The Wonky Walker

Walking Wonky Thru Life After Stroke

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DEFINING your life by BS (before stroke) or AS (after stroke)!

Do you, or someone else DEFINE every stage of your life now as BS (Before Stroke – fits perfectly, huh?) or AS (After stroke)?  Example:  “Oh, BS we use to hike and do all types of outdoor stuff!”  Or, “AS she doesn’t like that anymore!”? I am finding that as time goes by, these “Defining Moments” happen less and less, or maybe I’m ignoring the outside comments?  I try hard not to define my life…

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Stroke vs Meds.......A VERY Tricky Balancing Game!

On May 8th, I posted about having finally transitioned over from taking Baclofen to a new med Requip.  I was very excited about the possibility of having found a med that not only quieted the right leg & arm spasticity at night, but also aided in my sleep, without waking the next day feeling like I was a walking zombie!

Well last week I had a major “stroke moment”! I completely forgot to keep…

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Feeling Great On New Medicine For My Spasticity!

I’ve been on Baclofen for three years now since my stroke, for my night-time spasticity with very little success.  Yes, it helped…..mildly.  But even at the highest tablet dose, I was still waking up 4-5 times a night with my right leg & arm in spasms!

I didn’t want to add another, stronger medicine, to the others I’m already taking.

So, on my last visit, after telling my doctor again that the…

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Spasticity: The Evil That Strikes Whenever! Tonight, as on many occasions, I was "visited" by the "Spasticity Fairy"! Otherwise known as the Pain of No Reason"!

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Trying My Hand At Container Gardening!

Since we have dogs, and not a lot of area to put in a formal garden, I decided to try my hand experimenting with container gardening.

I bought a used large plastic “barrel”, cleaned it out, put in Miracle Grow soil, and purchased two very small squash plants: One zucchini and one yellow squash.

Yesterday I took this photo:

I have two yellow squash blooms and today I noticed the zucchini has two…

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Things That Affect My Stroke Symptoms Negatively aka "Hit My Wall"!

Things That Affect My Stroke Symptoms Negatively aka “Hit My Wall”!

Okay, it’s been just over three years now since my stroke.  I know how lucky I am to have survived, and how lucky I am to have progressed so much.  My days are getting easier, my “brain fuzziness” moments are getting farther and fewer between.

But there are things that negatively affect my “always” stroke symptoms!  These things will make me “lose it”, or as my husband says, “Hit your wall!”

My…

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Take II: Fortune Cookie I realized that I published my pic of the fortune cookie and it was too small to read, Oops!

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I AM A SURVIVOR!

Today I am a 3 year STROKE SURVIVOR! Thank you to my WONDERFUL husband Jeff, my two sons Chase & Alex, and all my family and friends for lending me their strength, both mentally & physically, when mine was lacking!

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Finally A Fortune Cookie Fortune I Believe! Got Chinese food today.  Normally the fortunes in the fortune cookies are silly.  But today?  I really liked mine.  Great for a stroke survivor:

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Getting Used To Working Again

Getting Used To Working Again

As I told everyone in an earlier post, after volunteering for almost two years at the White Dove Thrift Shoppe, I have been hired to work part-time as a cashier.

Before my stroke, a 25 hr work week would have been no problem, and it isn’t now, except it does take some getting used to. 

I find that being “on” for those working hours, requires me to need to be “off” for at least an hour after I…

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It's not ALL thorns. Roses DO APPEAR!

After yesterday’s “spasticity” battle, I realized that I forgot to share some exciting news:  I GOT A JOB!

If you’ve read one of my older posts, Volunteering helps me concentrate on helping others!, you’ll know that I have been volunteering at a thrift store run by a great non-profit here in Arizona called Hospice of the Valley.

Volunteering gave me the “boost” I needed to step out of my…

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Will the spasticity ever end!?!???

It’s been awhile since my right foot/leg has claimed the attention of more than one family member.

But, tonight it certainly did!  Earlier today, I pulled a muscle in my back. Nothing major, just one of those “twisted wrong” moments.

So I got out a TENS unit I have.  With my husbands help, I got hooked up.

45 mins later, and ready for bed,  my back felt great.

But…. My right leg/foot DID NOT!

M…

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Spasticity SUCKS!!!

I have been trying to avoid the “spasticity” blog. But…… Maybe, just maybe, all stroke survivors have to post this: SPASTICITY SUCKS!!!

I have been on Baclofen pills since my stroke. A pump is not an option.

I’m done feeling like a guinea pig! 

I am seriously looking into trying marijuana oil.

Any pros? Any con’s?

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Be Yourself

There is, and always will be, only one YOU! Why pretend to be someone else?

If you now stutter, stutter! If you now use a walker, own it! If you now have trouble getting thru your day? Know at the end of it…….You DID IT!

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Not Just For Kids (Gadgets geared for kids that work for disabled)!

Not Just For Kids (Gadgets geared for kids that work for disabled)!

I got my Christmas present early this year, on Black Friday, a new tablet with a 10″ screen!  For some, this seems like a small TV.  But, for me, with my bad eyesight, it’s a way for me to enjoy technology.

But, I was extremely leery about using it because the tablet itself is very thin & slippery.  My grip is not the greatest, and I was constantly worried about dropping it.

So I went on the hunt…

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Spasticity When You Least Expect It!

Tonight for some damn reason my right side decided to go onto a MAJOR SPASTICITY war with the rest of my body. I’m already taking the max oral dose of Bsclofen. Have been avoiding taking anything stronger. But……..

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It's Holiday time & time for Auditory Overload!

It’s Holiday time & time for Auditory Overload!

I always loved the holiday’s.  The music, the lights, even the overcrowded stores.  There was just “something” about all of it that made the holiday’s, well, “The Holiday’s”.

But since my stroke, I deal with something that puts a damper on most festive occasions:  AUDITORY OVERLOAD!

Here is an article written awhile back that I think bears re-reading for all stroke patients & their caregivers:  h…

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