REHAB

Going to a Rehabilitation Facility was a huge eye- opener for me.

Mine was called B.I.R.U. The letters stood for Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit.

I was forced to mix with a variety of people from different walks of life.- Drug addicts,people with anger management issues,religious weirdos etc.

For a sheltered, middle class, white person this was quite an education.

I found myself providing marriage counseling one day and having deep,religious discussions the next! It certainly taught me not to judge anyone. We became like a little family.We were very supportive and protective of one another.

I would never have encountered these people in my ' old' life.

Weekends were lonely. No rehab!

Those who were "well' enough had a leave pass to go home for the weekend. Those who could 'walk' had 'armbands' that would beep if they escaped from the facility. The doors would automatically lock until the escapee was found.

It was like being in a prison!

People who were nearly better were housed in rooms closer to the main doors. If we were moved nearer to these doors we would get all excited!

I was close to the nurses station. I had just had a Tracheostomy removed and hadn't adjusted to life without one.

I wheeled around the premises clutching a box of tissues. I was still constantly coughing up phlegm (a nice image!)

How intense your rehab is definitely determines how quickly you can adjust to 'normal' life. Rehab needs to be 'patient based'.

What the experts deem as useful,may not be what you see as useful. I would have liked to be able to put on makeup not do 20 sit ups!

Take care,
Amanda
#strokesurvivordownunder

JULIA MASTERS MY YOGA TEACHER

Here is the piece written for Julia Masters, my yoga teacher.

She is an amazing woman who used to be a lawyer, a published author, she has written a fictional book, set in the local area.

She receives offers of "All expense paid" trips around the world to share her yoga teaching with you! 

Here are Julia's words - Hi, I'm Julia Masters, and I have been teaching Amanda yoga for about six months. She's a great student and she's made remarkable progress, improving the use of her right arm and hand, feeling her muscles stretch, finding some core and some flexibility in her lower back. Instead of breathing shallow, she can now lengthen her breath from a count of three to a count of five.

Yoga is helping her body to do what it has been wanting to do.....heal itself. 

So, how can this work for people who have had a stroke? 

Physically, yoga stretches and moves help the body to expand, stimulates by increasing circulation, nervous system, respiratory, digestion, coordination, to all function better.

The body and muscles can be strengthened. Balance and flexibility are greatly improved.

You can make a better connection from your mind to different parts of your body. 

Yoga focuses on isolating core muscle groups. It's ideal for those who cannot always feel every part their body working.

After the physical work we do breath work. Pranayama, which strengthens the lungs, calms, and makes more of the mind/ body connection.

We do meditation- calming, healing, and positive. 

#strokesurvivordownunder

HOW'S REHAB BEEN?

How has everyone's Rehab been? Mine was intense! It involved several hours a week of Physio, Speech, Occupational Therapy, Swimming and Music Therapy.

We didn't have time to be bored or lonely.Once 'released' from our Rehab Facility,it all stopped.We could access Rehab privately,at our own expense.Most of us are on some kind of benefits so the expense becomes a big issue.

I was, frankly,sick of exercise. I tried alternative therapies.Acupuncture, Bowen Therapy, Massage, Personal Trainers, Reiki ,Yoga, Meditation and Mindfulness.

They have all had some benefits, But I like Yoga best because works the Mind and Body.

At present,that is all I'm doing yoga. When my teacher Julia encounters problems, she consults a Physio friend. She encourages me to do most things with a walker in front of me. No ' Downward Dog' yet though. She's aiming for that and is convinced she will get me to walk.

Julia has devised a series of exercises to improve specific areas of weakness.She is going to write about the benefits of Yoga to include in a future blog.

Being an ex dancer , I was very body conscious. I am aware of what I need to do to improve my body. It is extremely frustrating,knowing what my body used to be able to do. Hopefully,it will keep improving, not to the point where I can Pirouette around the Lounge room again. Just to be able to walk would be a miracle.

Amanda

RISE UP WORLDWIDE!

LET'S RAISE STROKE AWARENESS TOGETHER!

EVERYBODY SHARE THIS LINK!

TOGETHER WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD!

p://www.secondchancestrokesurvivors.com/#!stroke-awareness-/c5xu

#raisingstrokeawareness

September 3rd 2010 WAS JUST AN ORDINARY DAY

I had just finished a busy week at school.I was very tired,however,.Id been up all night with a ' killer' headache.

It wouldn't respond to painkillers. I was discussing dinner plans on the phone with My Sister In Law. The weather was stormy. Plans were being made for her daughters to drive down later due to the storms.

Suddenly, I felt dizzy and couldn't continue talking on the phone. I fell to the floor and wouldn't let anyone touch me. It felt like my nerves were shorting out.

I should have known something was about to happen. I'd lost 10kgs, had skin conditions, was teary all the time.

I saw a doctor for tests. She assured me that "I was fine".

I was bottling up stress. 

The pressure in my brain was building to result in a massive Brainstem Stroke.

Amanda

#strokesurvivordownunder

AMANDA'S FIRST BLOG! MEET MY STROKE SURVIVOR SISTER DOWN UNDER!

(It's Aaron, Until Amanda gets her internet fixed I'll be posting for her)

Hi everyone!

I thought I'd introduce myself. My name is Amanda Ferguson.

I'm from The South East of South Australia.Mt.Gambier to be exact.

I don't have any writing experience but I do know what it's like to have a massive stroke.

I can empathise with everything you've been through because been through similar tough times.

I don't want this page to be about 'Me,me,me' but I want it to be interactive.

We can all learn through each other.

I'd like to hear about your stories and what you'd like me to talk about.

My stroke occurred 5 years ago when I was 45 yrs old. Initially,it left me with ' Locked- In Syndrome'; a condition which leaves the body totally paralysed .

You can only move your eyes. Scary hey! 

Gradually,I got most of my movement back. Stroke left me wheelchair bound; unable to walk and with big swallowing and speech problems.

I've learned to write again with my dominant right hand but most tasks are done with my left hand,including my art which I love.

I used to be a dancer so there has been a lot of ' muscle memory enabling a great deal of movement to return.

Until next time Survivors!

From the stroke survivor down under,

Amanda

#strokesurvivordownunder

BE PATIENT PEEPS!

Hi this Aaron the creator of the global stroke support movement on Facebook called Second Chance Stroke Survivors.

I am also the one helping Amanda to start Blogging.

Why?

Because Amanda is not just my sister stroke survivor, to me Amanda has a gift, a spark that will start a global forest fire so to speak!

Amanda always had a gift with words she just needed me to point it out to her!

You see, stroke survival can be so dark, so emotionally devastating, it has the power to render the stroke survivor hopeless!

Amanda was there until now!

Expect mighty and powerful things from Amanda peeps!

She currently is experiencing internet issues but as soon as she can, she will share with the world her first Blog!

You'll be awesome Amanda!

Sincerely,
Your brother through stroke survival,
Aaron

If you have any questions, to send me an email at 2livesin1@gmail.com

#unitingtheworldthroughstrokesurvival