"Fleeting moment"

"People see you for a fleeting moment - but you have to live with the consequences."

It is only four weeks since we returned from Sofia, such a lot seems to have occured since our return & such a lot for my body to cope with.

I found Sofia to be quite a difficult place to get around although at the time I managed. The weather there and here, on our return, left rather a lot to be desired with the cold and snow. This does not seem to do my body any good and as a result my arm, hand and fingers are always first to be affected. I have had to stay indoors for longer than I would have liked and as a result of the lack of exercise my legs and knees have also been affected.
This does occur from time to time and each time I get concerned that I am "going backwards". I need a lot of re-assurance at these times and reminding at how far I have actually come on the road to recovery.

I had a telephone call from the hospital last week inviting me for another Field Vision Test. Another  cause for concern? No! The hospital are keeping a check on my eyes and as there is a history of Glaucoma in the family they are monitoring the pressure. I had thought that I had been discharged from all the departments that had cared for me, so this was also very re-assuring.

I have been slowly increasing my walking and am trying now to achieve something every day. I have been keeping a diary - this in turn keeps me motivated.
I have never weighed myself since being discharged from hospital, but I know that my weight has steadily increased by the size of my clothes! Sometimes, it is rather a vicious circle: no exercise = weight gain. Sometimes because of how my body is, I cannot do periods of exercise and so it goes on. With this in mind  have decided to attend a wekly slimming class - and being in a class situation keeps me motivated to lose weight. I have set myself a target, but as long as a little is lost each week this is all I ask. I am now thinking more about what I eat and have found some good, tasty and healthy recipes.

In the course of two weeks I have seen four theatre productions, my favourite leisure pursuit. My friends have taken me to the theatres and inded some have taken part in productions. All of this makes me feel good and at some places I have also been able to renew acquaintances.

In another two weeks we will be entering another busy family time: our Canadian cousin will be here for a visit, our immeadiate family will be staying, a family christening and my mother-in-laws 96th birthday! So between now and then I know that I have to get as much rest as I can  - but at the same time keep up with daily exercise. Yes, a vicious circle.

The quote: "People see you for a fleeting moment - but you have to live with the consequences."
was said to me a few days ago, when I was showing a lady my foot up splint. I told her about how I wouldn't wear it last summer as I didn't want a "big black thing" around my ankle when I was wearing cropped trousers. The quote was her reply. How profound.

** If you follow the blog you will know that I have dressed my splint in lace.
A silk scarf or attractive fabric is a good alternative, or if you are patriotic red/white and blue!

Action on Stroke month

 May is "Action on Stroke" month.

Follow the link below to see how you can be involved:

http://www.stroke.org.uk/strokemonth/supporters

See Hear - Series 33 - Episode 3 - BBC 2 - 17th April 2013

I caught this programme by chance this morning. I found it to be very moving as it told of the struggle that a deaf lady, who had sufferred a stroke, struggled to get the correct treatment

The programme looked into the treatment of stroke survivors and  how little has changed since the Deafness Cognition and Language project made recommendations to the Government over a decade ago.

If anyone maybe interested you can see this programme on IPlayer - it will be available for the next four weeks.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b01s0s89/

Inspirational

Andrew Marr says he's lucky to be alive after stroke

Andrew Marr: "I'm frankly lucky to be alive"

Broadcaster Andrew Marr has appeared on television for the first time since suffering a major stroke, saying he feels "lucky to be alive".

Speaking on his own programme, BBC Two's Andrew Marr Show, he said he had been "heavily overworking" in the year before the stroke, which was sparked by an intensive rowing machine session.
The 53-year-old presenter, who fell ill in January, said he was doing "a lot of physio" to help with his walking.
He added he would be returning to work.
Appearing in a pre-recorded interview on Sunday's programme, the journalist and television presenter took part in a discussion on the legacy of Margaret Thatcher before talking about his illness.
He told guest presenter Sophie Raworth: "I had a major stroke - I'm frankly lucky to be alive.
"I had been heavily overworking - mostly my own fault - in the year before that. I'd had two minor strokes it turned out, in that year, which I hadn't noticed."
Marr explained he had fallen into the "terrible" trap of believing what he read in newspapers, which encouraged people to "take very intensive exercise in short bursts - and that's the way to health".
He went on: "I went onto a rowing machine and gave it everything I had, and had a strange feeling afterwards - a blinding headache, and flashes of light - served out the family meal, went to bed, woke up the next morning lying on the floor unable to move.
"Beware rowing machines, or at least beware being too enthusiastic on rowing machines would be my message to the nation," he said.
Marr said the stroke had not impaired his voice or memory but had affected "the whole left hand side of my body, which is why I'm still not able to walk fluently".
"I do a kind of elegant hobble is the best I can manage - my left arm isn't much good yet and I've got a lot of physio still to do," he said.
'Coming back' However, the presenter added that, after concentrating on a period of "intensive physio", he planned to return to work.
"I'm certainly coming back. I've got a lot more to say about it all, but I'm going to wait until I've gone through the physio to do so."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22141372

Stroke Awareness Day 2013

 


Stroke Awareness Day is fast approaching and Rotary clubs across Great Britain and Ireland are ready to test blood pressures across the country.
April 20th 2013 is Stroke Awareness Day, in partnership with the Stroke Association, and clubs will set up blood pressure testing areas in shopping centres and other public places.
Many people have high blood pressure and are unaware of it, putting them at risk of a stroke unless they make changes to their lifestyle and seek medical attention.
Rotary clubs will also be offering testing services throughout the month of May as well, with the aim of reaching as many people as possible.
For more information, please visit the Rotary International -
Community Service Committee information page.

Know Your Blood Pressure Day (formerly known as Rotary Stroke Awareness Day) is on 20th April 2013, although Rotary clubs are free to hold a Know Your Blood Pressure event at any time throughout the year.

This event is sometimes heralded as the most important community service event of the year. It has and continues to save lives.
2013 is the 10th anniversary of Rotary and the Stroke Association working together and they estimate that in the last 9 years a total of around 200,000 blood pressures have been taken with some 25,000 people having been referred to their GP for follow up of which a staggering 6,500 were considered to be urgent.
The Stroke Association runs the Know Your Blood Pressure campaign with partners such as RIBI, the Ambulance Service Network, and St Andrew's First Aid (Scotland) to offer free blood pressure tests to members of the public.