Man oh man, Harry, I'm worried about you. I'm glad to see this photo of you up and walking about. I've been re-reading your last posts, their tags and your twitter to piece together the life-and-death drama/trauma you've been going through. Best wishes for recovery and a happy outcome! Keep fighting.
Hi, Debra. If I were capable of a better explanation, y'all would get it. My family (brother and mom, basically) are still the ones doing most of the explaining out here in meatspace. I'm trying, though!
Yay! Harry posted again! After 20 days in the hospital, they shipped me off to rehab, and one of the first things they did with me there was take me to the cafeteria for a "swallow eval" which I apparently passed with flying colors. I don't know what they thought I had been doing for 20 days, but I just figured they knew what they were doing. Three days later, though, I had two wristbands with the various things I was a risk for on them: falling and liquid intake, if I remember correctly. Being lopsided from my stroke, I never did well with a walker, so they taught me to walk with a quad-cane, which I still use to this day. Although I walk laps in the back yard without using it to try and get my function back, I'll most likely never be completely free of assistance devices for walking. I owe my quality of life to my therapists, who let me in on the real meaning of PT: pain and torture.
They've been sitting me in a neuro-chair (whatever that is), and that alone is torture for me, which is weird, considering it doesn't appear to DO anything. Is gravity torturous when you're in my condition?
I have so far to go, and that is assuming things don't get worse.
Thanks, Geo. I'm going to try and keep posting if and when I can. Kind of a left hand turn for the blog, I suppose, but then again, it was kind of a left hand turn for me, too.
I have not resumed eating. For six weeks, I have eaten though a tube in my nose. Tonight, they'll switch that to a tube going directly into my stomach.
Keep going Harry!!! You can do it! You look as sexy as I did in my hospital gown! LOL! Hope that made you laugh and smile! As I stated before, you are in my thoughts!!! We are all here for you!!!! Big Healing Hugs!
Hell yes. Really, I'm as interested as I could be to see where I am and what I'm doing a year from now. I suspect that even best case scenario, it's going to be very different than a year ago.
Take your time. Do what you must. Things tend to look crappy at the beginning (and, heck! they often are). But ahead... brings us choices. And some of those aren't half bad.
I am progressing very slowly with the writing thing, which is hard. Y'all might be getting picture posts on an irregular schedule for a while. But I am working at it and things should get back to normal soon, maybe?
I think I liked most of what my life entailed before the last 7 weeks. I'm sure I'll probably like whatever comes next too, probably. I'd still like to keep on doing some of the things I did before.
Slowly, slowly. I have so many pics of myself that look like something out of zombie flicks now. I'm trying to restrain myself from just posting them. It seems wrong, playing it for shock value, but since it's just my own illness I'd be exploiting, who knows?
if you can't have fun with your illness, if you can't have a laugh with it...well, what was the damn point in getting it!? emmmmmm, that's how I've always viewed my sitch :-) YMMV
People don't always appreciate a sense of humor at times like this. Actually, there's rarely a time when people appreciate my sense of humor, which is fine. Maybe I'm just too shallow to get introspective and depressed about things.
you got this...gave the goddess something shiny for you...you got this
ReplyDeleteI need everything on my side that I can manage. Load up the shiny things for her.
DeleteMan oh man, Harry, I'm worried about you. I'm glad to see this photo of you up and walking about. I've been re-reading your last posts, their tags and your twitter to piece together the life-and-death drama/trauma you've been going through. Best wishes for recovery and a happy outcome! Keep fighting.
ReplyDeleteHi, Debra. If I were capable of a better explanation, y'all would get it. My family (brother and mom, basically) are still the ones doing most of the explaining out here in meatspace. I'm trying, though!
DeleteYay! Harry posted again!
ReplyDeleteAfter 20 days in the hospital, they shipped me off to rehab, and one of the first things they did with me there was take me to the cafeteria for a "swallow eval" which I apparently passed with flying colors. I don't know what they thought I had been doing for 20 days, but I just figured they knew what they were doing.
Three days later, though, I had two wristbands with the various things I was a risk for on them: falling and liquid intake, if I remember correctly.
Being lopsided from my stroke, I never did well with a walker, so they taught me to walk with a quad-cane, which I still use to this day.
Although I walk laps in the back yard without using it to try and get my function back, I'll most likely never be completely free of assistance devices for walking.
I owe my quality of life to my therapists, who let me in on the real meaning of PT: pain and torture.
-Doug in Oakland
They've been sitting me in a neuro-chair (whatever that is), and that alone is torture for me, which is weird, considering it doesn't appear to DO anything. Is gravity torturous when you're in my condition?
DeleteI have so far to go, and that is assuming things don't get worse.
Thanks for the update, Harry. You have my admiration and best wishes. Please keep posting.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Geo. I'm going to try and keep posting if and when I can. Kind of a left hand turn for the blog, I suppose, but then again, it was kind of a left hand turn for me, too.
DeleteStay tough Harry.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bill. I'm giving it my best.
DeleteHang in there, Harry!
ReplyDeleteThis upcoming week is going to be important. I think I'm going to be understanding what my possible outcomes are a little better. I hope I will.
DeleteI appreciate your stopping by and I'll update again soon.
I have a whole different understanding of and appreciation for nurses after the past few weeks. I'm a different person because of them.
ReplyDeleteKeep On Keepin' On, dood. That's what we DO!
ReplyDeletePositive Waves~~~~~~>
beej in CO
"In CO"!
DeleteLots of stuff going on today. I'm getting through.
�� I am making an educated guess that you have resumed eating.
ReplyDeleteHarry, may your health return to you fully!
I have not resumed eating. For six weeks, I have eaten though a tube in my nose. Tonight, they'll switch that to a tube going directly into my stomach.
DeleteBut thank you! I have a lot of hope!
I too want to give hurrahs as patience for you.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to see you are supported by Love here.
Thank you! I'll keep everyone up to date as I can. I am overwhelmed by this showing of concern from everybody here.
DeleteJeezus, Harry! It gets better slowly, but it gets better.
ReplyDeleteI figure there are stages to these things. Before you start worrying abut whether you're going to ever drive again, you have to make sure you survive.
DeleteI'm still in mere survival mode, and if that's the current bar, I'm doing pretty damn well.
Keep going Harry!!! You can do it! You look as sexy as I did in my hospital gown! LOL! Hope that made you laugh and smile! As I stated before, you are in my thoughts!!! We are all here for you!!!! Big Healing Hugs!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'm hoping for the best, but I have a lot of support here. At least parts of me are going to get through this.
DeleteHell yes. Really, I'm as interested as I could be to see where I am and what I'm doing a year from now. I suspect that even best case scenario, it's going to be very different than a year ago.
ReplyDeleteTake your time. Do what you must. Things tend to look crappy at the beginning (and, heck! they often are). But ahead... brings us choices. And some of those aren't half bad.
ReplyDeleteI am progressing very slowly with the writing thing, which is hard. Y'all might be getting picture posts on an irregular schedule for a while. But I am working at it and things should get back to normal soon, maybe?
Delete"Normal" is an illusion :-)
DeleteI think I liked most of what my life entailed before the last 7 weeks. I'm sure I'll probably like whatever comes next too, probably. I'd still like to keep on doing some of the things I did before.
DeleteSorry for the late comment. Got done health thongs going on here. Nothing like yours though.
ReplyDeleteTake as long as you like. I'm not going anywhere. Hope you get to feeling better.
DeleteOh boy I've only just seen this! I really hope you are improving. The photo looks scary.
ReplyDeleteSlowly, slowly. I have so many pics of myself that look like something out of zombie flicks now. I'm trying to restrain myself from just posting them. It seems wrong, playing it for shock value, but since it's just my own illness I'd be exploiting, who knows?
Deleteif you can't have fun with your illness, if you can't have a laugh with it...well, what was the damn point in getting it!? emmmmmm, that's how I've always viewed my sitch :-) YMMV
DeletePeople don't always appreciate a sense of humor at times like this. Actually, there's rarely a time when people appreciate my sense of humor, which is fine. Maybe I'm just too shallow to get introspective and depressed about things.
Deleteheh. BROTHER!
DeleteKeep that sense of humor. You've got an army out here who are appreciative and who are sending vibes, love, prayers, juju and appreciation.
DeleteThanks, Tom. Going to to work on my writing and will hopefully have something a little different posted for everyone soon.
Delete