Anyway, the reason I began the site was because strokes are something I know about, having had 4.  I wanted to take my experience and use it to help other survivours who may have recently had a stroke or simply needed a reminder to push harder and test yourself.

For me personally, I learned a lot about myself doing this site.  I discovered I had allowed strokes to affect me in ways I never realised.  I’ve grown from it and become stronger as a result.  But as I shared with a Twitter friend, I found constantly thinking of strokes wasn’t healthy for me.  It isn’t for anyone.  So, I decided to close it.

From your emails I know that others who stop by will find the information I’ve posted helpful, so the site will remain up, I just won’t be updating anymore.

Thanks for visiting and thanks so much for your support.

Never surrender!  Never give up!

–Yochana

Till next week,

A frozen Yo

Something I want to cover is how people respond to you after your stroke in regards to your finances and future.  I got insulted by a few people who thought it was the stupidest thing in the world for me not to have planned to have strokes.

I hope to cover that a bit tomorrow and pass on a couple freebies you might find helpful.

BTW, if you’re struggling with your finances while either waiting to get back in the workforce or waiting for your SSD/I to come through, check out this really great site:  Where You Are Now

Hope to see you tomorrow!

But!  To your surprise you pass your evaluation and you can go back to work.  “WHAT???”  You know you’re not fully able to do your former job yet.  Now what?  Well…technically?  You’re sunk.  That was encouraging, wasn’t it?  :]

But seriously, for a bit you will be.  So what do you do?  Ask for a state hearing to appeal the decision.  Scroll down to Dec. 10 entry and click on the “advocates” link.  They’ll help you with the appeal.

On the other hand!  Maybe you’ve under-estimated yourself.  Maybe you really can do more than you think.  It’s possible!  Very possible!  You see, sometimes when we’ve been sick for so long, we feel like we’ve given everything we have to be “normal” again.  But, in reality there’s a good chance we haven’t.

Here’s an example.  This week has been tough.  There were times I felt like I had given it all I had to keep my nose above water, but when I sat down and really thought through things and did an honest eval, I discovered I had barely given anything.  It was humbling. 

Have you ever had moments like that? 

So, while your advocates are in your corner fighting for you, try to get a job.  When you land one - give it your best shot.  Really give it a good shot and know for certain that you’ve done your best.  Be honest with yourself.

There’s a good chance you’ll discover that you really can do more than you think.

One of my favourite children’s book authours is Cornelia Funke.  In her ghosthunters series she teaches kids to face their fears.  When you face your fears and take them on you discover that they really weren’t as bad as you thought they would be.  When you face your fears you’ll discover that there’s more to you than you realised.

Never surrender!  Never give up! 

Apply for Disability Benefits 

WORKSHEET

ADVOCATES

These links are basically all you need.  The government site explains everything out for you and answers about all the questions you can come up with.

Basically, you’ll fill out the forms, send them in, be evaluated by the SSD/I neuro and he/she will make the decision.

For today, let’s take a look at why people get rejected.  There’s a load of people who are freaking lazy and look for any excuse to mooch off the government rather than get their lazy butts in gear and work.

They’ll fake all sorts of illnesses.  When my dad got sick and was forced to apply for disability, he met all sorts of weirdos who would give him tips on how to make sure he got accepted.

One guy demonstrated his technique which was making them think he was a total nutcase.  He tried to prove it by taking a leak on their plastic plants.  Dad couldn’t believe the ridiculous stunts people tried to avoid work.

I saw the same thing when I worked for SSD/I.  There was everything from people claiming trigger fingers to their kid being ADHD and describing their child as being lazy and never doing anything but sitting in front of the TV.  People would fake amnesia, fake strokes, all sorts of things. 

THAT’S the reason it’s hard for you to get disability.  The workers are so used to frauds that it’s just habit to think everyone coming through their door is a fake.  They’re not only used to people faking it.  Sad, but true.

It was so ingrained in me to see everyone as a fake that when I had my strokes I caught myself saying, “Are you faking this?” As I sat there partially paralysed on my left side and drooling.  You can’t fake a droopy paralysed face, but that was my mind set.  I didn’t even trust myself. LOL

The thing that woke me up to my own disability was the day I went in for my evaluation by the SSD/I neuro.  She took one look at me in the waiting room and said I’d receive my check in 3 weeks.  That’s how bad I looked.

Naturally, I argued with her and insisted I could still work and couldn’t figure out why no one would hire me. For weeks leading up to my appointment I’d been job hunting.  Me and my little wheelchair were all over Brooklyn trying to find someone to hire me.  I didn’t care that I was partly slumped to one side.  I wanted to work.  Only bums sit around mooching off the government and I’m not a bum.

Anyway, she laughed, smiled sweetly and said, “Sweetheart, they can look in your eyes and tell no one’s there.”  Ouch.  There went my pride.  She immediately put me on permanent disability due to strokes and dystonia. 

Speaking of permanent disability.  Not everyone is given permanent disability.  You might be put on temporary disability.  If that’s the case, you’ll be re-evaluated around 6 months or earlier after your initial acceptance to see if you’ve recovered enough to return to work.

That can create a whole new problem.  I’ll get into that tomorrow.

PS:  Click here to download today’s free word search puzzle that has a secret message hiding in it!  Download will begin on click.

Sorry for no new posts since last Thursday, but last Friday I found out a good friend of mine died and I’ve been a bit out of it.

Anyway, I know some of you have been bored stiff with my past weeks of emphasizing exercise.  The reason I have though, is because there are a few things that become super important after a stroke:

1. Diet - you gotta change the way you eat if you want to help prevent another stroke.

2.  Exercise - muscle atrophy can come on faster than you think.  Physical therapy suks.  It’s painful.  So keep moving and avoid PT at all costs.  Exercise is also good for attitude and helps you have a good outlook on life again!

3.  Finances - This falls into 2 categories: 

     a)  Applying for disability and surviving in the meantime
     b)  Learning to live on less

4.  Hobbies - It’s never good to sit around and think about your health all the time.  It will only make you sicker, because you begin imagining symptoms, etc. 

Hobbies help take your mind away from it.  They also keep your mind functioning.  The brain is just like any other muscle - if you don’t use it - you lose it. 

5.  Work - How can I get back into the workforce again.  If I can’t get out of the house, what kind of work can I create for myself to earn extra money. 

These are the important things.  So!  Each week I’ll have a new theme.  Here lately it’s been exercise.  Tomorrow we switch to Social Security Disability requirements.  Each post will have links to useful sites and just for the heck of it - a word search puzzle that has nothing to do with strokes.  It’s simply there for fun. 

So, check back tomorrow for a look at Social Security Disability requirements!  SSD is quite a trip and it can be pretty scary when you know so many people who don’t get accepted and have to battle their way in. 

I worked for SSDI when I lived down south.  I’ll share with you some of the things I learned about the process - the good - the bad - and the hilariously funny! 

Till tomorrow!
–Yo

1.  Focus on time and monitor, not miles.

I say that because once I really get into training I focus on miles and times.  That means I mess myself up, even with a monitor.  Yes, I am an idiot.

So, when I say “time” I mean the length of time you’re working out.  In reality, you only need to do cardio for 20 minutes using interval training.  To understand what interval cardio is, download the free “Sample Fat Burning” guide on the right. 

It’s the same program I’m using and trust me - this sample workout includes everything you need to really get going and get a good workout.

BUT!!! Yes a very big BUTT!  If you’re just starting to get back on your feet after a stroke DO NOT do this workout.  Do everything your physical therapist says and then when your therapy ends, show her the ebook and ask her how to adjust it to your current level. 

2.  Make sure you set the maximum heart rate alarm to at least 3 or 4 beats below the maximum your doc given.  That way you reduce the risk of going beyond your set “zone.”

Now my review on the Omron HR-100C Heart Rate Monitor.  I love it.  BUT!  Yes, another big but.  I’m not keen on the piece that straps around my chest and for one reason - you have to wet the strap to make sure there’s a good connection between your body and it. 

Murphy’s Law:  If you wet the strap with warm water, by the time it touches your skin it will feel sub-freezing!

That’s why I’m not keen on the strap.  I’m a sissy.  I hate cold.

I’m sure guys get used to the strap faster than gals, because they don’t have bra issues.  Well, unless the guy has man boobs and perhaps that poses an entirely different challenge, but generally speaking - bras can be a pain.

Something I want to add here is monitors that strap around the chest are going to give you better readings than those that read your pulse at the wrist. 

If you want to use a wrist monitor, fine, but make sure and I emphasize MAKE SURE you check your pulse the old fashioned way while you’re running or walking to make sure your readings are accurate.

I can say from experience that my Omron runs accurate, because I do check my pulse a couple times when out and it’s bang on every time.

So there’s my review and tips!  Check out Omron’s monitor and give it a try.  I think you’ll be really pleased with the results you’ll get in your training from having something there to let you know how much harder you can train and when to slow it down!

–Yo

Man, if anything is an essential item for a stroke or heart attack survivour when exercising it’s this little baby! 

Heart rate monitors are seriously important.  They can mean the matter of having a TIA or not having one or having a stroke and not having one.

Maybe that sounds a bit dramatic, but the reason I started using one was because after I went for a run during the summer, I had a TIA that I swore was going to send me to ER again.

What caused it?  My ego, which is the size of Manhattan.  I was  convinced that I could monitor my body and know if I was pushing too hard or not.  I was wrong and my TIA proved it.  So, I picked up an Omron heart rate monitor. I bought the same one you see in the pic. 

Anyway, I felt like an idiot at first, but the more I used it the more I realised how much easier it was making my training.

Before my run/walk, I called my doc to find out what she thought my max heart rate should be.  She set it at 160.  So I set the alarm to trigger once I hit 160.  It was nice not having to think about it.  :]

As a result, my training improved!  I could do much more than I was.  It was like having a coach strapped to my chest and wrist.

I also learned that using the formula in exercise books, including the guide that came with my monitor is only for healthy people, not those of us who have had a stroke or heart attack.

That’s the reason why you NEED to call your doc and get their decision for maximum heart rate.  Read the emphasized “NEED” again.  That’s really important!  Also, it lets your doc know what you’re up to, which in this case is really important.

Tomorrow, I’ll talk a bit more about heart monitors and give you my heart rate monitor review on the Omron HR-100C Heart Rate Monitor, along with tips on how to use one in your workouts and how they work!