heathber

Glad to hear that your Dad's chances are good Tracy. But now I'm trying not to think about fries (chips) too I'm a vinegar or tomato sauce girl when it comes to chip dressing though.

Fingers crossed for you as often as I can spare them!

That is hard news Tracy. But there's nothing you can do to change the diagnosis so you are right to let them handle it how they feel is best and just be ready to support your Dad and Stepmom as needed. Hopefully they've found it early enough that it can be successfully treated.  Try not to worry too much.

Hugs

-Heather

Absolutely Asha! Forms are the worst even without deficits. Congratulations I hope it means you can have that vacation.

Ty, you have us in your life.  late night ranting is not so bad.

and yes it "doesn't matter" but one of the side effects of posting here is that we tend to pass on what works for each of us.  Feel free to take or ignore advice given. but when someone is hurting they need a response, and will usually get one here.

virtual hugs from the other side of the world

Look after yourself.

-Heather

I get that binge watching thing, it plays havoc with your sleep patterns which does not help with getting a routine going or controlling a depressive trend.  Also knowing that exercise will help with fighting off the depression and improve your sleep is not always enough to make you change the pattern.

I'm in a process of breaking a late sleeping habit I fell into after surgery/anesthetic. I find setting a repeat alarm on my phone helps. it goes off at 10pm and again every 15 minutes until 11 pm, it's not a loud or long alarm and if I'm already in bed it's not enough to fully wake me.  but it is helping to keep me on track.

Do try to get back to your exercises and find a way to make them fun.  How you do that depends on the area you are trying to work and where/what your deficits are. Consider kicking a ball or setting yourself an obstacle course. If you are going to watch TV do some sit to stands every time an advert comes on.

If you don't meet your expectations for yourself don't beat yourself up about it, past is past make yourself a new plan and move forward, even if it is minute by minute. Minutes add up to hours and hours add up to days,...

you can do this but it won't fix itself.

it must be so hard that your family just don't get it. Maybe it's because so many people in my family have had "invisible" chronic health issues like migraine, anxiety, depression, etc. I'm not saying we all "get it" to the same degree or even don't resent it when something goes wrong for one of us and a planned event just isn't going to include someone.  But we all accept that "invisible" things get in the way occasionally, and sometimes someone will head off for a "nap" in the middle of an event.  I can't really imagine what not having that must be like.

Congratulations on surviving the party, and congratulations on the new "niece".

A heart literally all of a flutter over something. my goodness, but not being able to exercise sucks. I had that when my liver was sick. "don't do anything that raises a sweat" your body can't cope with the toxins at the moment.  Take it easy for now, 6 weeks is manageable.

That sounds uncomfortable and sort of scary, good to hear they can do something and it's only day surgery. Fingers etc. crossed. I'm not a coffee person but I've spent enough time with people who are to understand the need to enjoy your coffee again.

yep self massage on the leg is very hard. Have you done the pillow under the foot of the bed trick?  That was one the physio recommended when I had fluid build up around my ankle after surgery.  You put a pillow or cushion under the corners of the mattress at the foot of the bed. It lifts the foot of the bed relative to the head by a few centimeters only, almost unnoticeable when you lie in the bed, but it's enough to mean the fluid drains out of the leg each night.  It made a huge difference for me.

lymphatic draining massage certainly helps my immobile arm. when massaging a lympheadema affected limb work towards the heart. It doesn't stop the fluid coming back of course.

Yep what everyone already told you and you already know in your heart. This was a "little" thing to them but it hurt you big time. And when we are hurt we react. The main thing is you were able to put it aside and be rational after the fact which helps a bit.  Hang in there and remember "this too shall pass".

Tracy you could/would do it again if you decided it was necessary. Hot weather certainly doesn't help, neither does cold. There's no pleasing some of us . Here, we are just getting to the coldest part of the year. Winter solstice is only a week away. In the last week the cold has finally hit. Not that it's what you would call cold we only get snow in exceptional winters. But in the last week the wind has turned bitter, and cuts right through you. So far not much rain, which is a problem for the farmers, many of this years crops have been dry sown and everyone is crossing their fingers the rain comes before the seeds and soil blow away.  Fingers crossed we do get some real rain so that the dams fill up for next summer,

It sounds like you are just about ready to kick yourself in the ass and decide to make a change. It's not easy to do and there's not much point until you are ready to do it.  Remember start small and make a little change each day, and find ways to reward "good behaviour".  Maybe use that expansive driveway to practice your walking and build your confidence.  1 lap of the driveway allows you 15 minutes on the verandah doing nothing. and then build it up a little each day as you feel up to it.  The more exercise you do the easier it becomes and the better your mood will be, both because you are actually moving and because you are taking charge again.  Also if you can get yourself moving again the insomnia should be less of an issue.

Hoping you can find the mental strength to make the changes that are necessary for getting on with life after it's kicked you in the guts.

-Heather

Hang in there Tracy it is actually getting better, even though some days are still too much. Fingers crossed for your Dad both for quitting the smokes and the biopsy.

Oh Dear I've heard it does this to some people! I have the opposite problem. nearly 8 years post and I'll still sleep 14 hours a day if I don't stop myself.  I used to be a morning person now I'm doing well if I'm up and about before 10am.

Try not to worry about it (both the sleep and the appointment). I know easier said than done but try.

So good that you chose to laugh. We've all been there. You feel like a real duffer when it happens but as you say there's no point getting mad that just makes a hard day harder.

I love the sound of that polish. I haven't had polish on my nails since my stroke. With how my left hand sits (fingers curled in) getting it on is too tricky and getting it to dry without major smudging impossible. I make do with a simple buff after the salon cuts and files my nails.

The nasal rinse will help to unblock the entrance to the facial sinuses but if you can't do that eucalyptus and/or menthol oil  in hot water under a towel so you breath in the scented steam is worth a try.

I hope you enjoy your pamper session.

The salt water up the nose certainly helps me! either from the atomiser/spray pump or using the pot/squeezie bottle. you can buy the squeeze bottles from the chemist here, you fill them with warm normal saline solution. it's messy but it really does help.

https://melbentgroup.com.au/nasal-irrigation/

I hope you are feeling better soon.

Hang in there Pam. We can't always be nice especially when someone pushes our buttons.  Sometimes all you can do is appologise afterwards. Saying "sorry I lost my temper, but what you said hurt too"  can be helpful in both mending bridges and asking people to see your side as well.  Even in ordinary hospital where you know you are only there short term there are some nurses/carers who don't see you as a person, I'm sure that happens even more in a long term care environment.  Just because we had a stroke does not automatically mean we also lost all our marbles, but so many nurses and care staff can't seem to get past that stereotype.

Hugs and try not to let the turkeys get you down.

If the AFO is causing pain then he won't "trust" the leg to hold him and is probably not putting any weight through it so then it buckles as he's subconsciously not turning on the muscles. His body is probably trying to limp, but he doesn't have the control to do so.  A PT assessment and/or an orthotist review are needed. Good luck with getting the Home to do what is needed.

Fingers crossed you get off the merry-go-round soon. Keep your chin up

Virtual Hugs

-Heather

So many times they need more information and they say no rather than explaining what the problem is.  At least you got some response.  I had a request for funding for special controls in my car that sat at the disability support office for over 6 months because 1 piece of information was missing and they didn't bother to let me or the OT who did the application for me know.  It was only when I asked what's happening that we found out. I hadn't pushed before as I'd been told it takes 6 months for you to get to the top of the queue for funding. Luckily once we found out and the missing info was provided my OT was able to get them to recognise the wait time already done so I went pretty much to the top of the queue. And my new car controls are wonderful!

Fingers crossed this all gets sorted out for you soon.  How about a photo with your new hair cut?  You won't know yourself if you've had it long for a long time.

Precisely Jay, although my walking is now getting more automatic, I spent years thinking lift, bend, weight shift and I still have to revert to that if I'm tired.

That does make it tricky in the short term, hopefully the scar site will  get less irritable over time although if the nerves are doing silly things that's going to take a long time.  On the bright side winter is here now so beach time will be limited for the next 8 months at least.