My Stroke from September 16, 2023
Almost a year ago on September 16, 2023, I suffered a stroke affecting my left leg and left arm. Although it was not from a major stroke, it did affect my mobility and my stability, affecting the distance I could walk, the amount of time I could spend doing Taiji, and the time to take a break before I can continue. I want to give an update on the progress in the recovering process, especailly during the last 3 months. Let me summarize the results so far.
Current Situation
- After about 6 months of physical therapy (from Sept 2023 to beginning of March 2024) at the Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank, it was decided to take a break from the physical therapy treatment to see how my body would perform
- I also had acupuncture treatment by a local acupuncturist for about two months in this 6 month period. Usually the acupuncture treatment should commence within 20 days of the stroke. Since my acupunctural treatment didn’t begin until more than a month after my stroke, we were not expecting a lot of progress from this treatment.
- After the physical therapy (PT) ended in March 2024, I did continue to do some of the PT exercises at home, but not extensively until around June/July 2024.
- Because I have Sleep Apnea, which occasinally causes me to stop breathing temporarily during my sleep. To solve this problem I have to use a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine with a mask to push air into my lungs during my sleep. About 10 years ago, doctors invented a method to replace the CPAP machine to automatically move air into a patient’s lungs. Inspire Surgery inserts a small battery in the patient’s chest to provide power to operate automatically a very tiny hook inserted in the patient’s throat area to make the patient’s tongue to open up to allow air to go down the passage way into the lungs. On 6/27/2024, I had this Inspire Surgery done by the pulmonologist Dr. Vishaal Patel.
- To allow time for my body to recover from this Inspire Surgery, the results of my Inspire Surgery was activated on 8/7/2024 by my regular pulmonologist Dr. Adrian Pristas. So now this automatic device has been implemented and activated in my body. I will wait till the next couple of months to see whether the Inspire device in my body will operate efficiently and as designed. I plan to update this information in my next update in Dec. 2024.
In the meantime, I want to give an update on an assessment of the results of my Physical Therapy (PT) exercises (such as walking on threadmills, various stretching exercises) I have been doing at home in the last couple of months.
Status Update
- The PT exercises on the threadmill have definitely increased my stamina so that I can maintain the threadmill exercises for up to 30 minutes at a time. However, I still drag my left foot on the ground, especially after I get a little tired. I have to constantly remind me to raise my left foot (especially the front part of my left foot) to be above the ground. I should keep this in mind even if I need to slow down the exercise.
- To increase my bending and stretching, I need to do more stretching of raising my left or right foot while lying on the floor on my tummy and raising the left foot or right foot backward and up toward the front.
- I need to do more of all kinds of stretching to make me more flexible.
- I need to do more pushups to restore some of the strengths that I have lost.
- I need to do more of the Taiji exercises to restore my flexibility, my stability, and my stamina.
I don’t know how much of my previous flexibility, stability, strengths, and stamina I can restore in the next 6-12 months, but I am looking forward to making progress.
In the last several months I have also been doing Sleep Therapy (ST) exercises once a week to increase my memory. ST provides exercises that try to associate various other entities (e.g., activities, names of projects or people that may be related to the current names). Sometimes, I have the tendency of temporarily forgetting the names of people I see and whose names I used to know. Such loss of memory may be just due to age. We will take a pause from my ST after I return from the Asia trip.
Don, Appreciate your updates on US China relations. The US astronauts could come home sooner with China’s help….but hell will freeze over before that happens…too bad. Besides…the US uses SAE standards while China is Metrics….just kidding.
Do you know Roger Dong? He is former intell officer retired from US mil.
He had a stroke 4 years ago and he was able to recover 80% within a year.
He is older than you but is also a US China watcher. Do a Google search
on him.
Glad you recovery progress is steady
When watching the debated tomorrow, I will make sure I have a big bowl of
ice cream with me!!!
I just learned about your stroke in 2023. Glad to hear that you are recovering using acupuncture and PT. Recovering is a slow and time consuming process due to our age. I call it to be ‘the sign of maturity”.
Stay positive and happy!
Nancy M Lee
You are doing great. Thank you for sharing so we can all keep up with you.
I assume the word on 4th sentence “upeaaaaaate” should be “update” and maybe just an example of the affects or a test see how old we are and how much attention we can give!
Keep up the solid work and safe travels!
Dear Don,
Thank you for sharing your story. I’m glad to hear that your recovery is going well, even if it’s still ongoing.
I have a question about the underlying cause of the stroke.
In your case, what do you think might have caused it?
God bless,
–Roger
Don,
I had my stroke in 2017 and after physical therapy and daily exercises, similar to your routines, I am moving around slowly. Must be very careful, as I can fall easily when tripped, or step in a hole.
As a journalist who writes about the future, which is not pretty, I do not get much sleep. Do a lot of deep breathing whenever possible so that my brain and heart both get maximum oxygen, which I believe helps me a lot.
Now have a severe heart problem and had to wait 4 months to get an appointment with a cardiologist. The advice to me is that I should call 911 if I have any discomfort or problems breathing.
The world is not quite different, so I am glad I am an old man. Worry a lot for my grandchildren.
Roger
keep at your PT, you will recover more and more.
Get well soon, and have a great trip in Asia.
Hi Don, After reading your journey I wanted to reach out and share my husband’s results after his stroke. He had a brain bleed, left side like you. He was determined to get back as much as he could. Along with the therapies you mentioned we bought some children’s blocks and additional toys that helped him build with his bad arm and step over blocks as he walked around the house. It is so important to know that it was both the repetition and the determination that provided success. It took considerable time to see progress but the results were obvious. The dragging of one foot still lingers but it is minimal. Stepping up curbs on a walk seemed to help. I just want you to feel confident that this takes time but does improve. None of it is quick but results are inspirational. Hang in there and remember you have important work remaining so don’t take “no” or “can’t” answers. Keeping you in my prayers, Diane
Roger,
Thank you so much for your question and comment. We don’t really know the underlying cause of the stroke. The doctors couldn’t tell me. It could be due to my Sleep Apnea, but no one really knows.
Don
Roger,
Thanks for your comments. Also wish you well in your recovery from your stroke. Glad that you have a great attitude.
Don
Russ,
Thanks for your comments. I did hear from Roger Dong, and replied to him. He has a very positive attitude toward his stroke.
Don
Don,
So sorry to hear that you got stroke last year. And glad to know you have made a great progress for recovery. PT definitely helps a lot in your recovery. Keep strong mind and positive, you will come back as a Taiji master.
Always enjoy reading your articles which gave a different view and educational. Look forward to more articles when you come back.
Enjoy your trip!!!
Diane,
Thank you so much for sharing your husband’s journey in his recovery from his stroke. It is very inspirational and gives me more motivation. Thanks for keeping me in your prayers. I also wish continuous success by your husband.
Yes, I still have important work remaining and will keep working on it.
Don
Rosa,
I saw your comment. It was supposed to come automatically, although I had to go look for it
Yes, I saw that misspelling, but yesterday I wasn’t able to correct. But finally, tonight I was able to corrct it.
Thanks.
Don
Don, really admire at your strong will, I and my family wish you a fast recovery and are looking forward to see you soon.
Hi Don,
I felt shocked and sad reading that you’d had a stroke. So sorry to hear that, and if there’s anyway in which I can help please call me.
I only just bought this book, so haven’t read it yet. I’m sending it along in case it’s useful since it references “Repairng Brain Injuries” in the title.
Best regards,
Tim
732-757-8353
“Beyond Normal: How the New Science of Enhanced Medicine Elevates Peak Performance and Repairs Brain Injuries”
https://a.co/d/dIgqGZA