Great weekend!

At long last Charles got to do his driving experience in an Aston Martin this weekend at Pershore airfield,

Great weather, Nik sorted out surprise passenger ride for me in an audi R8 for me! Nearly cakked me pants the way that James was throwing it round the circuit but it was fab! Can I get one on Motability I wonder!

Saturday 22nd Jan - CTBI Charity

A weekend posting, today Nik and I met with Denis Underwood from the CTBI which is a salespeople's charity
http://www.ctbi.org/  who helps salespeople such as myself with funding for adaptions or anything necessary as a result of a disability or hardship, and we are asking with help to fund the change of our ensuite into a wet room for me, and my lovely little blue babe Peugeot is also up for sale.

I had found them purely by coincidence, online searching under grants/bursaries for disabled people, Nik and I both have over 20 years of sales experience each, so I emailed them and Mandi Logan called me straight away very efficient, said she would pass the info on and Denis called us to arrange an interview with me and go through our requirements. I’d attached my CV he even said he would employ me! Very nice chap.  Our proposals were discussed at their next Board meeting and Denis himself called us the following Sunday to advise that they will be able to help us with a substantial sum of money, brill brill brill!

Sunday 6th Feb - meeting Kate Allatt doing her Fun Run

This is a weekend posting because today we went to meet Kate Allatt and her family in Sheffield, as my dear boys know I am not a huge fan of Facebook but without it we wouldn’t have met – see other post.

Anyway today Kate was determined after much training, to do a 5m Fun run on the anniversary of her stroke.

It was great to meet her, Mark and the kids and their parents, Marks parents live in Southport, and there was much discussion about rugby league and rugby union, Nik being a fan of the latter, we had a lovely day, nice food and drinks, and we also called in on Courtney and Jane.

Friday 4th Feb.

Physio in the morning with Ali, in Jen’s absence, tried and put electrodes on my left shoulder blade/scapula with the aim of getting those muscles working again, I am to take it home for the weekend and use it in 3 different positions for 10 minutes each position every night.

In O.T with Will I typed up an Educare mock order again after taking it over the phone.

Then in Photography group we covered the subject of repeat patterns and we went out in our groups around the centre taking photos to show to each other on our return.

Blood test for INR Level 2 and 7mg Warfarin.

In afternoon physio session Ali did de-sensitising on my left leg, barefoot and  standing on my left leg on the cold floor, then at the end of the session trainers and stockings back on we walked up and down the gym without my stick and Ali just behind me for support.

Weds 2nd Feb.

Physio with both Ali and Jen and they managed to get me to roll over on my left side it went very well with my face through the hole in the bed - this sounds odd but its like a massage bed!

In Psychology group we went through executive skills and how to use them. In Physio I was on the treadmill in the hoist for three minutes, then four minutes at 1.5km it went really and I enjoyed it immensely.

In O.T I did more de-sensitising with Will using hot and cold water on my left arm, it went a lot better than the first time with a big improvement in my sensitivity.

Thurs 3rd Feb

In O.T with Corinna, Nik will be glad to know I did hoovering and ironing - joy of joys I drew the line at doing cleaning.

In Physio I started to do squatting against the wall again but my leg ached,  even with the white stockings on my ankle was swollen so we stopped.

Relaxation group was good, we listened to a relaxing CD listening to the sea lapping on sand and I almost fell asleep - so it worked!! Phil got a tad cross with Ann blathering on about religion!

Physio Jen now on hols she's gone for long weekend in Madrid, lucky devil, so I had my session with Tom we did my gym programme exercises plus 3 new ones.

Tues 1st Feb.

Julie up and about at 2 am doing her night manoeuvres I didn’t sleep much.

I did group physio at 9.30, 5 exercises 10 of each and 10 minutes on bike.

Physio session I was squatting against the wall again and then balancing on the big blue gym ball.

In O.T Corinna, Will and I went through de-sensitising stuff using hot and cold water and different materials, mirror imagery.

I was so tired after lunch I gave social group a miss and had a nap!  Rest when you can and manage your fatigue!

After my nap,  I had a combined Physio/O.T session with Jen and Corinna, we did sit to stand and stand to sit - symmetrically of course. To hopefully reduce the swelling in my leg I got a pair of lovely new white over the knee DVT stockings. I'm sure Nik will love these passion killers!  I did ask if they do a black seamed version but NHS don't stretch to that!

Mon 31st Jan

Early start at 6am to get in for 9.30 group physio.

In O.T I did some relaxation work with Corinna using mirror imagery talking very quietly and imaging what was happening with eyes closed, left arm on table, very chilled, espec after an early start, my left arm moved on its own, then mirrored this afterwards moving arm up and down table.

In physio with Tracy I worked on my left leg, weight bearing and squatting down against the wall, standing back up then lifting right leg onto a step, it was good but hard work.

Physio after lunch we worked on my arm and managed to get my leftshoulder to 90 degrees, the Botox has really worked well. 6mg Warfarin

Friday 28th Jan

In O.T with Will we ran through a mock telephone call where I answered the phone took and typed up an EduCare order from him, including using the calculator.

In Photography group Tom and Will ran through the slides on screen, we discussed light and dark, and contrasts. We then took our cameras and went round the centre taking pictures of what had been discussed, then loaded onto pc and showed our results - Ian F, Ian, Sue and myself.

After lunch in physio we looked at some more gym exercises sat on bed with left foot on skateboard then moving it backwards/forwards, and then more walking. In the second afternoon physio session in the parallel bars, Jen looked at my knees and bearing weight onto the left leg getting the leg straight. Nik picked me up early finish, home for weekend leave!

Thurs 27th Jan

Good physio session first thing doing work on left leg over bed then onto bed pushing/strengthening, walking up and down gym just holding hands not using the srtick.

Botox day- Had 3/4 jabs in my arm by my wrist for thumb and finger flexors and a couple of jabs in biceps. Similar number of jabs in left leg for my calf.

Doc's are looking to up my medication gabapentin and start taking paracetemol again to reduce pain.

In O.T/Physio looking to do de-sensitisation for both left arm and leg with Will, and I am to join relaxation group next week.

Jenny wants me to start on group gym physio programme next week said I can be here for 10.15/10.30 on Monday, group gym programme starts at 9.30. early 6am start.  Corinna and Jenny videoed me doing mirror box therapy today. INR level from yesterday’s blood test is…2!

Weds 26th Jan

Slight lie in today bit of a cock up/delay with nursing staff getting out of bed and washing so I was late for breakfast.

Jen came to collect me for physio and orthotics. Orthotics checked my left leg for getting a new AFO (ankle foot orthotic) made and it was too swollen. Ali then checked my arm for where I might need botox and we then we did 5 minutes on the treadmill which was great. I eventually had my breakfast at 10.30 and missed psychology group.

Later in the day Jen came and did walking with me on the corridor doing small steps not kicking oot. INR blood test today. In O.T Corinna did the laces up on my right shoe so they could be done as single lace and one handed we made notes to do hoovering and ironing on our next session joy!.

Then in last physio session of the day did lots of walking up and down the gym, without my stick, holding Jenny’s hand, and on my own with Jenny just behind me and walk back down to room. Good Day. J After Blood test 6mg warfarin.

On the naughty table we would often have chats about why we are all here, what we want to achieve, what we want to do, have our own goals and I would always say, that we are all 'works in progress' which we are and one day we will all, with hard work and plenty of bloody mindedness and determination be back to as near normal as we can!

Tues 25th Jan Goal planning meeting

Completed DVLA form which Nik took back to post only a few things to do like hosp no’s. Just need Doc’s OK to drive again and get some freedom back, may have to go thro’ an assessment first, eyes are OK having done tunnel vision test at opticians.

Jen tried me with some further gym programme exercises by trying to roll me onto my front with Roni’s help and it really hurt my left shoulder and elbow (I cried!) So we then tried to do the exercises another way holding onto then bed with my legs out. O.T. with Will we discussed how I could take ‘mock’ orders over the telephone I showed him the EduCare website and he printed off details of the training programmes. I did a typing test 150 words and took approximately 15 minutes (15 words per minute). In Social group the 2 Ian’s, Anne-Marie and myself finished our abstract ‘Jackson-Pollock’ painting. Later I saw Ruth and did two or three more cognitive tests.

Goal Planning Meeting all members of team attended discussed and set goals, asked about bursa any progress DHS poss not swimming! which Iquestioned with Ali later, drugs to be changed and start to take paracetamol again and codeine if required, up gabapentin if needed.

Discussed swollen leg/foot still don’t know reason for stroke so refer onto stroke clinic, might be vasculitis – inflammation of blood vein in brain, set next date for goal planning 21^st Feb at 3pm. Nik to see Dawn on 2^nd Feb and a letter to Ed to see Audrey.  Me seeing Prof K for botox in my leg and arm not my face!.

Because of goal planning I had half an hour physio with Ali & Jen and we went through if I fell on the floor how I would get up from kneeling and both knees hurt I needed help to get up. Did standing against wall with foot on football , whilst holding onto wall and Nik put foot onto wobbly cushion, hard to do but helps build confidence with left leg, we talked about going onto the treadmill using the hoist wow!.