A new story - a new beginning

[Bobbi]

Borrowed from my Blog:
Bobbi's Blog – Medium

Working through those first days the answers didn’t come in an instant.
It took a little while to be able to properly address the challenge.
Questions still remain to tempt me onward.

When I was disabled by a stroke, after two months in hospital, I started to write on this forum hosted by the Stroke Association. I began to find friends and a direction as I shared my experience.

Stroke is something that arrives with little warning. It is not something one is prepared for. It isolates and separates. It creates difficulties. It is all questions with little in the way of satisfying answers.

One spends valuable time finding a way through what it throws up but eventually one begins to get a hold on one’s life again.
The experience is worth sharing. Those recently affected can make use of it as they themselves struggle to find a way forward. That fellow feeling and peer support is what I hope I am pointing towards in my writing.

All those affected by stroke want to know how to deal with things. That is not just those who suffered the brain damage but also partners, family, friends, work colleagues, the medical profession, carers, politicians and the general public.

Who better to describe the miserable, traumatic, life wrecking, destructive event than one who is actually going through it all?
I hasten to add I am not living in misery. Life has its ups and downs, I enjoy a little fun. There is a tomorrow and there is good reason to want to be there.

I have something to say and will try to share it as best as I am able.

~oOo~

I wrote the piece above as part of a writing project in my blog on Medium

Maybe you fancy trying it too?
It is available now also it is free and open to all.
Writing helps me, maybe it can help you?

About Just Start Writing – Medium

Read about the Word Clouds which I used to create the graphics on this page here:

Free online word cloud generator and tag cloud creator

Time for tea . . .

Join me with a cuppa?

Stroke Guy - not a pretty sight - runs out of words

intro

You might like to take a look at my recently created & rough around the edges video channel and Vlog here :
https://www.youtube.com/@keeponkeepinon-4eva

Sign up below to join the writing challenge.

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but don’t forget to bookmark our online community here at the Stroke Association- it is a valuable resource. Always ready and a good place to run to when the need arises.

[Bobbi]

Here’s some more of my word art creations.
Click on each one to see the whole image.

keep on keepin on

[ManjiB]

Good stuff Bobbi.
Very creative.

Your YouTube channel is a hoot - you’ve done really well as I am now being recommended your short videos by YouTube
Yesterday I watched you trying to get up unaided and then driving down the motorway. Hilary’s commentary is very funny as always

[EmeraldEyes]

Just watched your video and that was near perfect process Bobbi and you are well on your way to perfecting being able to get and get yourself back up again

You certainly gave your muscles quite the workout there
One big tip which will help you out is the 1 minute rest period between positions/manoeuvres for muscle recovery, you will feel the benefit of that. I’ve certainly had enough experience with the difference between doing 10 reps with a 30 second break between and 10 reps with a 1 minute break between each set

The way we were taught at Age UK is to stand up and face your chair or bed.
Place both hands on the chair and take a few steps back.
Go down one your knees, one knee at a time with your hands supporting you on the chair.
Walk backwards on your knees until you can bring your hand/s comfortably to floor.
From being on your hand/s and knees its much easier to crawl backwards/forwards into a more roomier position to lower yourself prone onto the floor.
Lower your hip first, then down onto your elbow and from there you’ll find it much easier to lower yourself prone to the floor.

Once on the floor, do give yourself a full minute’s rest before you reverse the process to get back up again. It’s not a race remember!
And the rest is not for you, it’s for your muscles!
So to get back up from the prone position, role onto your side again.
Bring yourself up onto your elbow first, then your hand so you’re sitting on one hip.
From there you can role onto your hand/s and knees
Once there you can crawl back to the chair/bed then use your hands to help lever yourself back up.

When I watched you try to slide from the chair onto your butt didn’t you here me shouting “Noooo, stand up and turn around first” . . . my hubby heard me
But I loved seeing you continually engaging your stroke arm in all your effort. Keep it up

Lorraine

[Bobbi]

@ManjiB

I’m glad you enjoyed my channel, it was fun to make, though I’m only a learner and have far to go. It keeps me busy and I’ve always enjoyed exploring new territory.
Of course I didn’t anticipate navigating Stroke World. but that is a different story.

@EmeraldEyes

Thanks Lorraine, I’ll give your advice a go. As you say I should get there in the end.

To be honest just getting down on the floor and the absolute dread that it entails is my first hurdle.
Once on the floor, I might not be showing it but I’m in total panic, I just can’t think what I should be doing next.

My theory is that if I keep confronting the fear it will settle down and I’ll begin to make a better job of the whole thing.

Between you and me I think while in hospital they concentrated more on stopping one falling. A floor with soft mats and actively encouraging you to fall and recover from it would be a far better path to take in my opinion. Also in my opinion we have become far too risk averse and as a result can make no progress.

That is how babies learn to balance and how to take their first steps. We who have encountered stroke have to learn lessons all over again. It is a hard task with an adult body and mature intellect but likely quite possible. (he says hopefully)

Thank you again, I appreciate the diplomatic encouragement and support. As I find my way I appreciate the sign posts and the tracks laid out by others.

(That video has taken off with more than 10k views already, quite remarkable!!
It is more a demonstration that it isn’t so easy rather than a route to success.)

keep on keepin on

[EmeraldEyes]

@Bobbi

To be honest just getting down on the floor and the absolute dread that it entails is my first hurdle.
Once on the floor, I might not be showing it but I’m in total panic, I just can’t think what I should be doing next.

My theory is that if I keep confronting the fear it will settle down and I’ll begin to make a better job of the whole thing.

Bobbi, I could hear the level of your anxiety and stress just in your breathing, but you did it! And that’s what’s important! You’ve now done it once or twice, and you now know you can do it! The stress of it will get a lot easier as you continue to do it and refine the process of how you go about it. You were absolutely marvellous, you should be proud of your achievement it is a very courageous thing to attempt and you did it! And I’m sure @HHilary is both proud and relieved too…that she’s not going to have to call the paramedics to come out and get you up so she doesn’t have to

By taking those 1 minute rest periods also gives you time to catch your breath and calm yourself down a little. Your breathing speeds up as your anxiety increases, it also speeds with the exertions of it. So by taking that rest period you can get both breathing and anxiety back under control. And by giving your muscles that time to recover improves your confidence in yourself and your muscles recovered enough to complete the task thus reduce the anxiety and stress to null.

Keep on keeping on Bobbi

Lorraine

[Bobbi]

@EmeraldEyes

There will be more. I’m sure there will be more. I’ll be posting about my progress again no doubt.
I’m not alone on this journey and it is good to know that. My progress has been slow but I feel it’s not over yet.
I’ve met folks who have been living this life for many more years than I. They continue to have successes showing me that there is a direction to move in and good reason to make the effort.

I appreciate and am beginning to follow the useful and relevant advice you have given.
Thanks, Lorraine.

[EmeraldEyes]

I keep forgetting the most important point that impressed me in your video, so I’m making point now while it’s still in my head.
You have very good core strength still in you for an 80yr old! To go lying to sitting the way you did, your abs are clearly working

Keep that up and you’ll soon be impressing @HHilary with your six pack

Lorraine

[Mich-mm]

Well if you do join insta my username is michelledmathews

[Bobbi]

@Mich-mm

being an old luddite who frowned at the new digital world I have to acknowledge having been dragged in, screaming but intrigued.

Looks like I’ll have to discover Instagram for myself, late to the party as always. Thanks for giving me the push that means I gotta go explore something else.

Creativity and expression is my life blood.

[Mich-mm]

That video was so inspiring @bobi thank you so much for sharing, you’ve reminded me that I can do this and overcome adversity❣️

[Bobbi]

@Mich-mm

I know there will be ups and downs, it’s all part of the story but your efforts will take you forward and you know it.

Share your story it will help others, we can cast a little light where there is darkness.