Use it or Lose It

For those of you who are reading the blog, I hope that in some way it will have helped or given inspiration or simply to know that YOU may be experiencing the same effects and that you are not alone.
There are over one million Stroke survivors in the U.K. half of whom have been left with disabilities which affect their daily lives. Stroke has a sudden and massive impact and affects people physically and emotionally. As we all know there are some pretty terrible diseases some of which can be cured by operations, but a Stroke can affect so many areas of the body and it is the third most common cause of death in the U.K.
I consider myself to have been very lucky: when it happened to me I was with someone whose quick thinking and getting me to hospital within 30 minutes gave me the best possible start on my journey to recovery.

As you may know, I do not look back and read the blog and so make no apologies if you read something that has previously been written.
I have a long road to journey yet, but still remain focused and have taken inspiration from a Jill Bolte Taylor, a brain scientist who took 7 years to recover from her Stroke. You can see her story:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyyjU8fzEYU

I am slowly getting back to normal after Christmas & New Year and also on my way back after a fall.
I did not go anywhere over the festivities due to a bout of' 'flu and then a couple of weeks ago I had a fall in the loft at home, which has long been converted into a bedroom and bathroom. I have no idea what caused me to fall, whether the bed moved or whether I wrong footed myself. All I do know was that I was totally unable to move or roll over to make an attempt to get up. I had the radio on and my husband was downstairs in the kitchen also listening to the radio, so it took me around 15 minutes to alert him during which time I was laid out flat on my back. He slowly had to manoeuvre me and lift me safely off the floor. For the next week, I took things extremely quietly and slowly and had to rely on my husband even more. I did manage to go out for a meal to celebrate our wedding anniversary.

I subsequently made an appointment to see the practitioner of neurological diagnostics to fix me after the "whoopsie" moment as he called it. I was quite amazed as he worked on the areas that were hurting: my back really hurt if I breathed in deeply, my upper arm hurt and in areas felt as though I had a friction burns, my right shoulder blade felt bruised and once again my neck was very painful.

The treatment resulted in popping a rib back in place, rotating the right shoulder blade as well as treatment on the neck. I have to admit that for the following 24/36 hours I felt quite tender, but now am reaping all the benefits of his skills. At this time I asked about the end finger digits on my right hand, which even now feel like they have had a friction burn. I was told that this is brain scarring and I guess this is why my finger nails grow ridged and dry. I have sent finger nail samples to the hospital, but they have not identified any deficiency. I massage oil and cream into my hands and nails but do not see any improvements. 

vertical ridges and feathering

This little "setback" has really made me think just how vulnerable I have become and really must be careful in what I do, but at the same time must not wrap myself in cotton wool. To carry on as normal as can be but be aware of any risks.
I now try to lead as normal a life as possible and do jobs or go out during the day and have set hours when I go to bed. I try to go out on Friday evenings with my husband which is the only time we both meet up with friends together. However, if I have been busier than usual or had any form of treatment or even been out during the day for two or three consecutive days I stay in, which I know can be disappointing for my husband. Some weeks I do not go out at all during the evenings.

I am still working on improving my right hand and arm movement, but have temporarily suspended the Chairobics class after my fall. The arm and hand have to be worked - it is a case of use it or lose it and I will not give in. We now have a 1 year old granddaughter who wants me to play and sit on the floor with her and feed her, that is one of the biggest incentives I know to get better.
My father used to say KBO - Keep Bashing On and he was right.

If you pondered about my writing & typing: I have to use my left hand, something which did not come naturally as I was right handed.
To use the Control/Shift keys I sometimes have to hold it down with a stapler or the like.
When I have written a document I use spell check to confirm that all is in order - I still type TEH for THE - I have no reason for this, it is only since my Stroke that this occurs.
When I am writing my blog or a document or letter I always have a "word" document open - this means that I can check for spelling and research alternate words.

IF the telephone rings whilst I am sitting in front of the computer I am now quite adept at holding the 'phone on my left shoulder whilst typing a message directly onto an open document.

All of this I have had to work out to find alternate ways of working, it can be done and nothing is impossible. It can and is frustrating at times not only for me, but also for my husband, who has to calm me down when things go wrong and sometimes work out what I mean when I cannot fully explain things to him.