My new exercises are kicking my butt...

The good news is that the exercises from the Physical Therapist should increase my coordination and improve my strength...the bad news is that they are HARD. I really love the prospect of having little or no side effects from my stroke, but I don't know that I like the prospect of doing these exercises every day. I just have to remind myself that anything worth doing is worth doing right; I also have to remember that exercises that are good for me might be hard in the short term.

I had another follow up with Physical Therapy today

I have been having some problems with weakness in my left leg lately. It bothered me, a little, and I decided to go to the Dr. He gave me a consult to Physical Therapy. They told me a couple things; one I already knew, but feared and the second I anticipated but did not know for sure. The thing I already knew was that the muscles in my legs are strong and fine. There is no deficiency in the strength of my legs. What I feared was that the problem is really a neurological problem, balance issue and not a strength issue. Where this can be a problem is that this "problem" probably will not get better but will, over time, get worse. That was no surprise; what was a surprise was that there are exercises I can do that can "hopefully" teach me to regain balance. In other words, the nerves probably will not get better, I can just relearn how to do certain things. The weakness is not, in truth, weakness; it is a balance issue. So, I have some more exercises to do over time that will hopefully re-teach myself how to do some things. I will keep you posted on how things go.

Okay, it has been awhile since I have posted...

But that is actually a good thing...no posting means that I have had very little, if any side effects from my strokes in the last few months. In fact, in September, my neurologist officially released me and told me that she is genuinely surprised, in fact flabbergasted, at my recovery. It is not just rare for someone to have a complete recovery after a stroke as mine...it does not happen. Having said that, I do have one little problem...I am having some weakness in my left knee. In fact, with my right leg, I can get up and down with little or no problems...with my left knee, I cannot get up after I am on the floor. My neurologist is going to do another scan of my brain to make sure it has not changed any...she doubts it, but it would just set her mind at ease if she did that. Other than my leg bother my a little, I feel GREAT!

I am going to post my personal story...

It has been awhile since I posted...now, that can be interpreted two ways: it can be good because I have been feeling very well, or it can be bad because I feel too bad to post. In this case, it is because I feel really well and do not have much to post. In fact, the neurologist told me that I do not have to do any more follow ups unless I feel bad. Overall, I am doing really well. So, I am going to post a video I made today (today, consequently, is my birthday). I hope you enjoy this post.

I got the results of my scans...

Before I begin, I think it is important to remind people that sometimes even the Dr. make mistakes. When I went for my MRA yesterday, they were going to do 2 tests: one MRI on my head, and an MRA on the vessels in my head. Dr. Davis had ordered an MRA of the vessels in my chest, too, to make sure the artery in my chest is not making its own bypass. Well, when I told them about the MRA of my chest, they said they would have to call because they did not have paperwork on it. Sure enough, they were supposed to be doing a chest MRA, so they wound up doing 3 tests instead of 2.

And the results are..................I am doing very well. Dr. Benjamin said my MRI looked GREAT; no changes, which is good. My MRA's show that the artery in my chest is NOT forming its own bypass, meaning that the artery is totally occluded - that is, if a blood clot goes to my brain again, it won't be through that artery.

Really, I don't know that I could have had better test results. The strokes are still there, obviously, but there is nothing new to report. Overall, it was a really good visit.

A new school year...

It has been awhile since I have posted. I guess that means life is good. Well, life is good, but I guess the fact that I have not posted means that there have been no major incidents in that time. We had a good remainder of the summer. I went to a family reunion in Sioux City on August 1, and that was a really good time. Many of my family either called me or came to visit me in the hospital. It was good to see them again. Many of them I had not seen in 10 or more years.

Also in August our church did a fundraising booth at the Knoxville Nationals. I was a little worried about that because I was not sure I would have the stamina for that, but I did quite well. Nothing significant to report. The fundraiser was for our building fund...we are currently raising money to re-side the church and to re-roof the church. We will also be replacing windows and then I would like to make some modifications to the inside of the church, as well. I have been able to help, somewhat, but I have been really careful not to do too much...I have been yelled at too many times. (I know, I know...it is only because they care about me; I am only being facetious.)

Yesterday we started a new school year. My oldest is a Senior in High School, which does not seem possible. My oldest daughter started middle school, another significant event for which I was not ready, and my youngest started 3rd grade. At least one of my kids is young enough to still enjoy being called a "little" kid (although she will often remind me that 3rd graders go to recess with the "big kids" now.)

And last, but not least, I have another test today. I have an MRA, to test whether or not the artery that was occluded is forming a natural bypass. If it is, then they want to stop it. I will have a follow-up with Dr. Benjamin in September. I have been noticing that I get tired faster these days. I don't know if it is the result of just getting used to a new schedule, or something inside my brain changing. Either way, I will not worry about it (SURE) until I see Dr. Benjamin.

Overall, I feel great and am looking forward to another GREAT year.

Back by popular demand...

Okay, so, it is not by popular demand, but I really like the video chronicling my stroke recovery, so I am going to post it again. The difference is that the music in different: it is provided by Carson Wagner. I love his music. I hope you enjoy the clip.