Starting Over Again, Something Old Something New
Posted by Bob Miller at 5/22/2010 8:16 AM 
Categories: Stroke Therapy
Tags: healthy living inspiration stroke support
Categories: Stroke Therapy
Tags: healthy living inspiration stroke support
Very seldom will you hear or read about me complaining about my personal situation.
Instead of being a glass half full person I like to imagine me as being a glass filled to the brim type of guy.
I needed to say that in order to qualify where I stand with my recovery at the present after my second stroke.
On my scale of 1 to 11, with 11 being dead, I would have to classify my first one three and a half years ago as a solid 8.
Sparing the details for the sake of brevity, I have made continuous steady improvement until my recent much smaller stroke
less than two months ago.
Fortunately this stroke was in my estimation perhaps a 2 on my stroke measuring scale.
I may have been a little too eager to begin my victory celebration as my previously "good" but now slightly weakened right leg gave
way to a slanted and holey roadway causing me a severely sprained ankle as I crumpled helplessly into the street.
Finally over a month later as my ankle is near 100%, I am beginning to assess the actual effect the second stroke had upon me.
Happily most of the physical effects of my recently effected right side are now only minimal, however my left side which was
making so much improvement has seemed to regress by about two years worth of effort.
I am not sure this makes sense from a neurological stand point. Brain damage on the left affects the right and vice versa.
The only explanation I have is that the connections that I "rewired" from the first stroke now got sort of tangled or kinked.
Oh well, what happened is done. Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% of how we deal with it.
As I previously stated, I am not one to feed or give power to any negative sources so I won't.
I simply need to rely on some strategies of old. I remember after my first stroke when relearning how to walk how I would tell
myself the following, "left foot, right foot". Not only couldn't I physically do it, I didn't even remember how at that point.
That reminder worked for me then and it is proving useful once again as I continue repairing all the damaged but not
broken connections.
I guess the lesson for me in all of this in order to be victorious is either use strategies that worked before or find new ones.
Oh yeah, and Never, Ever, Ever give up.
Bob Miller
Strokes Suck
Instead of being a glass half full person I like to imagine me as being a glass filled to the brim type of guy.
I needed to say that in order to qualify where I stand with my recovery at the present after my second stroke.
On my scale of 1 to 11, with 11 being dead, I would have to classify my first one three and a half years ago as a solid 8.
Sparing the details for the sake of brevity, I have made continuous steady improvement until my recent much smaller stroke
less than two months ago.
Fortunately this stroke was in my estimation perhaps a 2 on my stroke measuring scale.
I may have been a little too eager to begin my victory celebration as my previously "good" but now slightly weakened right leg gave
way to a slanted and holey roadway causing me a severely sprained ankle as I crumpled helplessly into the street.
Finally over a month later as my ankle is near 100%, I am beginning to assess the actual effect the second stroke had upon me.
Happily most of the physical effects of my recently effected right side are now only minimal, however my left side which was
making so much improvement has seemed to regress by about two years worth of effort.
I am not sure this makes sense from a neurological stand point. Brain damage on the left affects the right and vice versa.
The only explanation I have is that the connections that I "rewired" from the first stroke now got sort of tangled or kinked.
Oh well, what happened is done. Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% of how we deal with it.
As I previously stated, I am not one to feed or give power to any negative sources so I won't.
I simply need to rely on some strategies of old. I remember after my first stroke when relearning how to walk how I would tell
myself the following, "left foot, right foot". Not only couldn't I physically do it, I didn't even remember how at that point.
That reminder worked for me then and it is proving useful once again as I continue repairing all the damaged but not
broken connections.
I guess the lesson for me in all of this in order to be victorious is either use strategies that worked before or find new ones.
Oh yeah, and Never, Ever, Ever give up.
Bob Miller
Strokes Suck
This happened to me as well after my second stroke. I lost my right arm completely after a year of hard work getting it beck, it was a real kick in the teeth. It makes complete sense to me, our brains have changed, and our new circuits aren't quite strong yet. Just keep up what got you through the first stroke. You have a ton of friends that support you all the way. Call on us whenever you need to.
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Thanks Jonathan, I guess it does make sense when you think about it.
Bob Miller.
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Bob:
As a person who has experienced both sensory and motor neuro-"damage" (by way of multiple sclerosis rather than a stroke), I know we do indeed rewire connections.
I know also (from my own experience, as well as that of neuro-rehabbing clients with whom I have worked), such rewiring occurs in parallel to our attitudes and expectations, our beliefs, our visions, our actions, our trust, and our perseverance.
We are all rewiring moment-to-moment; and like you, the glass half full (AND refilling!) is such a more pleasant way to go about it.
May we each reconnect in joy,
Malcolm
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Bob, it is encouraging to see you have created such a great network of friends, and are able to be a leader in sharing and encouraging yourself...and others in improving upon your stroke health challenge.
The brain is very complex, and I am in the midst of learning the neurological aspects of neurotransmitters, and how deficiencies in these can be the underlying problem to alcoholism, adhd, depression and pain management.
There is much more research and work required in the field of neurology.
Keep asking for help, and looking for answers and hopefully more clarity and support will come your way.
Keep up the good work, of providing a gathering place of support and encouragement.
Annette
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