with me it was mostly my short term which drives me nuts sometimes. I mean I can remember things that happened to me thirty years ago but sometimes can

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Clark,

You may be poorer but you are definitely wiser. I know the feeling of explaining why you have a problem. I hate having to do that. I just say I had a stroke and don't give any more answers or information. Period. Let them think what they will. And next time someone says something to me about not working, I am ready to smile big and wide and whisper I am independently wealthy...... I've been ready for that one for months and I haven't gotten to use it yet.

Clark, you have a sense of humor-- use it! My new outlook is life is a beach, it is here for my pleasure and to make me happy. I heard all those collective sucked in breaths....... no, I'm not turning into a self centered moron, I'm just having a ball right now, looking for strawberries that are out of season, and a glass or two of wine. Don't you have any vacation time coming? You can come visit..... You drive right? (got my priorities you know) We can sit and drink Sangria and eat crackers and cheese and pepperoni and talk till we're hoarse. Have another glass of wine. Or we can go down to the river and watch the trains and boats go by, with the Catskill mountians in the background. We can get chinese take out to eat too. It could be lots of fun, taking some time out from real life and responsibility. Think about it... then life would be grand!

Pam

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Guest lwisman

Posted

I find one interesting statistic to quote when people get that "so sorry" look or the "you must have not taken care of yourself" look is:

 

30% of strokes happen in people under 65.

 

That gets their attention. And sometimes makes them think.

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Clark

 

my stroke left me with post-stroke depression as a permanent sequelae. i had 'issues' before the stroke, a lot of them related to having an undiagnosed autoimmune disease(s), but i really did not have a clinical 'biological' depression until after i stroked. fortunately, this depression is the only major sequelae that i can link directly to my stroke (the fatigue probably comes from a combination of my stroke and my autoimmune diseases, and most people would not think that, given my schedule, i am fatigued, though i could stay up longer without feeling tired 15 yrs ago). i don't know how i would feel if i had this depression as well as other permanent sequelae, as you do.

 

after several trials of medication and therapy, i have found that a combination of antidepressant meds, psychotherapy, a 12-step support group (Al-Anon), and this network seems to work for me. being able to work and living with a husband who has had a TBI with major sequelae and having a dad close by that is lucid, aphasic, paralyzed, incontinent, and on a permanent peg (feeding tube) at home after two major strokes has made me feel extremely grateful for my situation.

 

is there a neuropsychiatrist in your area who you can see in consultation to reevalaute your treatment and meds? if there is not one in your area (i know you live in Utah), if you ever come to NY i can recommend a great neuropsychiatrist who is currently treating my husband. (i would see him myself, but we cannot afford his fees times two at this point, so i just bought his textbook, read it, and made some changes in my regimen, which is hard to do if you're not a shrink.)

 

sandy cloud9.gif

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