First Post

Dear Colin

Thanks for your reply - helpful as always.

Apart from knowing mine was a right-sided ischaemic stroke which, of course, left me with left-sided paralysis, I don't know if it was any other particular kind of stroke. If it was I was never told. I wondered if the stroke could have been caused by the recent trauma to my ankle but was told it was all down to high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I was on medication for my blood pressure and a low dose statin, had regular blood tests and was assured my cholesterol was as good as it could be for someone of my age. I had regular exercise, not in a formal gym environment, but every day on the quite steep incline in my garden. My weight was fairly stable at 7.5 stone. So the stroke came as a shock for everyone.

Hope you managed to complete your shredding - such stamina. Your balance must be pretty good to achieve such tasks.

Good wishes,

Anne. xxxx

Hi Anne saw your post. Hope you are doing OK. Just wanted to say hang in there it is a strange world post stroke. I wasn't affected physically by my right side stroke in March this year but had some neck, shoulder and left ankle weakness. I use a stick for walking any distance as like you it seems scarier walking. I don't know why maybe because I have slight change in eyesight don't know about you? Also everything does seem to take twice as long if not more than before. It took me ages to take a t. Shirt off and put back on as it was inside out and the wrong way round! I felt like a toddler learning to get dressed again! And felt exhausted but I'm told that's because it's a lot of work for my brain now. Also reading which is a passion of mine now takes forever. But it all does become easier over time. I forgot its only 6 months since my stroke I think we have to be more patient. Your not alone were all in the same club now and all have similar experiences and expectations. Hope you mend well. Look after yourself. Best wishes. Bernadette. x

Hello Bernadette

Thanks for  your reply. This forum is great; everyone's so supportive. I have a pre-existing eye condition. - glaucoma, controlled by using eye drops. Before my stroke, my field test had deteriorated so my drops were changed. I had an allergic reaction to one of them (I use two different drops) so it was changed. On a recent appointment with outpatient ophthalmology, my pressures were the lowest they've ever been. The consultant said the drops are working but I wonder if, since my stroke, my blood pressure is more under control than it's ever been because of the extra medication I've been given.  I will have to return for a further appointment for a field test in about 4 months time.I've now got an opticians appointment mid October, so it will be interesting to see if my prescription's changed. I haven't noticed any deterioration.

I'm afraid I have help from my husband with all personal care, including dressing. I sometimes wonder if I'm just not trying hard enough!  It's just that I've no use at all in my left side and everything takes two hands. Funnily enough though, tops are the one thing I seem able to don myself. When in hospital, my oc, Rosie, taught me to take tops on and off in what she called the mans way. It's not easy to describe the putting on but the taking off involves putting the right hand behind the neck, grabbing the neck band and pulling it over the head, then slipping the good (right) arm out first before sliding the weak (left) arm sleeve over the arm and hand. It works for me.

With best wishes and good luck for a good recovery.

Anne. xxxx

Dear Anne

yes my small mountain of shredding was completed. So pleased with myself that i did one more part barrow load today. I will now leave pruning for later in the year.

another plus....i used to get a lot of migraines. But since stroke they are very rare, only two or three a year. Last night was one of those rarities. Today I am well under par. Not enough sleep.

i have read hundreds, even thousands of posts on the forum. Most of us are fit before stroke, so we are surprised. The truth is that only us fit people survive. 

I cope quite easily with balance. My key is to ensure that i am safe if i wobble. Step ladders and the loft come quite easily. On occasions when balance has failed, it is a frightening and horrid experience. 4+ years and i have not fallen. I am grasping for the wooden furniture.

another beautiful evening down here in rural Essex. It is several days since we had a cloud in sight. Some mist but otherwise wall to wall sunshine. A few days rain would be a welcome change.

Rosemary had arranged for a few days away in Harrow. But at ten last night she changed her mind and has stayed home. Corona is slight down here. Harrow isnt too bad. But its the bit in between that causes concern. Better safe than sorry.

will we recall how we dodged corona or will we recall how well we handled stroke. I 

think the latter.

best wishes

Colin

It's all such a struggle - we find ourselves having to cope with situations we could never have imagined.  I know that most of the time we just do the bare minimum - fortunately we're not particularly house proud, so we prioritise the best way to use our energy reserves, if it's a choice between the hoovering or a cup of coffee, you can guess which option wins!!  

I can tell you really appreciate your husband's care and he will be pleased to know that ?, spending time together is so important, very little else matters in the long run, so make sure he takes a rest when you do, then you can both re-charge your batteries.  

Take good care xx

Good evening Colin, your gardening exploits are certainly impressive.  We were planning to do some tree works at the weekend, but we decided that we just didn't feel like starting the job as we realised it would probably take us most of the day and then we'd just end up with a huge mess!!  So we'll wait for the leaves to drop and it will probably make the job somewhat easier.  We badly need rain here in Norfolk, I've given up trying to water the trees and plants, the garden is too big and I don't have the energy, so we'll wait for water from the sky!!.  I think Rosemary made the right decision, I really would shy away from public transport unless there was no other option.  It worries me when I see school buses with the children still packed in like sardines - and we wonder why we're heading towards a spike in Covid cases ?

Anyway, take good care, stay well xx

I am trying to work my way around the garden, pruning or cutting back shrubs and trees. These have all been ignored for five years so there is a lot to cut. I dont manage a shrub in a day, it has to be two or three days. And the trees more like a week. I then shred whatever shreds easily then cut up wood either to go in the log store (apple wood is lovely) or on the binfire. I am not however lighting the bonfire as it is too dry.

Ideally most pruning should wait until December but I wont manage everything so I am doing what I can/fancy.

My SF has stopped, which is unbelievable.  But I am old and there are all the "normal" medical complaints to contend with. When  stroke raged and then the heart op raged, these normal complaints seemed of no relevance, but now they take on a big significance. But trivial really.

I am trying to carefully get mobility and strength. Us humans arent designed to do this when we get past 73.

Rosemary was scared that she would be trapped in Harrow. Not sure why that would be so bad. We lived in that house for 30 years and she has our son to look after her. When she decided, at the last possible moment, to abandon her trip I did give her a lecture that this doesnt mean she can go out every day by bus or train etc. Well that lasted one day, she is now on the bus to Colchester.

We have Sainsbury delivering my order this afternoon so we should be able to survive easily enough.

This year is so very dry. Whilst other areas flooded, we got a trickle. I have a record of rainfall etc taken from my Davis weather station. Its a good game to listen to villagers telling this and that and then for me to look up and see what really happened. I do live in an odd location whereby rain clouds deflect around us. We are at the junction of a few rivers.

My compost hasnt composted. I leave it for six months, turn it then leave another six months. Well the year is up and not a lot is compost, just the bottom few inches.

So its a bit more weeding, dig up the few inches of compost and go and see my friend who runs the cat rescue. We sit outside.

My body is so much stronger, now I want my brain to catch up. 

ttfn

Colin

 

 

6 months is a long time to leave your compost. I turn mine every 2 months. Do you water it? It has  been so dry this year I have left the hose running into it a couple of times.

Janet

You are quite right. Compost can be made in 3 months if done properly. I do have a "dalek" bin for food waste, which doesnt require extra water and that composts within six months. But my two heaps get a year before use. I throw all green stuff in the compost, excluding leaves but including grass cuttings.

This year is so dry that  there isnt much compost to use. Yes i should water it, but my hose is 150 feet long and my garden is 300 feet. I dont feel fit enough to carry water that far. The water butts are empty so that options a no go.

i am impressed with you turning your compost every teo months, wow.

My strength is improving, but there is so much arrears to catch up with. And so many indoor jobs that mean less time in the garden.

Best wishes 

colin

Hello Colin

I also suffered from migraines in the past. I read on the Stroke Association website that migraines with aura are a risk factor for stroke. Between Christmas last year and my stroke on the 25th January, I had two migraines, just the aura without the headache that usually follows. I read online a few days ago that these are called occular migraines. I've never had them like that before. When I was young, I didn't take any medication for them because I always vomited anyway. However, the sickness eventually stopped and I discovered migraleve which really worked. For the last year or so chemists have been having difficulty getting hold of them, so I resorted to paracetamol.

Hope you've recovered from your latest attack.

We really have had some lovely weather so far this month. It's due to break according to the forecast. I hope that's not due to your talk of cloud and rain!

Regards,

Anne. xxx

Dear Anne

yes, i am to blame for willing rain to descend. Probably will descend over most of the country, except here.

i dont know what aura means in relation to migraine. If it is the flashing lights, then i am familiar.

i find aspirin the best antidote for routine migraine. The migraine  no longer terrorize me. And the one i had recently has gone. It did disturb my sleep pattern, but thats all.

best wishes

Colin

 

Dear Nic

Such wise words in your reply. Negative events in our lives usually have a positive side and my stroke has been no exception.  It really does bring home what's important and there's nothing in the world more important than family and being together as much as  possible. Our daughter lives in London and because of the COVID situation  nationally and the local restrictions in Greater Manchester, it's looking unlikely we're going to be able to see them for some considerable time.  She's very upset naturally but would never in any event break the rules. So half term and Christmas will come and go and we're all just going to have to be patient.

Hope you're both doing well,

best wises

Anne. xxx

Hello Colin

Yes, flashing lights are one of the symptoms included in the description of aura. My migraines usually start with blind spots, a bit as though I've looked at the sun and then shifted my gaze to an object in the room, say the clock, and half the face is missing. This is usually followed by flickering, zig-zag lines which slowly travel across my vision until they disappear off to one side. That stage usually lasts about half an hour, at which time the headache starts. These visual disturbances are what have always defined a migraine for me and what I have found the worst part of it. I'm thankful not to have had one since before my stroke - let's hope I haven't spoken too soon!

It's still drizzling here.

keep well,

Anne. xxx

So no migraine since stroke. I hope you are relieved of migraine, much like me. I dont get the zig zags. Just circles flashing. My Mum talked about zig zags.

We had a very rare event today. It rained. Not a lot at 5mm but enough to just about water the garden. I reckon 10mm to thoroughly water the garden. And we need three days of it to start to catch up.

Sooty has been very keen to come indoors and has spent much of the day on my lap or Rosemarys lap. We do adore him And spoil him rotten. 

ttfn

Colin

 

Hi Colin

Congratulations on the rain. It's drizzled here all day and now, this evening, it's raining more heavily. 
Our daughter just rang to say her 10-year old and 8-year old, have coincidentally both been sent home from school today. One because a person in their group has tested positive for COVID 19 and the other is a suspected case. So they both have to isolate for 14 days.

I'm sure the whole COVID situation could have been handled better.

 Best wishes,

Anne. xxx