Oh God, THE GOONS. They’ve probably got the angels rolling in the aisles.
Just the thought of them puts a smile on my face a foot wide.
Thank you!
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@BobQ1 you definitely need to have a good sense of humour. It definitely helps get through the difficult times.
I bet your socks brightened up the hospital ward 
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Thankfully, not anymore.
Anyway, my socks can stand up for themselves. 
Starting to feel a little tired (as usual at this time) so i’ll probably sleep now until around 10.30, then I’ll be back and forth between my desk and bed until about 6 am.
Night-night all - for now.
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What is about Russian authors that you find appealing? What is about their sense of humour? Just curious.
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Shwmae Mathew, as a youth, in my formative years of reading, I found that I was sympathetic to the satire. One of my favourite stories was a piece by Valentin Kataev called “Struggle Unto Death” about the endless circle of bureaucracy. A phrase by Dostoevsky, “There is pleasure even in toothache”, was something that struck a chord with my immature sense of the human condition at the time. In my later teen years, I came across Vladimir Mayakovsky whose work I enjoyed. The heavier Russian writers like Tolstoy are not my cup of tea.
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I think I might be interested in reading Valentin Kataev. Sounds fascinating.
Russians are known for satire.
I studied Russian for a long time. I understand Russian grammar very well.
Thank you so much for sharing!
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I have now just gone past my two-year anniversary since my stroke so I thought I would document my progress it may provide some hope for members new to the forum.
As with many here, the stroked occurred out of the blue. Not the ‘FAST’ symptoms commonly mentioned but complete loss of control over my left hand side: Arm, hand, Leg and foot.
I was in hospital for 2 weeks learning how to use my limbs again and getting my BP down to an acceptable level (it was sky high and the main cause of the stroke).
My 2 main pursuits pre stroke were running (I ran every day for 30 mins or so with many 5K and 10K completions) and playing semi-professionally as a keyboard player in a band.
Both now seemed unattainable.
However, with support from the local rehab team plus my own practice sessions I invented (the team weren’t musicians) I was able to get to the point where I could play with both hands again. I never was very good with my left hand anyway so I could never call myself a ‘proper’ piano player. Within 9 months I was playing with my band again. However, the fatigue (which we all get in different guises) got the better of me. Playing in a band is not just playing for one or two hours. Its loading all the equipment in the car, driving to the gig (often in the dark), setting up and then playing for 2-3 hours, then reversing the process. Often not getting into bed until after midnight. I found it took its toll and couldn’t keep alert for a full gig and then drive back at night. So I cut back to just playing the first set. Then realised I was holding the band back, so I retired completely. Surprisingly after over 23 years with the same band, I don’t miss it. I still act as manager and book gigs etc. However, 2 years earlier I came across a ‘daytime’ band (via the U3A organisation) of mixed wind and reed instruments who only play concerts at lunchtimes (still time for my afternoon recovery!) and threw all my focus on them.
Running wasn’t so fortunate. After a few months of trying to improve my walking, from initially walking with a stick, having my wife holding on to me, I was finally able to go solo. However, I find I still ‘clip’ my left foot on the ground so I could typically fall over even at a slow jog! So to keep up the exercise (I started to put on weight unfortunately), I go for fast/speed walks and have gradually increased my speed over the months. I was always competitive at running, pre-stroke, so that mentality has been maintained and my ‘Garmin watch’ is still my best friend, measuring my speed and providing goals. I still gaze longingly at those hundreds setting off for their weekly park runs but reconcile myself with aiming for a faster or longer walk the next day. I took my youngest son to the local park run the other week (he started doing these when I started 10 years ago and now runs half marathons) and chatted to the marshals and found out I could still participate – if I can walk for 5k. I’m up to 2.5k at the moment. Something to aim for then.
I started thinking about some ‘words of wisdom’ I could pass onto fellow Forumites and came up with The 3 Rs
- Rest
- Refreshment
- Recreation
Rest.
Rest is most important, even if you can’t have a full nap in bed or on the couch, but closing your eyes whilst watching TV for 15 minutes or half an hour, is still OK. I found out early on, it depended what I was doing or about to do, that governed how much rest I need. Social interaction took the most out of me – so if I was going out to a meal in the evening, I would have a full hour, or driving to a local concert. Listening to music didn’t seem to drain me as much as social interaction but need to be alert to drive. Sometimes, these days my wife takes me and picks me up. I don’t like asking her so minimise my concert going these days. No more driving down to London, to watch a band and standing for 3 hours.
Refreshment
Water (or cups of tea in my case) and regular snacks/meals are very important. You can’t skip meals like you perhaps used to be able to. Being hungry or peckish certainly has an effect on my walking (drop in blood sugar perhaps?) – if I start getting ‘stumbly’, a quick pick me up makes all the difference. On long drives or shopping expeditions, I always carry a small packet of (low sugar) biscuits – or better still, stop off at a coffee shop! I don’t take caffeine these days, but the odd ‘proper’ tea or chocolate biscuit can give you a boost and stave off the fatigue. I retired from work 18 months ago as I couldn’t keep up the hours, but now volunteer 2 mornings a week in a local charity shop that specialises in all things music – right up my street!
Recreation
What I mean by this is a mix of exercise and some form of engaging in a hobby or past-time. I mix my exercise (gym or walking) with listening to music or actually playing music. Something that ‘gets you out of your head’. Mixing with other people can help as well. Social interaction with people with the similar interests, really helps. It certainly seems to pick me up. But remember that this may also ‘drain your batteries’ so be prepared for more downtime if needed (I find). Although I go to the gym to strengthen myself twice a week, just walking is fine, if you don’t fancy the gym. Having said that, in my local gym there are often a few ‘more mature’ men and ladies attending, doing what they can without fear of ridicule.
Psychological Issues
Not sure if these notes ring true with others on the forum, but I have been suffering with the ‘loss of me’. I am clearly not the person I was pre-stroke. Especially with regards the physical activity – even walking upstairs is slow (or worse, down stairs) it is obvious I am not the same person. Climbing ladders is a no go at present. I was a very fit 67 year old pre-stroke so to suddenly change overnight hit me hard. Walking through busy shopping centres takes it out of me – constantly changing directions trying not to bump into people. Before my stroke, I literally took that in my stride, now it makes me anxious.
But I have been lucky in that the local hospital has an outpatient neuro psychological unit. So in these sessions, we explored the ‘before and after’ picture of me. So with the help of the neuro unit, I started writing a check list, balance sheet sort of thing, to document the positive things, since my stroke. These include the afore mentioned increase in musical appreciation (mentioned in another post), being more happy-go-lucky (less intense), more open emotionally (although I cry easy now!), being able to retire earlier than intended (but still after pension age) and finding another pursuit which I love (volunteer in a local record shop). As I have mentioned before in this forum, peculiarly my interest in Horse Racing just disappeared after my stroke. Also my appetite came back! I like anything now; even sausages and mash. Also, I used to be a babbling mess going on a plane and all the things you do beforehand (security etc). Our last mini holiday to Austria in July, I sailed through. No anxiety and even enjoyed the experience. Weird!
Anyway, I hope something here has struck a chord with some of you and hopefully given some element of hope to those new to the Forum.
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@Retrokeyplayer that’s quite an inspiring post which will give many people hope. Even when you weren’t able to sustain a previous love you managed to find an alternative to fill the gap instead. Hats off to you.
I was a runner pre-stroke but post stroke it’s off the table for now. I can only just move around walking & i’m not far off 2 years too. I’ve not given up hope though & you may yet see me out there on a park run
I understand what you mean about the loss of me. Strangely i struggle with that more now than I ever did. I always try & look at the hood things that came out of my stroke - slower pace of life, new hobbies, amazing support from family & friends, a generally less stressful life.
Wishing you all the very best as you continue your recovery journey.
Best wishes
Ann
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Thanks, Ann. I hope you can make that park run someday!
Best wishes
Duncan
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Amazing post!
But you have made real improvements. That is truly wonderful.
So you can’t run, but you can walk fast. Who needs to run anyways in their late 60s? LOL. And, not only that, you surely don’t want to fall, friend, creating more problems for youself.
On a sadder note, my mother was never the same person after her stroke. She recovered so well physically after her stroke - it was truly amazing. She walked better than most people her age at 71. Her balance, speech, reflexes, etc. – all great. But her emotional mind was gone. She went insane, more or less, over time, even though she was cognitively very sharp at times. We were told it wasn’t all due to brain damage, but also to how she couldn’t handle the trauma of her stroke, as well as her anxious personality prior to her stroke.
Overall, I think you are doing very well for all that you’ve been through. No, you’ll never be exactly as you were pre-stroke, but life is change. None of us will ever be the same as we age anyways. We all go through changes in life, with or without strokes.
You’re doing really well, despite some issues here and there.
I hope you continue to make improvements, and may you be happy.
Take good care.
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Thanks for those kind words. Matthew. Sorry to hear about your mother.
Keep well.
Duncan
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Hello, Rups,
I am very new, having had a TIA less than a week ago. We had had a busy weekend and a horrible drive back to N. Yorks through road works, crashes, bad accidents - a journey which took 6.5 hours captive in the car - stressful and tiring.
We had a social meeting in the village - I told my husband to go and leave me to rest.
After the meeting he came home and turned on the TV. I was not interested and fell asleep. After the programme ended he tried to wake me up but I was disphagic…he decided I was suffering a TIA, having witnessed several relatives in similar circumsta nces. He phoned 111 and the triage operator spoke to him, then to me, then she phoned for an ambulance. The paramedic did many tests in situ, then radioed my !ocal hospital trust, York, and said he was bringing me in.
I was feviewed
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@T0ngah0rse Hi & welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear you’ve had a TIA & i hope you’re making steady progress. It’s a big shock when these things happen & it takes dome getting used to.
If i had one piece of advice it would be to listen to your body & rest when you need to so your brain can work its magic & repair.
Best wishes
Ann
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Hi Ann,
As expected, I feel absolutely exhausted all the time!
My problem is that I cannot yet accept that I have had what amounts to a mini- stroke! The psychiatrists would say I am in a state of ‘denial’. I recognise this is true - but it is not much help.
A couple of years ago we started a ukulele group in the village and we have several bookings over Christmas to play for singalongs which are very popular. The trouble is that I am not sure that I feel up to it - not to exposing my post stroke problems - whereas I would usually be the life and soul of the evening! ( I said ’ we’ but it was really just me- and my husband followed along with me but he gets all the credit.)
I am not resentful - he is a much better player than I am - and - if he had not come home when he did, and seen so many similar cases, I might not be writing this now!
But I am so used to being independent…and in charge of my own life…
I woke up this morning with the words of the psalm - ‘Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…’ in my head.
I am not used to feeling so low…I am normally an optimist.
I need to find a little switch inside my brain to find my positivity.
They say that Time heals.
Thank you for your remarkably rapid respose to my first post. I look forward to more communications from this forum!
Cheers and lots of love to all members…
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Hi @T0ngah0rse and welcome to the forum, I’m just sorry you’ve had need to join the club no one really wants to be in.
I’m 2yrs post stroke, I had 2 TIAs and yes, you do feel low afterwards. Your still in shock, it hasn’t been a week yet, but it will pass. I felt quite emotionally numb for quite some time afterwards but it wears off with each passing day/week however long it takes as an individual. @Mrs5K has already said, you need rest, and your brain is making sure that’s what it gets by making you feel so fatigued. Healing brains take a lot energy, burn through a lot of the body’s nutrients so keep them topped up. But remember, with any illness you feel low, certainly any major ones like this, it will get better. 
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@T0ngah0rse you are not alone with the acceptance piece. I think we all go through it. Even though I was on a stroke ward being told I’d had a stroke by the drs I didn’t believe them. It took me months to reach the acceptance part. You’ll get there just give yourself time. It’s a major event & very early days for you. Like yoy I was very independent & had a very busy, but enjoyable, life. To lose that in an instant is tough.
Fatigue is a major thing and you do need to listen to your body & rest loads. I didn’t initially (i’m a bit stubborn) & I got myself a 2nd hospital stay as a result.
I love the fact that you play the ukulele. You’ll have to see how you feel but this christmas might be too soon for you but you’ll definitely get back to it.
Best wishes
Ann
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You might find the post in this link a useful read, to peruse at your leisure, that some fellow stroke survivors pulled together. It’s just a compilation of informative bits and tips which might help going forward 
Naturally not all will be relevant to you as all stroke are individual but there are some common similarities.
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Hi tongahorse just read your post. I’m now just a year post stroke and still feel tired at times. Like people say trying too get better takes its toll on our brains and we must rest them… in hindsight I have made vast strides forward since the start of my journey but I have finally accepted it’s a very slow process so just keep on wx the exercises and set yourself little goals to achieve then some more once you have achieved those. Regards suzywoong
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This post is very helpful to me! You have reminded me of all the progress that has happened in my own recovery, as well as to rest, which is majorly important in my life, but worries my family. Their worry makes me push my limits a little too far and I end up sleeping too much as an after effect. The social aspect also wears me down more quickly. Most especially if there is much movement around, or if it is loud, or there are too many people involved. I want to try going to see a band, but am afraid I would have to leave, as well as have trouble finding a ride there and back. I promised myself an outdoor concert last year but never found someone to take me. Perhaps I should wait and try again in spring.
Thank you for coming back to comment. Hope to see you again soon.
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Hi DeAnn. Thanks for your comments. I also find large gatherings difficult especially if they are all talking at once - which conversation do you follow? I restrict myself to just local concerts now but have taken joy in that. My walking continues to improve - now up to 4km and at quite a pace. I think it’s important not to ‘accept’ (as in, don’t resign to it) our condition but to continually try and improve and/or work on the positives our new brain throws at us! All the best.
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