The summer here in the U.K. was pretty amazing:
The Queen's Diamond Jubilee, marking 60 years of The Queen's reign, took place during the first week-end of June. Next came the Olympics, quickly followed by the Paralympics.
There was a feel good factor about the place and the Paralympians certainly raised awareness
about the lives of disabled people and there seemed to be a shift in public attitude. Whilst I was shopping, just after the Paralympics had finished, I heard 2
youngsters trying to decide what my disability is. I hope that the
awareness will continue.
At the current time I seem to be in an impasse, but I have learned over time not to worry about this. I continue to exercise, but have been remiss in wearing my "foot up" splint.
I have worn the splint most days since being discharged from hospital in August 2009. It is designed to keep my foot straight or better placed whilst walking. During the spring of this year, however, I decided that as my walking was vastly improved I perhaps no longer needed this aid. . . How wrong could I have been, after a few months I began to experience pain in my right knee and began to be concerned that I would need an arthroscopy. My G.P. referred me for physiotherapy and after a few weeks wait attended my appointment. After a session of exercise, a discussion ensued where it became all too apparent that I had made the wrong judgement call regarding the splint. I began to wear it again and the pain ceased and I found that I could walk distances without any hassle. I did not connect the two actions at all.
It is not the most glamorous of "appliances" to wear, but I have learned a big lesson in all of this.
The weather has been pretty dire during the summer, being very wet and grey. My body does not seem to cope with the cold and damp and I find that my arm and neck can hurt, probably due to the effect on nerves and tendons. I now wear a scarf around my neck and to preserve body heat wear a hat. Also wearing sensible shoes and thick socks stops the cold rising up through the body.These simple ideas do seem to help and are the ones that I have recently found to be useful.
Monday, 15 October 2012
Monday, 20 August 2012
Nine Weeks: 15th June - 17th August 2012
These last few weeks have been pretty amazing:
First of all my holiday in Canada, which saw us travel from West to East. During the holiday we settled into a routine of geting up at 7.45/8 a.m. and travelling from around 10 a.m to 5p.m. except for our last week in Winnipeg which was more relaxed.
If anyone is interested in my holiday I am writing a blog: http://canadianescape.blogspot.co.uk/
On our return I was quite poorly with a urine infection and had three consecutive courses of antibiotics before I finally got rid of it. This made me extremely tired and I had to just have some quiet relaxation. The pains began on the return plane journey from Toronto, so I know that I have been extremely lucky to have had one amazing holiday, which was a huge undertaking, without any problems.
On the 10th August, the town where I live hosts the 10 day FEVA festival. Festival of Entertainment & Visual Arts. http://www.feva.info/
I am a great supporter of this event and duly made my choices of which events I would and support. My sister came to stay for a few days and amongst the events we visited some of the art exhibitions.
It was good to have the company and also share this festival with.
Although I am reasonably independent threre still places that are inaccessible to me on my own. I don't let this perturb me too much, there is nothing to gain by worrying about the uncontrollables. I am just grateful when the opportunity presents itself to do something different.
I am now feeling physically very tired, and have been spending my time reading, but rest assured that I wouldn't have changed anything that I have done or achieved over the last few weeks.
In my eyes this is a very small price to pay for all the enjoyment.
Monday, 6 August 2012
Thought For The Day . . .
I have just been reading about a 21 year old girl who had a Stroke 9 months ago, and how her life has been turned upside down.
She has relearned to walk and although she knows that life will never be the same she simply says that "she is lucky to be alive".
I wish her well and know that the 3 P's will get her though it:
Persistance
Patience
Perseverence
She has relearned to walk and although she knows that life will never be the same she simply says that "she is lucky to be alive".
I wish her well and know that the 3 P's will get her though it:
Persistance
Patience
Perseverence
Wednesday, 1 August 2012
Post Holiday and Botox 3
This year, after discussing it for many years, we finally got to go to Canada.
Something has always got in the way, not least the Stroke which I have been unlucky enough to get.
I spent the winter and spring planning the trip, laying out maps, highlighting prospective routes and then deciding where our overnight stopovers should be. I read guide books and made lists of the necessary items to take eg: three and a half weeks of medication.
We flew from Manchester to Vancouver on June 15th and spent two nights there before transferring to Victoria, Vancouver Island for two nights, returning to Vancouver for one further night and then collected a hire car. We had the car for twelve nights and travelled 1650 miles through Whistler, Penticton, the Okanagen Valley to Kamloops and then from Jasper to Banff before returning the car at Calgary.
Our last stop was a week with a cousin in Winnipeg.
So
we have travelled through British Columbia to Alberta, flown over Saskatchewan
to Manitoba and flown over Ontario! A West to East Fest if you pardon
my enthusiasm.
Indeed, not quite a relaxing holiday, but all the preparation meant that the holiday went without any problems.
My health stood up to the rigours of the travelling, which meant getting up around 7.45/8.00 daily and being on the road by 10.00am I have to admit that since our return on July 10th I have been extremely tired and have not quite got back to what constitutes normal these days.
The day that we flew home from Toronto was by coincidence the third anniversary of my Stroke. Who would ever have thought at that time that I would be able to undertake such a holiday. Certainly not me!
A Stroke can affect a person in a number of ways, but I always tell people that it is not the end of life, but the beginning of a new way. Go for it!
I had a phone call more or less on our return inviting me to the Botox clinic again. This time after much discussion I had No. 3 injection, this time into my lower arm which will aid my fingers as they had started to "claw" again. Botox will never be a cure, but it relaxes the muscles enabling exercises to progress.
The Doctor stated how she had noticed the improved range of my wrist and arm: this in turn spurs me on to keep up with daily exercises.
All is continuing to go in the right direction and I have to be prepared to take every opportunity that is given to me.
Even on my holidays I kept up with exercises, although we did sometimes get odd looks from people as we did the exercises at bus stops, on the beach . . .
Something has always got in the way, not least the Stroke which I have been unlucky enough to get.
I spent the winter and spring planning the trip, laying out maps, highlighting prospective routes and then deciding where our overnight stopovers should be. I read guide books and made lists of the necessary items to take eg: three and a half weeks of medication.
We flew from Manchester to Vancouver on June 15th and spent two nights there before transferring to Victoria, Vancouver Island for two nights, returning to Vancouver for one further night and then collected a hire car. We had the car for twelve nights and travelled 1650 miles through Whistler, Penticton, the Okanagen Valley to Kamloops and then from Jasper to Banff before returning the car at Calgary.
Our last stop was a week with a cousin in Winnipeg.
Indeed, not quite a relaxing holiday, but all the preparation meant that the holiday went without any problems.
My health stood up to the rigours of the travelling, which meant getting up around 7.45/8.00 daily and being on the road by 10.00am I have to admit that since our return on July 10th I have been extremely tired and have not quite got back to what constitutes normal these days.
The day that we flew home from Toronto was by coincidence the third anniversary of my Stroke. Who would ever have thought at that time that I would be able to undertake such a holiday. Certainly not me!
A Stroke can affect a person in a number of ways, but I always tell people that it is not the end of life, but the beginning of a new way. Go for it!
I had a phone call more or less on our return inviting me to the Botox clinic again. This time after much discussion I had No. 3 injection, this time into my lower arm which will aid my fingers as they had started to "claw" again. Botox will never be a cure, but it relaxes the muscles enabling exercises to progress.
The Doctor stated how she had noticed the improved range of my wrist and arm: this in turn spurs me on to keep up with daily exercises.
All is continuing to go in the right direction and I have to be prepared to take every opportunity that is given to me.
Even on my holidays I kept up with exercises, although we did sometimes get odd looks from people as we did the exercises at bus stops, on the beach . . .
Friday, 20 July 2012
Holiday: 15th June - 9th July
I have had a temporary adjournment whilst I have been on my vacation, I am pleased to report that in the three and a half weeks that we were away I did not experience any problems and coped with everything that came my way.
I have, however, returned very tired and will be writing about my experiences very soon.
Thank you.
I have, however, returned very tired and will be writing about my experiences very soon.
Thank you.
Thursday, 31 May 2012
May 2012 Updates
 | |
| Hand Held Vacuum Cleaner |
This enables me to clean the stairs steps and carpet edges and the like. It is only a small piece of household equipment, but it goes a long way to making me feel more functional.
I am slowly seeing improvements in my right hand, fingers and arm, but I know that even after nearly three years, I have a significant road to travel on my journey to recovery.
I seem to be busy doing something on most days now, well as much as my stamina will allow, I have been doing some of the paperwork for our local annual Bed Race, and my husband & I have taken on the Membership secretary's role at our local Cricket Club. These are important jobs, but come without any pressures and can be done at my leisure.
I attended the eye clinic at the hospital in the middle of the month and this time I managed to get down to the bottom of the eye chart and read it correctly and the pressure is ok. I go back in November to have photo's taken behind the eyes and if things are as they are now I will be discharged.
The following week I attended the hospital again, this time to have my resting splint re-moulded. I have been slightly concerned that my fingers have been bending under again, and after all the hard work that has been done to straighten them out I got quite anxious about it. Now it is fitting much better and I'm happy again!
I have also had an appointment with the Physio, and although I don't receive regular treatment, it is re-assuring that she is only a phone call or email away. I think that it is possible that at some point I may be referred for a second arthroscopy on my right knee. I had the first one three years ago, that can be the optimum time it may last, but my new style of walking probably doesn't help matters!
I have new exercises to do for the arm muscles and these can be done with my walking stick:
Sit on a chair facing a chair or stool of the same height. In both hands hold on to the upside down stick, (handle resting on the stool), at arms length and move the stick backwards & forwards and also from side to side. My weak hand, the right, has to be placed underneath the left hand but this exercise must be driven by the right hand. Keeping my back straight will improve the posture in my trunk and help the nerves in my neck.
I have learnt over time that you do not require expensive pieces of equipment but can be resourceful with common objects that can be found in the house.
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
BBC News 1st May 2012
Stroke survivors 'being denied best recovery chance'
Stroke survivors often need a range of rehab after leaving hospital
Many
stroke survivors feel abandoned after they leave hospital and are being
denied the chance to make the best recovery because of a lack of
post-hospital care, a report suggests.
The Stroke Association review surveyed patients and carers across the UK and found survivors were facing a struggle.Some went without regular assessments, or had difficulties seeing specialists.
The Department of Health admitted there was work to be done, but the government was focused on "driving up standards".
The report concluded local government and the NHS must do more to co-ordinate care.
'Abandoned' Emergency hospital services, such as access to scans and life-saving treatment, are generally perceived to have improved in recent years. This has meant that more and more people are surviving strokes.
Continue reading the main story
The 75-year-old former nurse, who is a widow, was released from hospital without a care plan or any follow-up appointments.
"I was told to ask my neighbours for help, and if it had not been for their kindness, I would be sitting at home on my own, starving to death, as I cannot walk more than 150 yards.
"Sometimes I hear this called 'care in the community'. The reality is that it's more like sending you to prison. If you are on your own, it's more like solitary confinement."
Case study
Ann Frewer has had to rely on others since she had a stroke in November last year.The 75-year-old former nurse, who is a widow, was released from hospital without a care plan or any follow-up appointments.
"I was told to ask my neighbours for help, and if it had not been for their kindness, I would be sitting at home on my own, starving to death, as I cannot walk more than 150 yards.
"Sometimes I hear this called 'care in the community'. The reality is that it's more like sending you to prison. If you are on your own, it's more like solitary confinement."
There are now more than 1m stroke survivors in the UK, but 300,000 of those are living with moderate or severe disabilities.
Jon Barrick, of the Stroke Association, said it was clear
more had to be done to help them after the charity received evidence
from more than 2,000 patients and carers."Many stroke survivors tell us that after all the effort to save their lives, they then feel abandoned when they return home.
"The NHS and local authorities are failing in their responsibilities."
Phil Gray, chief executive of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, agreed there was a problem.
He said: "We are really concerned about what happens to stroke survivors after they leave hospital.
"There is clear evidence that a significant lack of investment has led to a complete, or at least substantial, absence of services in many parts of the country."
Are you a stroke survivor? What has been your experience of post-hospital care? Please tell us your story using the form below.
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