GeorgeLesley

Stroke Survivor - male
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  1. GeorgeLesley
    Well the shake down trip in the new motor home is completed. About 1100 miles and Lesley drove every inch. It was about 550 miles each way and we took two days, stopping and camping one night each way. We got 20MPG on the diesel and it has lots of power and was smooth and quiet. We love the new machine. It is a bit longer than our old one, 24ft vs 20ft for the old one, but most importantly it is the same width which makes it easy to drive in traffic. It is no wider that our truck. Lesley also hooked up the power, we just used our on board water and tanks for waste. I have a website with thousands of cheap campgrounds listed. We paid $10 each night and had electric, water and dumping station available, and the camp grounds were nearly empty.
     
    We went to a national rally of units similar in size to ours. I must brag and say ours was the star of the show. We had a steady stream of people wanting to look inside at the floor plan. Several said that if our model had been available when they bought theirs they would have bought it rather than what they bought. We plan to have a screen door added to the side sliding door and screening added to the rear doors since we live in mosquito heaven.
     
    It was most frustrating for me to be in a wheel chair whenever I was outside the motor home. I am still on a no weight bearing restriction on my right knee. I tried crutches but could not use them since they require my left stroke side leg to carry all the weight and balance. It could not do it and when I tried it ended badly. Inside the motor home a walker used sideways and hopping along on my left leg worked fine Fortunately my upper body strengthening I have done the past few years gave me enough strength in the arms to lift my body weight with the two hands on the walker. Outside I was at Lesley's mercy in the wheelchair because most of the time we were on dirt or grass. We got to reconnect with some old friends and make some new ones.
     
    I suspect the new RV will be on the road a lot in the future. Lesley is already talking about taking a girl friend on biking trails around our state and into Canada. I have my eye on some fishing holes I know where over night camping is a good idea.
     
    I go Thursday the 24th for stitch removal and evaluation with the knee surgeon. I expect a few more weeks of no weight bearing. Ugh! This is no fun.
     
    So here I sit watching the news about the tragedy in OK. I am so blessed. As hard as I try, I find I really have nothing to complain about.
     
    Well, maybe I could complain to Lesley that my coffee cup is empty.
  2. GeorgeLesley
    Well, the knee surgery went well, but the rehab got off to a rocky start. No weight bearing for a month is the problem. The way the knee feels, I know I could walk on it easily. That would destroy any new cartlege growing so I am doing what the dr ordered. I found out though that is not easy.
     
    The knee operated on is my right non-stroke side. So I am now trying to balance on the weaker, less steady left side leg. Crutches proved to be useless. I just do not have the balance to get into the rythem of using them. It was just a matter of time until I fell with them, so Lesley found me a wheel chair to borrow. Now at least I am mobile inside the house between the wheel chair and a walker. Using the walker is tiring because I have to hold the surgery leg off the floor which means I have to completely lift my body with my arms on the walker to lift and then move the left leg forward. Glad I have lost some weight lately! All the upper body strengthening I have done recently has proven useful indeed.
     
    The good news is that thanks to ice and elevation and doing the prescribed exercises religiously, the swelling is gone and I have only taken a few tyenol since the surgery for pain. I think the final recovery will be very good. The knee feels better than it has in years, and I can't wait to use it again carrying my canoe.
     
    When I got the wheel chair it was obvious we needed a temporary ramp to get up and down the two stairs to enter and exit our house. Friends, wonderful friends. I called one who is a real handyman and asked for help. He came over immediately, made some measurements, and a few hours later it was done. It works like a charm. It is all screwed together so I can easily remove it when no longer needed. He would not take any money. Have I mentioned how blessed I am?
     
    Lesley has finished getting the new motor home ready for our trip tomorrow. She will have to do all of the driving. We are planning for her to drive about 5 hours each day. I have located places for us to stay on the way to and from with the help of the internet. We stay at a lot of city and county campgrounds. They are usually about $10 a night and little used. Casinos are also great places to stay and low cost. We are really looking forward to seeing old friends again and making new ones as we always do at these events.
     
    Well, that is the latest here, time for me to refill my coffee cup.
  3. GeorgeLesley

    Surgery done

    By GeorgeLesley,

    The knee surgery was done yesterday. So far, so good. The dr. says all went well and except for the piece of cartlige removal and some polishing up the only other thing he did was drill the holes in the bone to stimulate new cartlige growth. Minimal arthritis and all else looked good.
     
    I have taken pain meds only immediately after the surgery and have not needed them since. Lesley being a retired nurse has been pushing them on me but I have been declining. As you know I do not like taking pill, especially if I do not need them.
     
    I have started the exercises prescribed by the doc. So far, they feel very good. Were it not for the no weight bearing because of the new cartilege growing, I think I would be walking already with only a cane, maybe. The knee feels better than it has for a long time. No more snapping or popping. I guess that is what makes sitting in a chair all day with ice and elevation so hard. I know I could be walking without much trouble.
     
    Anyway, I know for the best long term outcome I must follow the doctor's (and Lesleys) advice and coaching.
     
    I asked the doc if we could use our new RV and go camping next week. He said as long as I do the exercises, elevate when I can and use ice on it, and no driving, I am good to go. So it looks like we are going Thursday and returning Sunday. It is about 1100 miles round trip and Lesley will be doing all the driving so we are breaking it up into two 250 mile days each way which should take about 5 hours to do. This is one of the main reasons we bought the one we did, she can do all the hookups and driving if needed.
     
    Anyway, that is our life at the moment, and yes, my coffee cup is empty....
  4. GeorgeLesley
    Lately We have been besieged by callers wanting money. Not just the usual charities and groups which I can quickly dispatch or call screen, but friends and family. They lull you into thinking it is a "how is it going" call and then drop the "need money" bomb. I have only caved on one family member and amazingly got it back on time in full. I told Lesley we will absolutely never loan money again to anyone for any reason. The stress of it all just gets my A-fib going and I don't need that. If her mum ever needs money we will give it to her as a gift and never expect it back. All others, sorry, the answer is no.
     
    None the less, I am tired of this stuff so I think I might change our phone answering message to "if your hair is on fire and you need money to buy a fire extinguisher leave a message and we will get back to you soon.. All others calling for money for any reason hang up now". How about it folks, think that will work?
     
    Anyway, Lesley will be back Monday which is great. My knee surgery is Friday which is bad. Such is life. Some hot, some cold.
    I must say however, the knee has been telling me lately it is time to get it fixed. The way it has been popping I call it my Rice Crispy Knee, remember snap, crackle, pop?
     
    Speaking of cold, will winter ever end here? We did miss most of the last snow storm, but got about one tenth inch of ice overnight. I don't plan on going anywhere until it melts hopefully later today. This is May, right?
     
    We are excited about the new motor home and can't wait to get it on the road. My surgery will unfortunately delay that for a month or two. Lesley is excited to have a new "nest" to feather with stuff and new goodies. If I can move safely, we may go to a rally for motor homes like ours later in May. Lesley would have to drive, but that is one reason we bought what we did. She will have no problem driving it. We have already spotted where the dogs will be belted in during travels and sleep at night.
     
    Medically no great problems other than the knee surgery and a annoying sleep problem. I have no problem getting to sleep, but after 4-5 hours wake up and have a hard time going back to sleep. If I have nothing particular planned the next day I just tough it out and nap the next day as needed. If we have something major planned, I will take 1/2 of a sleeping pill just to get the last 3-4 hours I really need. I don't like taking pills but will take those as needed.
     
    Well, the ice is melting outside and my coffee cup is empty. Soooo.....
  5. GeorgeLesley
    Yesterday we got 19 inches of heavy, wet snow. Some of the drifts are as tall as me. We have a 1,000 ft long driveway. I need to get out Monday. What to do, what to do. I knew our ATV I usually use had no chance of getting it done. The snowblower could not do it, the snow was too sticky and just clogged it up.
     
    I then came up with the idea that if I shoveled a path in front of the snowblower I could then shave a bit off the edge and make many trips up and down our 1,000 ft drive. Hey, I am retired and have nothing else to do today, so why not try it?
     
    Well, the plan worked sort of. I did it in 50 ft sections and then rested. Just as I got to the road with the shovel, a neighbor showed up with a front end loader, which is a huge machine with a monster bucket on the front. In ten minutes he had it done.
     
    I have decided I shall not exercise today. I will likely have a brew or two tonight.
  6. GeorgeLesley

    Plans change

    By GeorgeLesley,

    Well, the trip to Texas did not happen. When everyone involved realized I was serious (especially the dealer), we found a way to make the new motorhome happen here in Minnesota. We are trading to old one here and I pick up the new one Monday April 22. Since Lesley is still in New Zealand some paperwork complications arose, but all solved now.
     
    We are still getting heavy, wet snow here, six inches last weekend, 4 to 8 more coming tonight and tomorrow. I can't even try to move it. Fortunately it quickly melts in the little sun we get in between snows.
     
    This reaffirms why we want to be out of here in the future during March/April and maybe some of May, as well as Oct/Nov. Not good months to be here.
     
    Meanwhile while Lesley is gone I have been a good boy and continuing to eat properly, watching the blood thinner levels, still losing a bit of weight, and anxiously waiting to get the new motorhome. Being a 67 year old stroke survivor has made both of us realize that whatever we want to do in life, we need to get on with it. Buying a new motorhome was not the smartest move financially, but like Lesley said "what are you saving it for"? I have always been very conservative financially, and changing old habits is hard, but she is right. This will be our last motorhome and will see us into our sunset, so to speak.
     
    Well the coffee cup is empty....
  7. GeorgeLesley
    Well Lesley is still in New Zealand having a great time with her family. I am here in Minnesota still using the snow blower. I thought I was done with it for the season, but we got 7" yesterday. I just did a fast path down the driveway. Didn't worry about the complete parking area, but at the end of this week I am taking our motor home to Houston, Tx to sign it over to a consignment dealer there to hopefully sell it for us so I had to make sure I can get it out.
     
    It is about 1500 miles, I plan to do it in three days. I have an extra day if I need it. It is quite a lot for me to manage alone. Planning trip, getting the RV ready for the trip, getting all the paperwork in order, booking flight back, arranging a place to stay in Tx, packing, planning food, arranging for someone to take care of our dogs, remembering what meds to take along, take afo & cane, etc, etc. Lesley is usually here to help me do some of it
     
    The knee surgery has been postponed until Lesley returns in May. My plate is very full now, I have quite enough the handle without surgery as well.
     
    Anyway just a short entry to bring you all up to date. After this week I won't be around for a week or so.
  8. GeorgeLesley
    Well Lesley is on her way as I write this to New Zealand to spend about five weeks with her mum. She goes every year, mum is 90, so every visit is important. The one son there and his two girls have also recently become more a part of the family. Lesley is an only child, so her mum is a bit lonely, and really looks forward to Lesley's visits and longs for contact from the son and great grand daughters. It has been a point of frustration with Lesley and I that they have been mostly ignoring mum, but that seems to have come around recently and mum is on cloud nine as a result. Now that we have Skype and hi speed internet, Lesley calls her mum everyday.
     
    My main news about myself is that I will be having knee surgery at the end of April. A bit of cartilage is missing. The surgeon showed me the MRI and explained what he wants to do to fix it. I am not in any real pain, but it "clicks" a lot and sometimes gives out unexpectedly. This is bad when I am carrying a canoe or backpack, so getting it fixed is important. The bad news is that he expects a 4-6 week no weight on knee recovery period, due to the holes he is going to drill in the bone where the cartilage is missing. He says that often simulates the bone marrow to grow new cartilage, but he wants me off it for that long to give the new cartilage a chance to grow. I wanted to do it immediately, but since Lesley will be gone, she went ballistic when I suggested that. So, I decided to schedule it the day after she returns, but the surgeon is not available that day. So we compromised and I will have it done 5 days before she gets back. I'll just have to tough it out for a few days and depend on friends. She was not happy about that, but that is what compromise is all about.
     
    This has not made me happy. Summers up here are short and now I will lose some of mine due to the operation. As some of you may remember I have a scheduled camping trip near the end of June with a friend that has his own medical problems. I contacted him and gave him the option of finding another partner since I expect, but cannot guarantee I will be able to do the trip now. He immediately replied and said not to worry, if it doesn't work out this time, we'll do it another day. Now I just have to not overdo the rehab PT. As a stroke survivor I know something about rehab as anyone reading this does as well.
     
    As longtime readers may remember, I am a great believer that life has seasons, and when a season is over, it is over. And just like the seasons of the year, life seasons change and don't last forever. So, since Lesley and I are (thank the Lord) in a good season at the moment., we have decided to sell our present motorhome and buy a new one. Our present one is working fine, but is 14 years old, and I no longer like to do the maintenance on it. To replace it we are buying a new modern model that should last as long as we do. Lesley will be able to drive this one as well since it is about the same size as our present one. I am also a believer that we should be as the saying says "to thine own self be true", what that means to me is that we need to recognize who we are and what we do and like to do. Tent camping, canoeing, etc is our first love but when the ice is 3 feet thick like it is now, we like to travel in a small motorhome. I told Lesley that is who we are and what we like to do, so while we are in a good season which we know will not last forever, and we have already seen some bad in our life, we need to get on with it
     
    So we are selling the present one, building a garage for the new one, and will likely buy it sometime in the winter or next spring, whenever the right price comes along.
     
    Well, I need to wrap this up since Lesley should be landing in New Zealand soon and after many hugs with the family will likely call me. Plus, my coffee cup is empty and you all know what that means.
     
    P.S. I came very close not to writing this entry because of all the sadness on this forum recently, but maybe a bit of better news will help some of you deal with the immense difficulties you are facing at the moment. My heart goes out to all here.
     
    George
  9. GeorgeLesley

    Cabin fever

    By GeorgeLesley,

    Well we are in the "oh no, it is March again" time. Too warm to do any real outdoor winter activities like snowshoeing (snow is too wet and sticky), ice fishing (lakes have slush under the snow on the ice), etc, etc. So what is a poor guy to do? Well the friend I build the Erector models with has been coming over and we are busy finishing the amusement park models. We now have the airplane ride, ferris wheel, merry go round, and high wire acrobat built. Still have two more to build, probably won't get them done this winter, fishing season starts in two months. Yipppee!
     
    Lesley is off to New Zealand for five weeks to visit mum. I will be a bachelor and this time I don't really have any big projects to do. Guess I will get my fishing tackle ready to go.
     
    I am going to Elkhart, Indiana the first weekend in May with my model building friend to a display of model steam engines, trains, and Erector sets. We might display some of our models there. I just bought a wooden erector set. Very rare. They only made them from 1943 to 1947 due to the shortage of steel. My friend, who is a majician with wood told me he can make any parts I might need for the set. Neat. Lesley and I might also be going to the national erector set convention in Chicago in mid July. That is yet to be determined, depends on the progress on the garage we are having built for the motorhome.
     
    I do have a minor medical issue that has developed. My right knee sometimes "clicks" and nearly gives out on me. It comes and goes, usually doesn't last but a day or so then returns to normal. When it flares I just use my cane for safety. I am having a MRI later this month to get to the bottom of it, I suspect it is just "uncle arthur" visiting me again. What the treatment will be is still unknown till we get the MRI results. If it involves surgery it will have to wait until next winter. I refuse to give up a summer of camping and fishing just to have a surgery.
     
    Otherwise medically, all is going well. Weight is down to my ideal weight, exercise is going well. I am being very consistent about it. I tried to cut back to twice a week once I reached my goals, but found I just go lazy and had a hard time even doing it once a week. Now that I am back on three times a week I am having no motivation problems. Strange. Fortunately the knee dr. cleared me to continue my full exercise program, even the leg exercises. More good medical news: no problem with my blood pressure since I have gone off my blood pressure pills or my cholesterol since I went off that pill as well. Losing weight and exercising helps, I guess.
     
    Well, time to go remember to set your clocks forward. Spring forward!
  10. GeorgeLesley
    Well a bit of medical news first. Due I think to the heavy exercise and weight loss over the past few months, I am now off my high blood pressure meds entirely. Yippee. Only the blood thinner and a-fib med left. Probably stuck with them forever.
     
    My friend I have never actually met yet in person and I are into detail planning for our trip this summer into the wilderness canoeing together for a week or so. As I previously wrote, he has some medical issues as well, is about my age, and loves to camp and canoe as much as I do.
     
    Now to the story relating to the title I gave this entry. Lesley and I have a neighbor named Ed. His wife Chris is a lovely lady and she and Lesley get along well. Ed is in his early 60's. Ed has some health problems, not the which of least is that he had a stroke when he was 6 years old. Ed had a tough life, making friends was always difficult for him because of his speech deficit among other things. He also has intestinal problems that strike without warning and can interfere with his plans for the day. We have become the best of friends with both of them. Both will do anything they can for anybody, and are just good, dependable folks and the best neighbors anyone could have. It started last summer that Ed and I began fishing together, from there we all four began camping together in our RV's. Strangely, Even though I have only lived here 7 years and Ed has spent his entire life here, still I have been the one showing him where the fish are.
     
    One day I asked Ed if he was familiar with Erector sets. A metal construction toy most of us guys grew up with in the 50's and 60's. He said sure.. I told him I am a collector of them now and spend much time during the winters building models with my sets. I asked him if he would care to join me building models sometime. Well, now once or twice a week he comes over and we build side by side. I have had to buy some special screwdrivers and nut holders to help my affected hand hold things properly since the fingers don't work perfectly, but it is great therapy screwing small nuts and bolts together and we get it done. It is great to have a "third" hand available when I need it. He has just jumped in and started building like he has never stopped from being a kid. We are building the amusement park set of models, ferris wheel, merry go round, parachute jump. I already had build a few others, and someday, maybe next winter we will push one button and all will come to life. Maybe I will be able to post a video her of it all in action.
     
    It is great to have a friend that understands what limitations are, has a few of his own, and just get on with life whatever it takes.
     
    Ed introduced me to a men's Bible Study he goes to once a week. I now usually go as well. I'll end this with a short joke one of the men told us all there last week. It seems Adam was talking to God in the Garden and told God I really need a helpmate, what can you do for me? God thought for a minute and then said "give me a arm and a leg and I can make the perfect helpmate for you". Adam thought for a moment then asked "what can I get for a rib"?
     
    Till next time......
  11. GeorgeLesley

    I have been bad

    By GeorgeLesley,

    Well folks, I have to confess I have been bad. I had a fitness goal in mind to reach this winter. Well last week I was able to do the weight and repetitions I wanted to without too much strain. I then proceeded to take 6 days off, since now that I have reached my goal, I can drop from 3 sessions a week to 2. I intended to take a 3 day "vacation" from exercise. My how easy it is to get lazy. I took six days off. Today I got back with it and punished myself by adding another new exercise to the session and have decided to add yet more if I ever get lazy again. If I am sick, traveling, etc, OK to skip but just because I don't feel like it is not acceptable. The lesson for all who read this is to not give up any progress you are making. Even a small thing like wiggling a finger, toe, etc. you must keep doing if you want to see more progress or keep what you have gained.
     
    I am doing this because Lesley and I have a trip into the Canadian wilderness planned for next July, and I must be able to help Lesley carry all the gear and canoe. I also have at least one other trip planned with a guy friend, and I don't want to be a burden to him.
     
    Anyway, not much snow here yet, cold though, which is good. We actually had rain here last week, not a good thing in January as we now have ice under the new snow we are getting, making it quite easy to slip and fall. The leanto I built this past summer to house the ATV continues to do the job very well. I am most pleased we built it. We are still considering when and how to build a garage for the motorhome.
     
    Lesley is off to New Zealand again in April. She has switched her yearly trip to the spring because fall is a busy time around here, and spring is a very good time to be out of here. She is also seriously dieting and exercising a lot. She is on a site called myfitnesspal.com and if you want to lose weight, we both highly recommend it. She is steadily dropping 1-2 lbs a week and is more fit than she has been in many years. I am also losing a few lbs as well as a support to her mostly. I am lower now than I have been since I finished basic training with the Air Force as a 19 year old. I have decided to edit this blog. I think there is a valuable lesson to be learned here. Most of my life like most of us I have had 10-15 lbs or so I would like to lose, but just never seemed to get it done.Now that I have lost it, I have discovered there is still maybe 10 lbs to go. We all like to deceive ourselves and put the best possible face on anything that might reflect poorly on us. We can deceive each other, our spouses, even ourselves. The only entity we cannot deceive is our body. It knows how many calories we actually eat. It knows how much we actually exercise. We might tell the PT we are doing exactly what they tell us to do. Our body knows if we are really telling the truth or not. We can and do, fool everyone even ourselves, but we cannot fool our body. The reason Lesley is doing so well on this diet is that she is doing actual portion control, weighing, measuring, etc, and yes, exercise. No more "it's my thyroid, it is in my genes, etc, etc" excuses. We stroke survivors can learn from this lesson. School is out for the day!
     
    So we are both reasonably fit, happy, and nearing the weight we should be at. I told Lesley that life has seasons just like each year does. Some are good and some are not so good. I told her we are in a good season at the moment and that we need to enjoy it. Like all seasons, it will end someday, and we want to enjoy it while we can.
     
    Well, enough rambling on for now, just keep on keeping on!
  12. GeorgeLesley
    I don't know how the rest of you feel, but I feel like all the oxygen just got sucked out of the room. This horriffic tragedy in Conneticut as just made me realize how insignificant any of my "problems" are. Hard to think or write about much else, but maybe a theraputic blog might help. so I'll try. Life here is good, winter is coming on, snow has arrived with more coming. The leanto I built this fall for the ATV while Lesley was in New Zealand is working out very well. After plowing snow I park it inside the leanto which is heated and has a floor drain, and all the snow melts off. I plug it into a charger and keep the battery ready for next use.
     
    I have also become a TV weather watcher for a Duluth, MN station. A niece of mine is married to the TV weatherman for one of the local stations and he convinced me to become "uncle George" reporting from up the Gunflint Trail, which is the name of the road we live on. I call in my temps and precipitation totals every day. I did tell him that during fishing season there won't be many reports, because I will be fishing then. Lesley says she will pick up the slack, perhaps he will call her Aunt Lesley.
     
    Another big project, for me anyway, has been the transfer of about 200 music CD's onto the computer first and then hopefully onto an Ipod. Wow, Lesley and I are really moving into the 21st century fast. We got cell phones in April for the first time, a new LED hi def TV in Oct, got rid of dial up and got hi speed internet via satellite a few weeks ago, plus Lesley bought her first computer ever last month. She is already doing facebook, tweeting people (whatever that is) doing a site called stumbleupon.com which is a really neat site to follow anything that interests you, also she is looking into skype phone service so she can talk to and see the family in NZ. This old brain is having trouble comprehending all this technology so rapidly, but am trying to hang on. I went to the local Radio Shack and paid a young lad to show me how to move the music from CD's to the Ipod. Lesley is friends with the Best Buy "Geek Squad", but between us we seem to be getting it done. After I get all the CD's transferred, one electronic project remains. We have a few VHS tapes and movies from a video camera that I want to move to DVD and from there probably to a computer. We have the machine to do it, I just have to figure out how to use it. Maybe another trip to the local Radio Shack is in order.
     
    After all of this, I may be able to get to reading some books I have started but not finished some time ago. That is what we are supposed to do up here in winter, but have been so busy, I just haven't gotten to it.
     
    Oh, did I mention doing the exercise program every other day so I'll be ready for next summers canoe/camping trips? Two trips scheduled so far, one into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area here in MN, and one planned to the Quetico Provincial park in Canada. We are talking about a third trip, but it is not planned yet. Both trips will be about a week in the wilderness with no facilities at all. You may remember the pictures from our trip last summer, hopefully we will have more to post later this summer. Plus fishing this summer of course, and we may build a garage for the motorhome. I think Lesley and I can do it, except for the roof. We'll need help with that part.
     
    Whew, just writing all of that made me tired, and worse, my coffee cup is empty, You know what that means.
  13. GeorgeLesley
    Well winter is on the way, hope we get more snow this year than we did last. Lesley is sitting in her deer hunting blind as I write this, today being the start of deer hunting season. She and I sighted in her rifle yesterday. I hadn't shot a rife for about 40 years, but did make one shot. I hit about 1" away from the red bullseye at 75 yards. It felt good, I may try deer hunting next year. I told Lesley I could do blind or tree stand hunting, but walking thru the woods flushing them out would not be a good idea for me to do. I just can't hold the rifle steady enough without something to rest it on, and tripping with a loaded gun is not a good idea either. We already have half of three road kill deer in the freezer, so we have plenty of venison for the winter. We got a call from the sheriff last week for another road kill, and on the way to get it we saw another one down. A quick call to the sheriff and we got the OK to pick both of them up. Needless to say, our basement has been a busy place with all the meat processing going on. Lesley and her friend do all of that, I don't like to be that close to sharp knives!
     
    I had a fall about three weeks ago in our garage. I tripped and fell on my left knee and my forehead hit the wall fairly hard. I was a bit nervous about the head since I am on blood thinners, so off to the doc we went a few days later. A CT scan found all OK, and a xray of the neck found all OK there as well. The knee has finally come right, swelling and pain pretty much gone. I am resuming normal activities at last. I plan to restart my exercise routine next week. I hate not being able to do it for the past three weeks.
     
    As I posted in Sandycaregivers blog, it is all about risk management. The more activities you resume, the more risk of things happening. I usually can catch myself or roll, but sometimes stuff happens. You just do the best you can to be prepared. I always carry blood clotting sponges with me when I am alone in the woods with my canoe, have bandaids handy, etc, etc. Life has risks, you just manage them as best you can. Another example of risk management: a few months ago I took two young boys and their grandpa fishing. While there, we saw some cliffs towering over the lake about 400' above the water. In years past I have climbed a trail I know around the side and back of the cliffs. It is steep in a few places, but the trail is nowhere near the sheer drop of the cliff face and is perfectly safe. Naturally the boys wanted to go up the trail. The grandpa asked if I would be OK waiting on the shore with the boat, and I told him I'd come and bring up the rear slowly. Near the top, there was a stretch near the edge of the cliff. The young boys and grandpa walked that trail. I chose another way, farther from the edge because of footing and balance issues. Years ago I would have taken the shorter trail near the edge. No more. That is what I mean about risk management and doing what you can to mitigate risk. Life is full of risks but to eliminate all of it would make for a boring life. So Sandy keep on moving forward and good luck!
     
    Anyway, my coffee cup is empty, you'all know what that means.
  14. GeorgeLesley
    Well winter is on the way, hope we get more snow this year than we did last. Lesley is sitting in her deer hunting blind as I write this, today being the start of deer hunting season. She and I sighted in her rifle yesterday. I hadn't shot a rife for about 40 years, but did make one shot. I hit about 1" away from the red bullseye at 75 yards. It felt good, I may try deer hunting next year. I told Lesley I could do blind or tree stand hunting, but walking thru the woods flushing them out would not be a good idea for me to do. I just can't hold the rifle steady enough without something to rest it on, and tripping with a loaded gun is not a good idea either. We already have half of three road kill deer in the freezer, so we have plenty of venison for the winter. We got a call from the sheriff last week for another road kill, and on the way to get it we saw another one down. A quick call to the sheriff and we got the OK to pick both of them up. Needless to say, our basement has been a busy place with all the meat processing going on. Lesley and her friend do all of that, I don't like to be that close to sharp knives!
     
    I had a fall about three weeks ago in our garage. I tripped and fell on my left knee and my forehead hit the wall fairly hard. I was a bit nervous about the head since I am on blood thinners, so off to the doc we went a few days later. A CT scan found all OK, and a xray of the neck found all OK there as well. The knee has finally come right, swelling and pain pretty much gone. I am resuming normal activities at last. I plan to restart my exercise routine next week. I hate not being able to do it for the past three weeks.
     
    As I posted in Sandycaregivers blog, it is all about risk management. The more activities you resume, the more risk of things happening. I usually can catch myself or roll, but sometimes stuff happens. You just do the best you can to be prepared. I always carry blood clotting sponges with me when I am alone in the woods with my canoe, have bandaids handy, etc, etc. Life has risks, you just manage them as best you can. Another example of risk management: a few months ago I took two young boys and their grandpa fishing. While there, we saw some cliffs towering over the lake about 400' above the water. In years past I have climbed a trail I know around the side and back of the cliffs. It is steep in a few places, but the trail is nowhere near the sheer drop of the cliff face and is perfectly safe. Naturally the boys wanted to go up the trail. The grandpa asked if I would be OK waiting on the shore with the boat, and I told him I'd come and bring up the rear slowly. Near the top, there was a stretch near the edge of the cliff. The young boys and grandpa walked that trail. I chose another way, farther from the edge because of footing and balance issues. Years ago I would have taken the shorter trail near the edge. No more. That is what I mean about risk management and doing what you can to mitigate risk. Life is full of risks but to eliminate all of it would make for a boring life. So Sandy keep on moving forward and good luck!
     
    Anyway, my coffee cup is empty, you'all know what that means.
  15. GeorgeLesley
    Well, here comes winter again. Just a few snow flurries so far, a promise of things to come. Lesley is back from New Zealand, mum's 90th party went well. Lesley is now immersed in putting up garden produce, apples from her annual trip with a girlfriend to Bayfield, Wisconsin. While she was gone I did 6 gallons of green beans and peas from the garden with Lesley's coaching. That is the limit of my gardening skills other than eating the results. She is also getting ready for deer hunting next month. Speaking of deer, we got a call from the local sheriff the other day asking if we wanted a fresh road kill buck. It was only a few miles from us and apparently not hit badly Went and got it, it was still warm and not in bad shape at all. The rest of the day was spent processing it. It is all in the freezer now, which takes the pressure off hunting, but we still would like one more for the winter. Lesley is getting very good at cleaning and processing them. I just do the donkey work, helping where I can. My successful summer of fishing is over, the freezer is full of walleye and bass, even some lake trout there somewhere. I am hoping to get out maybe one more time and get some late fall fresh walleye, it is supposed to get into the 50's this week, so if the winds allow I will likely try it one last time. The water temps are now in the 40's, so safety is the primary concern, any wind and I won't go. Life jackets this time of the year won't save you, just give you a few minutes to get to safety and make it easier to find your body.Don't worry, I stay close to shore and only fish shallow, small lakes that I know well this time of year.
     
    My big project while Lesley was gone was building a heated lean to on the end of our house for the ATV to park in. What I thought would take a week too a month, lifting all the sheets of plywood alone was more work than I thought it would be, but it is done now.
     
    I am really excited about next summer. Because of the success of this years canoe trip, we are planning two more next year. I have also made a friend on another forum that does similar things. He has a few health issues, is about my age, and has been looking for a trip partner, so we are pairing up for a week or so next June.
     
    On the stroke side of things, while working on the lean to I stopped my exercise program. I didn't have energy for everything, Now that that is finished I have been a bit lazy about starting it back. The shoulder soreness and arm/hand spasisity are starting to return, so tomorrow I will start it again. Don't want to lose what I have gained. Well I must go now and help Lesley move her deer hunting tree stand to another tree.
     
    Just one final thing. As the gizmo, gadget guy, I love to see a simple, well designed product. I have been helping Lesley peel apples with an apple peeler. Most amazing thing. It peels, cores, and cuts all with a few turns of a crank. Love it!
     
    Bye for now.
  16. GeorgeLesley
    Well I finally got the pics of our canoe trip in July along the US/Canadian border posted in an old album I created longer use. So the album title makes no sense but here they are. We are already planning at least two similar trips next year. Well Lesley is still in NZ, mum's birthday party is next week, so she is a flurry of activity. I have been out in the garden picking beans and snow peas, blanching them per Lesley's instructions and putting them in the freezer. That is about the extent of my gardening skills.
     
    To those that replied to my last entry, a heartfelt thanks. I will continue to post from time to time. To the oldtimers here now that you have seen the pictures of where I go and what I do in a canoe, you can see why it was so important for me to push myself to get back into it. To the newbies here, it took five years, but it was worth every bit of effort it took. I now have noticed that since my body has gotten stronger, exercises I couldn't do before I can now do. After a bit of time, keep trying the old exercises and motions you had given up on. It is so easy to fall into left (or right) side neglect. I am now forcing my left side to do what it should, and it is responding! I just paddled a canoe 30 miles and nearly every paddle stroke was on the left side! Just in the past year I have noticed much improvement. I noticed a similar jump in ability at about the two year point. It seems like trying to steer a car that is stopped. It is difficult. Get the car moving and steering gets easier. I think our bodies are the same. Get the little things going, and the rest will improve also. I remember the joy of seeing my first finger movement after my stroke. One night I fell asleep wiggling my big toe against the top sheet, because that bit of motion was just beginning to return!
     
    Anyway thanks to all again, I will continue to try and help anyway I can. To Jangelini, if you can get here to Minnesota I will get you into a canoe and all you have to do is sit there and enjoy! If that is not possible, Lesley and I are planning a trip to Washington DC (it looks like you are in MD), in the future. If you can line up a canoe, I'll make it go, you just sit there and look pretty!
     
    Eureka!! I just got the name of the album changed to what it should be. Ain't life good!
  17. GeorgeLesley
    Hard to believe that our summer is coming to a close, but it is. Biggest news for us here is the canoe trip Lesley and I took in July along the US/Canadian border. We allowed 8 days to paddle about 30 miles and do 9 portages which is the land between lakes you must carry all of your gear between. A few of them were most challenging, hilly, rocky, long, one was called Monument portage because it had three official monuments showing the US/Canadian border. We really don't need to see that one again, it was very steep, rocky and about 700 yards long. I am proud to say Lesley carried the food barrel (a hard plastic barrel to keep bears and other critters out of your food). It was the heavyest of the packs, I carried the canoe and one pack. We took two trips to carry all the gear. Lesley only fell once, I fell twice. No harm done, just another challenge to overcome. We made the trip in five days, not the eight we expected. Saw a bear, ate fish, got rained on, saw a double rainbow afterwords, and had a great time. Already planning next years trip. We did learn that in the future we will do what we call "base camping". The moving every few days was tedious and a bit more than we want to do now. Since we had not done this type of trip since my stroke and I am now 67 and Lesley 62, the real purpose of the trip was to see if we could still do it. The answer is positive.
     
    I tried to create a new photo album to show the trip for this blog and finally gave up in frustration, if anyone can help show me how I will post the pic's here. All I could get is that I am not authorized. I did it before, what am I missing?
     
    Lesley is now in New Zealand preparing a 90th birthday party for her mum. Mum will be 90 Sept 3rd. Amazing lady, still drives, albeit not at night and not out of the local area, and lives alone in her own house. I am here with the dogs, and doing "honey do" projects around the house and getting in some late summer fishing, which has been very good this year.
     
    Longtime readers will remember my posting a picture of me lifting my canoe the first time I could after having my stroke. This trip we just took was the culmination of all the effort put into recovery. It has taken over five years, but the results are worth it. I have noticed that I am still getting stronger. I built up significant muscle on the left side (stroke side) during the trip. Shoulder pain is a thing of the past. I am now feverishly working to keep and improve on it. My Bowflex exercise machine and I are good friends again. I know the sands of time are working against me, but I am determined to forestall the effects of aging as long as I can! Sue, I hope this gives some answer to what you mused about a few blogs ago about how we should live life and is it worth climbing the the mountains. I can now say that the triumphs overcome the valleys.
     
    My main concern now is that not all of those who read this will see similar recoveries. I know some who worked harder than I and have little to show for it. This gives me concern about whether I have anymore to contribute to this forum. My recovery is not 100%, but it is to the point where I can do most of what I want to. The last thing I want is for some who have had less recovery than I for whatever reason to feel envy or resentment towards me and wonder "why him and not me" and for my blogs to contribute to any frustration or discouragement they are feeling. I remember the dark days of being in a wheelchair and fighting to suppress such feelings in rehab. It is an issue that really concerns me.
  18. GeorgeLesley
    I have noticed as of late it is getting harder to stay motivated to do the things I know help me and even those I enjoy doing. I still exercise often, but not as much as I should. It just seems to be harder to get it done. I don't do well in crowds anymore, and prefer to be alone or just with Lesley. Even getting ready for the fishing season this year was tougher than it has ever been before. However since I have had some success the few times I have gone fishing this year, that part seems to be coming back. One of my "family" members I forgot to mention in a previous blog introducing my "family" was cousin meneries disease, which causes balance and hearing/vision issues. I have had a mild case of it most of my adult life, and it seems to be coming back more often. I just got some new glasses awhile back, my vision sometimes gets unsteady (can't focus well) and I was blaming the new glasses. I finally took them off in frustration only to find the problem remained unchanged. It was then I realized it was the meneries again. It comes and goes without warning, Lesley has to take over driving oftentimes as sudden head movements cause problems. It has progressed to the point I have cancelled my canoe/camping trip with a VA group in June into the BWCA Wilderness because I am not sure I can expect a week of going everyday and keeping up with a group of younger guys. Lesley and I still are planning our July canoe/camping trip, but there I can take a day of rest if I need it and Lesley will understand. I'll be 67 in a few days, I guess some of this is just because I am getting older. (For longtime readers remember the blog I wrote about comet dust a few years ago)
     
    Now that I have whined enough about how bad it is, the good news: whenever I do exercise I really feel much better and wonder what the big deal was about doing it. The good news is that I seem to have as much strength and endurance as I have had for a long time. Carrying my canoe and catching fish is as much fun as ever, once I get out and do it. The new truck Lesley insisted I get is now the second love of my life (Lesley is the first. I had to say that, she might read this blog!).
     
    So to wrap it up, I have been blessed with a good recovery, but new issues and some old ones keep coming up, constantly challenging me, testing to see what I am made of. So far the hill has not gotten so steep I can't continue the climb albeit a bit slower going than it was.
  19. GeorgeLesley
    'Tis the season of travel. Lesley took the new car to Illinois (600 miles one way) to visit an old friend for a week. Yesterday she took off on a bus full of Girl Scouts to a 100 year celebration of Girl Scouting in the USA. They are all headed to Savannah, Georgia, a week long trip. The day after she gets back we are headed out in our motorhome to Indiana to my uncle's 90th birthday party, (my recently deceased dad's last remaining brother) then to Texas to visit a longtime friend of mine, after that to parts unknown. Back home in Minnesota maybe around the 20th of April. Lesley will have to do some of the driving since my focus and endurance are not what they used to be. Fortunately it is a small Motorhome, more of a van actually, so it gets good mileage and driving it is easy.
     
    While she was gone to Illinois, I finished off a closet china cabinet she has wanted for years. She was most amazed when she got home. I must confess, it was a real challenge for me, required intense focus. What would have taken me a day or two took a week! Finish work is not my strong suit. Cutting the opening in the door for the glass window was one of the more scary things I have done recently! Not perfect, but she is happy so I am too. I have noticed that when you do one thing on the "honey do" list, the list does not get shorter, something new just shows up at the end.
     
    After Lesley got her new car (Honda CR-V), she INSISTED I get a new Honda Ridgeline truck. She knows I have always wanted one, saw me eyeballing it at the dealership, and for the next few weeks kept telling me "hey, you're 66, already had a stroke, just what are you saving money for? Get the truck!" So now we have two new Honda's in our garage. They seem to be breeding! I must confess I love it. Since my stroke opening car doors has be a challenge with my weak left arm. The design of the truck door handle makes entry and exit much easier than anything I have had before. Most importantly it will have no trouble carrying my canoe or pulling my boat!
     
    In June I am going on a week long camping/canoe trip with a group that pays for the expenses of a veteran to go into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. All expenses paid! Why not! I told them I have had a stroke, but can keep up with them, just give me a bit of time. Then, in July, Lesley and I are going alone, just the two of us on another camping/canoe trip into the same area for a week, but this time along the US/Canadian border. We are taking a satellite phone just for medical emergencies. It will be a short trip, only about 35 miles of paddling and several short portages (the land between lakes you carry your gear and walk on). We could do it in a few days, but plan to take a week, just so we don't overdo it and have plenty of time for fishing. Then, Lesley is off to New Zealand in late August for a month, her mother turns 90 in September, so she is going to be with her and throw a party for her. I will stay home with the dogs. I went last year, and it is long flight. It took me several days to get over the travel. In between all of this, tending to a garden, fishing, and the usual summertime chores. Then next winter will be upon us before we know it. My project for then is to put all of our music CD's on an Ipod if this old brain can figure out how. The following summer (2013) we are planning a 2-3 month trip in the motorhome into western Canada and Alaska. After that who knows, but with Lesley around I'm sure something will come up. Lesley has just started drawing her social security, and is putting all of it into a travel fund, making all of this travel possible.
     
    Sooooo, a busy spring/summer but just thankful we still can do these things, knowing the day is coming when we won't be able to.
     
    My coffee cup is empty, you know what that means.....
  20. GeorgeLesley

    My "family"

    By GeorgeLesley,

    A bit of news here first, then an entry I hope some get a smile out of. We bought a new car yesterday, Lesley is thrilled. She is "vertically challenged" (short legs). In most cars, when she adjusts the seat so she can comfortably reach the pedals, she is too close to the steering wheel. The new Honda we just bought solves that problem with a tilt/telescoping steering wheel. She says she has never been so comfortable driving in any other car.
     
    Now I will take my literary promiscuity to a new level and introduce my "family". I'll start with uncle gout. He visits a few times a year fortunately a few pills and he leaves quickly. Then there is Brother stroke. He visits every morning and always brings his annoying children "high blood pressure" and "blood thinner" with him. He also likes to mess with my left hand, arm and fingers. He has twin boys that visit with him, one called "cold foot" the other "cold hand". I find them most annoying to have around in the winter. Now I can get the best of them though with my heated socks and gloves. He has a wife "Debbie depression" I really found a pain to be around. She showed up right as he did for the first time 5 years ago, but quickly left after I learned how to control their children.Then there is nephew "twitchy leg". He is such a cute little bugger I usually let him sleep with me, but his twitching tends to keep me awake. Sometimes when he sits on my lap watching TV in the evening he likes to keep me annoyed with his twitching. Sister "sore shoulder and weak left arm" occasionally shows up, but usually goes away with some time on the exercise bike and bowflex exercise machine. Lesley claims "miss lost memory" shows up from time to time, but I don't remember that. Mr. "skip a beat a-fib" is a new neighbor that shows up now from time to time, but some meds are mostly keeping him away at the moment. Grandpa "bad Balance" or "Tippy" for short wobbles by once in a while but usually with some focus and preplanning I can get him to leave. Second cousin "can't sleep at night" shows up as well, but an Ambien usually calms her down.
     
    Lesley has noticed she has some of the same relatives starting to show up in her life, but that is not unexpected, her mother is 89 and has some of the same acquaintances, so it is a genetic thing that runs in the family.
     
    Probably not the best family one could want, but you know the old saying goes: you can choose your friends, but not your relatives!
     
     
     
    P.S. On edit, Lesley reminded me we had a visit from "miss lost memory" yesterday and I forgot to mention a few other distant relatives. Mr. "weak eyes" visits everyday but I am so used to chasing him away with glasses, I don't even notice him anymore. Cousin "drop foot" is here everyday, but easily controlled with my AFO. Step dad "hearing loss" shows up from time to time, but I don't hear him often, so I just ignore him. When he becomes persistent I have found a quick "huh" or "what did you say" usually solves the problem. If all else fails a blank stare always works. Fred mentioned "aches and pains" visit him, they show up around here as well, but that gives me something to talk about besides Social Security when friends stop by.
  21. GeorgeLesley

    Finally some snow

    By GeorgeLesley,

    Today was a snow clearing day. finally enough snow to clear. We have a 1000 ft driveway and I use our ATV (Quad bike for those down under) with a plow on it to clear things. As I was out there today with my heated gloves and socks I couldn't help but think back to the first snow after my stroke. I remember Lesley and I walking down the driveway together with the snowblower, (we had no ATV at the time) since I could not operate the controls on the left side since my left hand was not working at the time. So Lesley walked on the right side of the blower and I walked (very slowly) along the left side using my good (right hand). We had to use the slowest speed, since I was not very stable or able to walk with any speed at the time. It took us most of a day, but we got it done together. After a few months, I was again able to do it alone.
     
    A few medical items, I now get gout attacks on the left big toe joint a few times a year. I have read that tart cherry juice concentrate helps the condition, and so far it has. A nusance, but I get on with it. Also now have AFib of the heart, and am on some meds to control it. The doc said if you live a non active life, it won't affect you. I told him I try to live a active life and am not a couch potato. He then said well "we have to treat it then". I told him yes, one stroke in a lifetime is enough. And so we are treating it. Seems to be OK now.
     
    Anyway time to go now.
  22. GeorgeLesley

    More good news

    By GeorgeLesley,

    I am so excited I can hardly stand it! Last summer Lesley bought some locally trapped beaver pelts and had them made into a trooper type hat and mittens for both of us. Today is the first real chance to test them with temp about 0 F (-20 C) and winds of 30 MPH (50KPH). I just walked the dogs with the beaver pelts on and my left (stroke side, always cold hand) was hot when I came in! Lesley asked how I was, and all I could do was get out of the mittens and cap, I was so hot. I had no other gloves, liners of any type on, just the beaver pelts. No wonder the native Americans and Voyageurs were warm. They knew how to do it. I am also now wearing thinsulate lined blue jeans, and that seems to have helped keep my cold left foot warmer. I think the jeans are helping keep my core body and left side leg temp up, and thus helping the foot warmer. Now I can go outside and enjoy winter again, now that I have all the gear to keep warm.
     
    My message to all of you who are not familiar with my blogs is don't give up, you MUST always try new things, when the medical community says we can't help anymore, learn to help yourself. Not everything I have tried worked but some of it has. If you have hand/arm issues, try saeboflex.com I did, and it worked wonders. If you have arm curling up and cannot straighten issues, try active release. I recommended this treatment to a gentleman who stroked a few years before I did. He had given up hope of gaining mobility. Now he travels the country driving his motorhome with his wife. I received a lovely letter from him thanking me for the recommendation. The point is not about me, but rather about never giving up and always be willing to try new things. My old blogs have more info. Do not give up! You and your caregiver must be proactive and help yourselves. PT's, OT's, doctors, etc, can and will only take you so far. Remember, they only see you for a few minutes now and then. You live with yourself 24/7. Nobody knows your body like you do. You must make the journey yourself.
     
    A happy new year to all, and I shall spend the rest of the day watching college football and drinking coffee.
  23. GeorgeLesley
    Nice responses from the last entry. Thanks all. I am always afraid when telling about something new that people will think I am trying to push something on them or make money off the deal. No so at all, just letting people know what has and has not worked for me. Anyway, Lesley is going to make some venison/wild rice sausage. Most of the meat is already in the freezer, just the grinding and sausage to go. She is pumped up, to say the least.
     
    I just finished plowing our 1,000' driveway. We got about 8" of snow last night. We have an ATV with tracks and a plow on it for winter use, so it is a lot of fun, actually. I got to test out the socks and gloves I wrote about previously, and still love them. Just do a google search for "battery heated gloves" then for socks and slippers. Amazon.com has the slippers, Sharper Image.com has the socks and gloves. There are other stores that will show up as well. Don't be cheap, spend the big bucks to get the good ones. The socks and gloves will run about $200 a set including batteries and charger, Slippers $100 to $130. Only buy those with the lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, get the 7 volt ones for the socks and gloves.
     
    The supplement I have been taking with the Life Extension.com folks is Mitochondrial Basics with bio PQQ. Item #01569. I can only repeat that it works for me. Your results may differ. They have another product they just came out with that is supposed to help regrow brain synapses and neurons, something all of us that have had strokes are interested in. I plan to start taking it next month. They have their annual sale going on now, so I plan to buy a years worth of the stuff. It is called "Neuro-mag" and is a magnesium supplement along with some other stuff. I figure I am 66 and a stroke survivor, my brain needs all the help it can get! Again, I am NOT trying to sell anybody anything, but I would like to hear the results good or bad if anyone else tries these products.
     
    Well, since I have done the day's work (plowing the driveway) it is time to attend to my empty coffee cup and watch a bit of football.
  24. GeorgeLesley
    Longtime readers of this blog will remember I always am trying new gizmos and gadgets, hence the name of this blog. Well, since my stroke, my left foot and hand get cold very easily. Since we live in northern Minnesota, that is a problem in the winter. I have always been fearful of the foot in particular getting cold in winter activities since I can't feel it when it is getting cold. Well, help has arrived! After trying the heaviest wool socks to no avail, I just tried the new type of battery heated socks. Wow! No more cold foot! They work so well I tried the Heated gloves as well and they also work wonderfully. The batteries last several hours between charges. Not cheap, but I can now do the things I like to do in the winter again without fear. I feel like a kid with new toys. I just had a chance to test both items out today. Last night the local sheriff's office called, we are on the list for getting deer kills along the county roads if we want them. 8PM and we were called. We immediately went and got it, Lesley has recently completed a course in deer processing, and was looking forward to testing her skills. The deer was still warm, little damage to it, but dead. So, into our garage it went and was gutted, and this morning we hung and butchered it. First time for either of us, a lot of fun. As it turned out today is a cold day, temps in the single digits, but my hands and feet stayed warm. Now we have lots of venison to add to the fish in the freezer. Lesley is thrilled, since she was unsuccessful hunting this season.
     
    Anyway if cold hands or feet are a problem, there are new solutions even heated slippers. Try them!
     
    Another product line I would recommend is from a company called Life Extension. It is not a multi level deal and all the products they offer have a long list of research studies behind them. I have tried one in particular and now feel much better mentally and physically. I tried the product for a few months and felt better, went off it and felt worse, then went back on the product and new feel better again. I'll not go off it again. I find some parts seem to be regrowing, which is a benefit they suggest may happen. All I know is that some things are getting better, and it has been five years since my stroke. Again, I am not trying to sign anyone up for anything, just recommending something that has helped me.
     
    Well, time to go now and enjoy winter some more.
  25. GeorgeLesley

    November Newsletter

    By GeorgeLesley,

    I read with considerable interest the article in the Nov newsletter about why some make better recoveries from strokes than others. I can certainly relate to the article. I have a reasonably positive self image, know what I may be able to fix and what I cannot, etc. but to the point of this blog. For long time readers you may remember my friend "Mike" I met in rehab. We had similar strokes at about the same time, and called each other every day for quite awhile after we both came home. Soon it became apparent to me that "Mike" was sucicidal, even telling me how the event was to happen. Mike lives alone, and with the deficits from his stroke, the things he loved to do had been taken from him. I made it my mission to call Mike everyday and encourage him that life was indeed still worth living (even though initially I had some doubts myself). As we both slowly recovered, Mike's attitude improved. He then had small brain bleed, and suffered some mental deficits from that. Understandably his attitude slid downhill again. Now the good news is that Mike has found a lady friend he spends most of his time with and her family. She is a widow and they both seem to be prospering from the relationship. Mike no longer talks much about his "deficits" but rather what he and his girlfriend are doing. It is now hard for me to catch him on the phone and call backs take several days, and I couldn't be happier. I think Mike's story as well as my own reinforce the point of the article in the newsletter, the point being we must first like ourselves no matter our state of affairs, and do our best to accept and be happy with where and how we are. Longtime readers of my blog will remember that I usually wrote positive things, even when what I had just tried was not effective. It wasn't always easy to do that, but I learned early on that complaining did little to help. Trust me, if complaining would have helped, I would have become the complainer in chief! Only my efforts and those around me really made a difference.
     
    My coffee cup is empty, longtime readers know what that means.