I'm really tired tonight, but I thought that I would write about this day before my memory relapsed, and it seems to help me to write and it is easier for me then telling people because if I had to verbally tell you I would begin to cry.
Today has been a big day! I went in for my Physical Therapy appointment and my therapist said, "Heidi it has been 8 weeks since the stroke and today is the first evaluation of where we are going to check and see what damage the stroke has done." My therapist along with a stroke specialist started the evaluation and lets just say that it was challenging and a very real reality check. So here is the damage and what I will be working on for at least the next following months.
1. The left side it is not worse and it is not any better. This is typical in this stage of the recovery, but I will continue to ride the bike at the gym and will have extensive range of motion and exercises at PT. Let me tell you having one side of your body feel numb an weak at times is a very strange feeling.
2. The stroke effected my eye muscles my tracking is poorly off and it is difficult for me to focus on one object. In fact during eye exercises, I experience double vision. So what does this mean for me? No driving until at the earliest at the New Year possibly longer or a maybe a little shorter. This was the biggest surprise of them all. Who thinks about a stroke effecting eye movement? This is huge.
3. They will continue on working with my balance and coordination there has been improvement in this area.
4. There will also be a lot of work done on my neck muscles since they are in knots, which partly contributes to my headaches.
Lets just say I think there is an order to work on almost every body part. I'll be at PT forever!
The stroke specialist told me that one thing a stroke teaches you is to never take for grant it your body or all of its functions including small eye muscles. Those eye muscles can really effect one's life. However, I have heard of several people who have lost loved ones from a stroke or have loved ones who cannot walk or talk. How grateful I am to have my life. However, I'm going to be honest this has been one of the hardest trial's of my life both physically and emotionally. After all eight weeks ago tonight I was sent ICU and told I could "die." This has been an everlasting life changing event. I appreciate all of the prayers on my behalf. I know that one of these days I will make a full recovery.
every trial in my life has brought me to THIS place.....a place where nothing is perfect but everything is great. i wouldn't change a thing. OK MAYBE A FEW THINGS!!!!
