F.A.Q.

WHEN I HAD MY STROKE, MY FAMILY HAD 2 SCOUR THE INTERNET 2 LEARN ABOUT MY CONDITION, & I STILL GET QUESTIONS EITHER ABOUT MY DISABILITY, OR ABOUT BEING DISABLED.

HERE I WILL FOCUS ON ANSWERING THESE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS, ABOUT ME, &/OR ABOUT MY CONDITION,ONE AT A TIME.

FEEL FREE 2 CONTACT ME (BY MY 2 EMAIL ADDRESS ON THE “CONTACT ME” PAGE) W/ANY & ALL QUESTIONS THAT U WANT 2 KNOW. IN TIME, I WILL DO MY BEST 2 ANSWER U, & I MAY EVEN COPY & PASTE IT 2 THE FAQ SECTION OF MY BLOG.

I was curious if over time your PBA has improved?

IT’S SUPPOSED TO, BUT I’M NOW TAKING THE PBA MEDS, NUEDEXTA. IT HAS CHANGED MY LIFE! I STILL HAVE SOME OF THESE SYMPTOMS, BUT IF I HAVE THE MEDS, I’M WAY BETTER! I CAN SOMEWHAT CONTROL MY LAUGHTER: FOR EX., IF I HEAR SOMETHING FUNNY, I CAN CHUCKLE NOW, & IF I LAUGH HARD, I CAN STOP THE LAUGH MUCH QUICKER. I STILL MAY LAUGH AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES (LIKE IF SOME1 GETS HURT), BUT THANKFULLY I’VE BEEN ABLE TO QUICKLY STOP THOSE.

I USED TO CRY AT ANYTHING & EVERYTHING, SO I AVOIDED MANY GROUP GATHERINGS, ESP. BAPTISMS, WEDDINGS, & FUNERALS. MY KIDS’ PROBABLY HATED HAVING ME AT AWARD CEREMONIES, PERFORMANCES, ETC., CUZ IF I FELT PROUD OF THEM, I OFTEN HOWLED-NOT JUST CRIED!

THE PBA PILLS SEEM TO HAVE SOME ANTI-DEPRESSANT & ANTI-ANXIETY MEDS. IT ISN’T PRETTY IF I RUN OUT 🙂 , & THE WHOLE WORLD APPEARS GREYER. I CAN FEEL THE MEDS WEAR OFF, & I’M EASILY UPSET IN THE MORNING!

What did you say to the horse?

MOSTLY I TALKED TO THE THERAPIST, & IT WAS EXCITING HOW WELL SHE UNDERSTOOD ME (THOUGH I BET SHE IS USED 2 HEARING OTHERS LIKE ME!)

I TOLD THE HORSE, “LET’S GO” & “HO” WHEN I NEEDED TO START/STOP TO RE-GAIN MY BALANCE. I DON’T KNOW IF THE HORSES ARE SO USED 2 PEOPLE LIKE ME TAT HEE UNDERSTOOD ME, BUT IF NOT, THEY DO VERY WELL AT MAKING U FEEL LIKE THE HORSE UNDERSTANDS U!

I want 2 practice my sitting balance! Any advice??

I AM NO EXPERT, BUT HERE’S WHAT I KNOW/DO 4 SITTING BALANCE-

1. USE A “PEANUT BALL”
2. I HAVE A MAT & HAVE SAT CROSS-LEGGED ON THE FLOOR, WITH MY ARMS STRAIGHT BY MY SIDES, & I BALANCE
(BOTH OF THESE ARE ON “JENNY’S STORY” ON YOU- TUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkm8RMtfPzM.
3. I ALSO TRY TO NOT TILT MY W/C SEAT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT THE DAY- WHICH EXHAUSTS ME!
4. I KNOW OTHERS PRACTICE SITTING ON THE EDGE OF THE BED.

Were you scared?

NOT REALLY, UNTIL I WAS ON THE HORSE. THEN, I WAS SCARED OF A FEW THINGS
1. IT IS A BIT SCARY AT THE END–I HATE ONLY HAVING 1 ARM TO BALANCE ME, & I WAS SO WOBBLY BY THE END, IT REALLY MADE ME WORK HARD! JUST THE PLACEMENT OF MY HEAD COULD THROW OFF MY BALANCE, BUT MY THERAPIST SENSED THAT I WAS GETTING WEAK, & HAD A FIRM GRASP ON ME
2. WHAT IF I SNEEZED? MY SNEEZES ARE VIOLENT, LUNGING ME FORWARD…I HAVE SNEEZED MYSELF OFF OF THE TOILET!
3. THERE’S ALWAYS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE HORSE SPOOKING…THX GOODNESS MY THERAPIST IS REALLY STRONG, & PEOPLE ARE ALL AROUND ME! OBVIOUSLY, THEY HAVE TAKEN THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS FOR THAT!

How did they get u on the horse?

TO GET ON, THE HORSE WAS BY A RAMP WHICH I STOOD ON & TOOK A FEW STEPS (WITH HELP) TOWARDS THE HORSE. THE LAST FEW MONTHS I’VE MADE A FEW PROGRESSIONS THAT I THINK MADE IT POSSIBLE:
1. I’VE BEEN USING AN AB BELT & STRENGTHENING MY CORE (AN AB BELT IS BASICALLY AN E-STIM MACHINE: http://www.slendertone.com)
2, I HAVE A TILT TABLE, & CAN NOW DO KNEE BENDS ALONE WHEN I STAND ON IT
3. I AM STRONGER (I SIT & LIFT WEIGHTS IN MY CHAIR–I STARTED WITH 1 LB., & IT WAS SUPER HEAVY, BUT NOW IT’S SO LIGHT, & I CAN NOW LIFT A WHOLE 3 LBS.)., & CAN SUPPORT MYSELF SITTING.

PLUS, MY THERAPIST IS REALLY STRONG, WHICH MADE ME FEEL SAFER…IT’S SURPRISENING HOW STRONG SHE IS, CUZ I ACTUALLY CAME BACK EARLY, CUZ I WAS GETTING TIRED, & WAS AFRAID I COULDN’T LAST MUCH LONGER, & WHEN WE GOT BACK, I WAS EXHAUSTED, & I BUCKLED WHEN I CAME OFF THE HORSE, & COULDN’T STAND FOR A MINUTE, BUT SHE DID SO WELL AT SUPPORTING MY WEIGHT, & HELPING ME STAND BACK UP!