Willis

😴  💤  ✌️

On 4/15/2021 at 12:28 PM, ksmith said:

Yes, I quit right after my stroke and they say ex smokers are the worst. But I can admit EVERY once in a while, I don't mind the smell of a menthol. Crazy.. I'd never smoke again though. 12 +  cold turkey as they say. I'm not sure if a doctor or nurse or a mental  Hallucination  but I was told if I smoke again I'll die.  So.. stopped for I was sacred to die....

It took me a while but I did finally quit in the mid 80's. April quit a few years before when we agreed we would. I cut way down but still was cheating some. I worked an hour away at a major university in Detroit and my boss smoked Kool Milds, My brand and he was always willing to share. I probably was smoking 3 or 4 a day total back then. What I learned about situations triggering my craving and addiction was interesting to me. When I was making that 50 mile commute as I got closer to work smoking a coffin nail would pop into my mind and a stop in to see the boss and "borrow" a smoke was almost automatic. How ever as I would return home after work smoking never entered my mind. Now days how does anyone justify that habit? You would think the price would inspire a person alone but somes addictions are stronger and harder to break. I really do get that.

Well right not a prescribed cure per se but that is really nice that you don't have to deal with that along with our daily challenges. Years ago a friend of mine had them and it was tough for her not knowing when the next was coming. She had the seems to be more common light sensibility migraines.

Wouldn't a little healing be wonderful heathber? So hard to say though. We have those days when we can't believe how good we are doing and then bam the tank is totally empty an hour later. Kelli the smoke smell would bother me. It has been years since I quit. The best is when we do go out to eat we don't ever smell it. Early on when I 1st came home my sister in law was sitting me while April was at work. Her husband burned a bagel in the toaster because she said he likes them that way. That was the worst ever. I thought I was going to be sick for sure.

That darn Leprechaun itch I call it. Mine jumps around on my face, left side. Ear, nostril, eye, ear again, neck, cheek. The arm, leg and torso at other or the same time. So I'm wondering as when you have a cast on the limb itches as the bone heals, it this a slight healing possibly.

Absolutely. When I being wheeled down the hall to get a brain scan about a half hour after I stroked I had the most delicious smell of a fresh peeled orange. When I was in ICU, rehab and then 1st came home about 5 weeks post stroke I could barely get my fill of oranges, There were other odors over time that have come and gone but that one stands out.

14 hours ago, ksmith said:

 Missy  invited me to speak at the service but I was so tired , I don’t do well with social situations because of my aphasia and I would’ve just broke down. But she knows and everyone knows the greatness that came from the Strokenetwork

I was going to comment on you having the energy to even attend. Not ever easy for us,

2 hours ago, ksmith said:

I attended the Thursday afternoon service and was surrounded by his family and heard how wonderful he truly was.  So many of them came from his daughters, this day was a private service for family but I attended for my work schedule didn't allow for the public service. The stories that were shared only emphasized the man that Steve was. A joker, never in malice, always were the best stories shared and garnered the loudest and full-belly laughs. Listening to his daughters speak of life before and after his stroke you were reminded that life didn't change. I mean , of course, what and how they did changed but they 'were able to make new memories'. That phrase was shared many times throughout the service and just echoed the purpose of "The Stroke Network" to remind all of us that we shouldn't allow stroke define us but we define our own lives. For all who don't know about Steve, his stroke left him  quadriplegic and able to speak. Through speech therapy, he was able to speak but barely. His family , his wife Missy, would listen and say what he said.  He truly lived the Stroke Network's mission statement and one story that touched me regarding why this site is important. 

  His daughter shared that one day, shortly after his own stroke,  someone rang his house with 'a British accent' ( she was 9 then) asking if this was America. She abruptly hung up and this gentleman called back and asked to speak to Mr. Mallory. She explained he was not there and this gentlemen wanted to call to thank Steve for he communicated with his gentleman after this " Chap", as she said, to thank him for after the chap's stroke , Steve talked him out of committing suicide. 

   This was a common story that was shared between family and friends was how Steve and when Missy, his wife, met in 10th grade of High school . She shared a story of when he was learning how to communicate she would have to hold a 'sigh word board' and she would have to follow his eyes to form the words to speak. The bottom line was he truly devoted his life and love for helping others. His legacy will always be felt in the website and the  ' Silver Wolf' will be he heard every time a person is given support and compassion  for I can say personally, he helped me , in chats, to get me out of a bad place after my stroke  because when you look at me don't think stroke and having to explain it and accept my truth.   A gentleman who was not able to do a lot did the greatest gift to the world. His daughter said, " My daddy said he could lift the world and I truly believe he did."

Thank you for your report Kelli. I honestly feel like I was there sharing. Most humans (myself included) can only dream they might have the strength inside of them that Steve did. I'm slightly inconvenienced with my left side remaining numb but to carry on the way he did with the more than slightly overwhelming challenges he had as a quadriplegic, I think I would fail miserably. Like everyone I don't know for sure what if anything is waiting for us after this but my belief there is something. Is it reincarnation?,the traditional image of afterlife? I like thinking and believing that when humans like Steve take their last breath that there is a wonderful reward waiting for them. Some say afterlife is how people remember you after you are gone. There have been many nice thoughts here for sure. That is so cool you were able to attend. 

5 hours ago, GreenQueen said:

Willis I hope you know I'm joking with you?

Aussie sense of humour!!

So glad you have your bike and it helps!!

💚👑

For sure I knew you were joking. Green Queen know this about Willis: many cannot handle my refusal to take life serious so unless I run into another like me I'm usually left to my own silliness. Which is cool. Love your attitude my Aussie friend!

That is so heartbreaking. So much we have all come to gain from this group. Extra special place up there for this great human please.

11 hours ago, GreenQueen said:

Dave I really don't have any answers regarding exercises or therapy. 

 

I can tell you my balance gets worse as the day progresses due to fatigue.   I have learned the hard way not to overdo it when tired.

All the best with therapy options.

 

Willis you are rubbing it in with your bike use! I'm terrible.  Haven't used mine for a few weeks, I've got a chest infection. I cough slightly and people glare and run for miles!! No community transmission here, we all know that day will come though.  

I honestly do hesitate to mention the bike because I know that I can safely use it and it has done so much for me. That said I fully understand many are not so lucky and God knows the last thing I ever want to do is make someone feel down. We are good at handling that all by ourselves. Absolutely shouldn't be anywhere near that bike. Get this respiratory issue behind you and then I have a thought for how we can ease you into falling in love with your bike. My daughter has suffered from IBS for years and has had great success finally with a holistic doctor. The antibiotics made it worse and were eating her stomach.

Hi neighbor. I'm about an hour down 69 east of Flint. Balance for me was an issue at 1st but improved. I hope that doesn't change but nothing is for sure. There still is always a chance of falling when I'm upright and standing and I try to remember that as I have gone down a couple times. Before my stroke 6 years ago I was still ice skating as I had done most of my life and feel that my be beneficial to balance some now. The only true exercise I get now is from a stationary recumbent bike I try to ride daily and that is likely helping some too.

I (like Becky) was wondering how things have been progressing with you. I honestly read your entries often at 1st and knew you were giving 100 and 50 percent and getting no where. I thought oh brother this doesn't sound like it is going to be possible at times for you. I'm so glad to hear that in spite of the pain you are going to move on and have a life. You never asked for this situation and did all you could like us here to change it to no avail. Good luck LG! ONWARD! 

How very exciting Allan!  Not only for you but for all of us are along for the ride with you too.

Prayers for you, the medical team and complete success. We can't wait to hear details about everything you experience.

Sincerely Willis  

On 11/4/2020 at 2:56 PM, will2 said:

Wil, there is such great value and wisdom on this site, I've recommended and linked this site to many folks on other boards that have stroked or TBI's. This thread is not much different than so many others posted here, such great advice and experiences coming from those who live these conditions, and ways of bettering themselves. It's a single most pivotal point made that "I'm not alone" to me that makes the difference. Thank you all, and thank you Alan for the topic.

Amen to that!

Right you are wil. If the stroke or our health won't allow certain things it's pretty much carved in stone. Then I think we all get that feeling "Is this going to hurt me somehow?" I even get it sometimes when I'm riding and it's extra hard to do.

Well this is something I didn't know was so common. Seems like the references have been to the left side. The side almost affected by a brain bleed stroke. That was me but other than the stiff muscle in the palm of my left hand that is it five and a half years later.  Never any shaking. I do ride a stationary recumbent religiously and over the stroke years have reached 3.6 miles a day and rode a total of 79 miles in 22 days of riding in October. So maybe keeping the left leg engaged that much helps some. The biggest thing in my life this October is I no longer take any BP meds or anything pharmaceutical. As far as shaking goes Parkinson's runs in this family. My late father and brother both had it and my brother 10 years older than me and brother 2 years younger than me do too. For a 70 year old I'm steady enough to hold up a newspaper and read it. Fortunate for sure. Once again the plant I have been growing for almost 40 years comes through medicinally as it has in so many unexpected ways in this guys life. Parkinson's is at the top of medical uses they have found for this beautiful gift of nature from the Supreme Being. Unimproved by a laboratory scientist. Just sayin'✌️ Onward!

Welcome back!

Thanks SueC because I looked into a light box last winter and wasn't sure. Can't beat a personal review. I'll be getting one for this winter.

Still literally a priceless group.

Seemed like a good idea and simple enough request GreenQueen. Only 2 responses? Community? Wow

That is great to read. Your whole experience has been moving. I would really like to share your introduction and situation with my wife and caregiver. You faced an exceptionally tough time. I gave my wife a hard time constantly and was so mean at times it made me cry when I was alone. So see you have already helped others here. We are *beep* at the world and anyone normal at 1st for awhile because we aren't anymore. We eventually realize that if we don't put our big boy pants on and do something for ourselves no one will. 

Michigan Wil is OK!  Thank you for asking. GreenQueen I have been wanting to tell you something about riding that recumbent bike. I never and I mean never ride that thing in the morning and even mid day is rare. I usually am not mentally or physically ready to do that until later in the afternoon or very early evening.  

1 hour ago, will2 said:

Janaailene, hello and welcome to the forum. I don't post as much these days but reading your post I felt compelled to add my thoughts. Firstly, you certainly sound as the type to not go down without a fight, and yet determined to find some answers and comfort knowing that your not in this alone, and you've come to the right place. All of us share in many ways your fears and hopes of a more positive outcome mentally and emotionally, and possibly assurances. We share our experiences, for example my stroke was cause during surgery to repair a ruptured aneurysm in the left vertebral artery at 54yrs of age. Many of the resulting deficits caused by the stroke improved through rigorous rehab and continued family support. Many of us are still living with minor deficits that vary, we find inventive ways to work around those shortcomings to live more normal functioning lives. 

 

On the other hand, as in your situation the emotional, thats a tuff one to overcome. I'd guess that there's not too many of us who hasn't or still lives with the looming fears of another stroke in the future. In my case as well as many others, so much has already changed the way we live our lives, the relationships that have suffered, the jobs we had to leave behind. It's hardly conceivable of another stroke taking even more out of us. So sometimes the fear overshadows our lives, and the good in it. Those same fears drive me to seek out alternatives, different medications, alternate therapies, or seek help from our higher power. I've come to the point that at 68 now and further health complications with a heart event, my time here also may not be long for this world. So for me, I draw close to my higher power, I surrender my fears, my negative thinking, my health, everything that I haven't any control over, in addition to a lot of prayer. Honestly for me it helps to share the burdens in a positive way.

 

Sure, I'll do all that I'm humanly capable of, seeking out doctors, taking prescribed medications, limited rehab, even a therapist to share my thoughts and concerns. I'll always be hands on and involved with my personal recovery. But what I cannot control I turn those burdens over to God, and the list of burdens are long. I've also turned more of my attentions over to helping others who are having many difficulties, cancer, illnesses, injuries, accidents, emotional trauma. It just helps me in many ways to take my focus off of my difficulties. A diversion if you will. And thats not meant to minimize your own struggles, your family or emotional turmoil, I find it just opens my mind to other kinds possibilities, it's healing and good for the soul. 

 

I totally understand your fears and concerns, I will certainly add a prayer of support, strength, and a healthy long life for you today. It's part of my mission as it has worked out, a calling, and one that I found by listening to my inner voice when I finally surrendered to the fact that I've done what I can humanly do to aid in my rehab, now it's Gods turn.

Damn it my special friend, that was beautiful and so well written. You were in that "good" place when you wrote this, lol. You always capture our situations so well with your words sometimes that your comments lift many of us besides me I'm sure. Thanks buddy! God Bless.