75. Stroke Survivor Insights: What We Wish You Knew
Send us a text In episode 75 of the Survivor Science podcast, I dive into the realities of life after stroke and what we as survivors wish …
Jan. 9, 2025
75. Stroke Survivor Insights: What We Wish You Knew
In episode 75 of the Survivor Science podcast, I dive into the realities of life after stroke and what we as survivors wish others understood. From the invisible challenges like fatigue and the mental load of recovery to the misconceptions that still linger, this conversation is about creating a deeper understanding. I share lessons from my own recovery journey and highlight insights from others in the stroke community, including caregivers and those outside our circle. This episode is for survivors, caregivers, and anyone curious about the resilience it takes to navigate life after stroke.
It’s not just about sharing what makes recovery so demanding; it’s about helping others see what’s possible with the right mindset and support. Whether you’re a stroke survivor looking for validation or someone supporting a loved one, this episode offers a candid perspective on the struggles, the triumphs, and everything in between. Tune in for a real and honest conversation about what it means to live and thrive after stroke.
Hey there! If you’re a stroke survivor, caregiver, or someone navigating recovery, I want to invite you to check out The Center by Survivor Science. Head over to center.survivorscience.com and join a community that understands what you're going through.
And if you’re not quite ready to join, that’s okay! You can still access free resources at survivorscience.com
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Medical Disclaimer: All content found on this channel is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information provided, while based on personal experiences, should not replace professional medical counsel. Always consult with your physician or another qualified health provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Always seek professional advice before starting a new exercise or therapy...
Transcript
WEBVTT
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Welcome back to another episode of survivor science.
00:00:10.500 --> 00:00:17.579
This is episode 75 and I am pumped up here as I am fresh out of the shower, not sorting through my hurry for a change.
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And if you are watching this, you're going to see.
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Me without a hat.
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That's right.
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I decided to.
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Take a break from the hat.
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I, uh, it's been getting on my nerves slightly.
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I've lost so much weight that none of my fitted hats fit anymore.
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So I'm taking a break and it would be beneficial probably for my forehead.
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If I took a break because I run with hats and I've got this cut on my head that I've had for almost a year now.
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And it's time to, uh, stop wearing hats when running.
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Let it heal up real quick, which is not going to be real quick because nothing ever heals quick when you're on blood thinners.
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Uh, that's a topic for another day.
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But, uh, yeah.
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Welcome to episode 75.
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I'm really pumped up.
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As you can tell fresh out of the shower.
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Uh, had a little break from phone calls.
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So yeah.
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This episode, I want to hop into, uh, the reality of life after stroke.
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But that's just the reality because we all live the reality day after day.
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And we know it's not easy.
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It's a, it's a lot.
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It's a lot of work.
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It's uh, sometimes I might make it look easy.
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I know some people make it look easy to me.
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And it's not.
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Um, but the reality is as a stroke survivor, we have to overcome a lot of challenges.
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A lot of different things.
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And I think in this episode, we're going to chat about some of the things that we as stroke survivors really wish people knew.
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Had a couple people reach out to me, suggest some things I'll bring them up.
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Uh, nobody wants to be named, so that's fine.
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But, yeah, there's a lot of different things to this episode.
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Obviously it's all for all the survivors out there.
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Caregivers, family members, anybody involved in the stroke community.
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But more so than that, I want to involve the people that are not strokes if I were just because God knows.
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I think every strokes are out there.
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We'll say this to you.
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Do everything you can to.
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Try not to be part of this club.
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This is the club that nobody welcome to the club that nobody ever wanted to be a part of shout out to.
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Alicia over at Sao.
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She's the one who said that at first.
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Uh, hopefully one day I'll get her on the podcast and I just, uh, I love when she said that, because obviously it resonated with me.
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This is a club that I never wanted it to be a part of.
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No offense.
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I think we can all agree.
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Um, Yeah, this is it's interesting journey.
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I'm not like mad about it, but I also could very much picture my life.
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The way it was prior to my stroke and that doesn't seem.
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Listen, it's not bad now, but it definitely wasn't that bad then.
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And, uh, Yeah, I think there's a lot of lessons to.
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To learn.
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Sorry, I got a runny nose.
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It's fun.
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It's cold here in Florida.
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I know it's a cold to anybody else in the world, but it's a.
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Whatever, um, Uh, nobody cares about my ma my runny nose, but it's annoying me.
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And, um, I record all these podcasts.
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Oh, we getting them all on YouTube this year for all the episodes and going through the back catalog.
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But anyways, The big topic, the main point of this episode, episode 75, which is kind of an, uh, You know, it's not a huge milestone, but it's a mile.
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So.
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And so what are some of the things we as stroke survivors want other non stroke survivors to know?
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I think a lot of us in the community as chokes, VARs, want to help other Shokes to ours because we know how hard this is.
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We know how difficult it is.
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And anything we can do to help.
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Lessen the load.
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Ease the burden.
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Um, whatever we can share, whatever you can glean from things that we can share, I think is super important.
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Listen, it's kind of like social media.
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It's always weird when people don't like things or people on heart things.
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That's free.
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Like.
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Why not share.
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What we already know.
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I mean, I'm not saying don't make money.
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I'm not saying don't, you know, sell your, your, your courses or.
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Whatever you do, don't sell like thousands.
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I mean.
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Do whatever you want.
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To be honest.
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Yeah.
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Like if you are an expert in something and you've really mastered in.
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Uh, field, I think you should sell a lot of that information, but you could also share a lot of it.
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No.
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Survivors science.
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I give a lot of things away for free people.
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Tell me all the time I should charge more money, this, that, and the other thing.
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And as you know, honestly, I probably should, but I also just want to do the thing, because if you don't start, you'll never start.
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Um, You know, but I've talked about that too.
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Sometimes we can get so far ahead that we, we forget to circle back and figure out yeah.
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You know, Whatever I love doing this podcast.
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I just want to share my story.
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Share.
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What I've learned, what other people learn, what, what people want to talk about in this stroke community?
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Because this is again, is a.
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It's a great club.
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I love being a member of the show community now, but I also could.
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Very much.
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Imagine my life prior to the stroke and it wasn't so bad, but I, again, I know how hard this is and I think we can all agree.
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It's hard on us sharing the information within the community is great.
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But I think more than that.
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What's picker this all like.
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It's really.
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Sharing with people who are not stroke survivors, because the.
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You don't.
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Again, I look back at my own story.
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Everybody's got a different take here, but I think it's, um, Looking back.
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I wish somebody had told me, I wish I'd known sooner.
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Hey Wil, you're doing a lot of things wrong.
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You've got a high blood pressure.
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You should stop smoking.
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Stopped drinking cut out the crap because otherwise.
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This is going to be what's happening.
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This is going to be what happens to you?
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Am I God, would I have.
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I mean, I think I would've listened to myself.
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I probably wouldn't have listened to myself, but I like to believe.
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Had I known how different life would be, how tough things are.
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And listen, they're better.
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But it could be easier.
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Um, I remember doing a Tik TOK video back in the fall with my son, when he was at football practice one day, I was like, when will walking?
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Or running ever feel.
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Normal again, because now I walk and that's great.
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I'm out of the wheels here.
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I've done a lot of work on that.
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I talked about that endlessly.
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We know how many thousands of miles I've run.
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Awesome.
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It's still doesn't feel normal.
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And what do I mean by normal?
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I mean, I mean, effortless, I mean, the way.
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Walking running or doing anything felt the majority of my life.
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Even now.
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Uh, day in and day, day out.
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I have to think about every single step.
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Where I'm stepping helm stepping.
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I notice it by stepping is off.
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I notice if.
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Things don't feel quite right.
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And it's, it's just constant and I'm sure there are some ways and some things I could do to.
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You know, work around that.
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I think running's probably honestly, I'll be, I'll be honest.
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Yeah.
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Like when I run, I probably don't think about it as much.
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But I think.
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It's just did.
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It's not going to go away.
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Uh, hopefully maybe one day I'll, I'll go so many miles on somebody's feet.
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On my feet.
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That it will feel that way.
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But I'll be honest again.
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Because that's what I do here.
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So reasonably, I think I talked about it last episode.
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Um, I stopped taking some B12 for my multiple sclerosis because I just ran out and I didn't think it was any big deal.
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And it, uh, anyways, got it back on the menu for my pillow locks.
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I have been ticky it I've been working on things.
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I'm doing some more strength, training and bike riding at the gym.
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And it does seem as though.
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M S is that fun thing that rears its ugly head at when it feels most convenient to Ms and a.
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Yeah, just to have it a little bit of drop foot on the right foot this week.
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Um, again, going to see some people.
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See what's up, make sure nothing is super wrong.
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Nothing feels wrong.
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It just annoys the crap out of me.
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Because why?
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Because I take all my vitamins, I take all my medicines, I do everything right.
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And Ms is like, nah, Eh, Oh shit.
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Well, Uh, I feel like you are going to have drop foot for a week.
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Hopefully, this is temporary.
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Uh, my suspicion is that my body is still kind of.
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Getting back on track with getting the B12 back in the body.
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Anyways, long story short, that's just part of life.
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Um, And we deal with things as they come.
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A lot of interesting conversations today and yesterday and later today.
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But, uh, and more on that.
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On Friday when we recap kind of the week, but, um, okay.
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So let's focus on this show.
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I'm sorry.
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I'm all over the place.
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Maybe.
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Maybe I shouldn't shower before podcasts.
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Cause I'm on fire and all over the place.
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So, what are the, some of the things that we as stroke survivors generally wished people knew, you know, I, I, I think this is a broad topic.
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We could probably do multiple episodes in this.
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Uh, a lot of people said fatigue.
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I agree.
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Yes.
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But I feel like this one's been beaten over the head, but maybe not.
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It's not about needing naps.
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I think.
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What I'd really want people to know is that stroke is a brain injury.
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If you're not familiar with stroke, I highly recommend getting up to speed on stroke because God knows.
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You don't want to have one, if you can avoid it, obviously not all.
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It's not avoidable in every single case, but the more I talk to people, the more I learn.
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Whether it's, you know, some women I've met have had stroke because they were on birth control because they had a kid like that.
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That just seems unfair.
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Um, There's some people who seemingly have it for no reason that were in great shape that were runners like eat healthy, exercised.
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And then just had like some random thing happen.
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Um, That.
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Those are kind of like, that's kind of the 20%, right.
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Then you take the 80%.
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So they say.
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Of people like myself.
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I was drinking.
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I was smoking.
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I was, I had hypertension.
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I had so many things wrong with me.
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That's probably why I've.
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So over-corrected over the last five years.
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I was doing absolutely everything wrong.
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Again, smoking.
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I had undiagnosed CLPD.
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I had sleep apnea, had no freaking idea because my wife is deaf and oh, my kids just didn't mention it.
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And, um, you know, again, just, I D I was doing a lot.
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My diet was crap.
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Like wasn't a care care, my body, I wasn't resting.
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I wasn't sleeping.
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I wasn't doing any of the things you need to do.
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So to circle back to fatigue, my body and my brain were just ready to explode, including my heart, because.
00:12:01.710 --> 00:12:07.830
I didn't slow down and, you know, fatigue is a real thing for a lot of stroke survivors.
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I.
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Still can't slow down because the way I battle fatigue, I definitely had fatigue year one and year two.
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There's.
00:12:18.149 --> 00:12:20.700
Absolutely unequivocally year one.
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Almost every stroke survivor I've met has some sort of fatigue, at least in year one.
00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:30.690
Why because your brain needs to recover, it needs to heal.
00:12:31.769 --> 00:12:40.110
You've got to start to learn how to adapt to whatever situation deficits you're left with after being diagnosed and having a stroke.
00:12:41.399 --> 00:12:43.169
You just need time to heal.
00:12:43.559 --> 00:12:47.759
Again, The brain is like the major.
00:12:48.809 --> 00:12:50.490
Piece of the equation.
00:12:50.850 --> 00:12:57.149
If your brain is not in good shape, you're probably not going to be in good shape physically, mentally, or emotionally.
00:12:57.149 --> 00:12:57.600
So that.
00:12:58.559 --> 00:13:00.269
That healing that needing a nap.
00:13:00.419 --> 00:13:04.350
That's you call whatever you want, but the brain needs time to heal.
00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:06.450
It's just, it's just science.
00:13:06.929 --> 00:13:11.909
Like so, you know, yes, there's going to be some fatigue.
00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:13.769
You're going to be overstimulated.
00:13:13.799 --> 00:13:16.379
You're going to have a lot of things coming at you.
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A lot to deal with.
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Fatigue.
00:13:20.340 --> 00:13:26.610
Is broad, but yes, every stroke survivor is going to be exhausted, tired, and need time to heal.
00:13:27.179 --> 00:13:28.919
The mental load of recovery.
00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:30.149
That's part of fatigue.
00:13:31.169 --> 00:13:33.600
Again, this goes to the invisible battles.
00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:36.600
We fight, like there's a lot of physical disabilities.
00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:38.490
Some things don't kick in right away.
00:13:39.269 --> 00:13:42.480
Sometimes people like myself, try to do everything in a year.
00:13:42.509 --> 00:13:44.970
One that also is not wise.
00:13:46.259 --> 00:13:52.529
So, yeah, these are some of the, just, just a few of the things that we're touching on today, but it's, um, You know, I.
00:13:54.330 --> 00:13:55.950
Uh, probably to my detriment.
00:13:55.950 --> 00:13:58.590
I'm one of those people, like I wasn't, I don't know.
00:13:58.830 --> 00:14:00.600
I had an old strip, my stroke out.
00:14:00.629 --> 00:14:01.559
Was that a weird time?
00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:03.450
It was right before COVID so.
00:14:04.200 --> 00:14:10.230
By the time I came out of inpatient, I, and I went back in for the EMS, came out of inpatient the second time.
00:14:10.259 --> 00:14:11.460
That was when COVID happened.
00:14:12.750 --> 00:14:18.899
And so I don't have a real clear indication if my experience, I'm assuming it wasn't normal.
00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:22.950
But I would go out a little bit, but nobody was really out.
00:14:22.950 --> 00:14:30.600
So it was a little easier for me to fake a smile going through the store on the wheelchair, in the wheelchair cart thing.
00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:32.970
That I never thought I'd have to use.
00:14:35.580 --> 00:14:39.720
But, yeah, there's so many invisible battles that we as stroke survivors are facing.
00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:43.320
It's, it's hard to explain to people, but I think the best way.
00:14:44.129 --> 00:14:45.000
That I can explain.
00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:51.960
It is like, Or the best example rather is that when I had my stroke, I went into the hospital.
00:14:52.679 --> 00:14:53.820
Before I had my stroke.
00:14:53.820 --> 00:14:58.259
I walked in on two feet at 530 pounds into the hospital.
00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:00.389
You know, they.
00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:02.159
Brought me back.
00:15:02.250 --> 00:15:04.019
They caught the AFib.
00:15:04.500 --> 00:15:09.179
On the heart monitor while they were checking my, all my, my, my vitals before they.
00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:11.669
And the lucky if he caught the AFib.
00:15:12.269 --> 00:15:13.409
That's why they admitted me.
00:15:13.980 --> 00:15:15.450
At that point I went in, I have.
00:15:15.690 --> 00:15:18.899
I eventually wound up having this stroke while in the hospital.
00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:20.490
They didn't catch it.
00:15:20.669 --> 00:15:22.860
Long story short didn't know about TPA.
00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:24.299
Didn't get tip TPA.
00:15:25.590 --> 00:15:30.570
Um, But the explanation, the point I was trying to make is here.
00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:33.899
I walked into the hospital December, 2019.
00:15:36.059 --> 00:15:37.470
Less than five days later.
00:15:38.129 --> 00:15:40.830
It would be another 18 months before I'd walk again.
00:15:40.860 --> 00:15:44.399
And at that point, I didn't know if I'd ever be able to walk again and that's just.
00:15:45.059 --> 00:15:46.080
That alone.
00:15:47.070 --> 00:15:50.970
To go from literally pretend you go into a hospital on a Friday.
00:15:51.509 --> 00:15:53.159
You wake up on a Saturday.
00:15:53.850 --> 00:15:54.720
And you can't walk.
00:15:54.750 --> 00:15:56.159
Like that's weird.
00:15:56.850 --> 00:16:04.860
So, if you can wrap your head around that you can wrap your head around like, That's one of the many pieces that a stroke survivor goes through when having a stroke.
00:16:05.820 --> 00:16:07.710
And that gives you some perspective probably.
00:16:08.460 --> 00:16:10.169
Think how weird about that will be for you.
00:16:10.169 --> 00:16:12.840
If you're somebody who does, you know, you currently walk, you.
00:16:13.049 --> 00:16:14.100
You've not had a stroke.
00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:16.169
But, you know, somebody who's had a stroke.
00:16:16.529 --> 00:16:18.600
Think about how weird that is too.
00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:21.210
Walk into a hospital.
00:16:22.169 --> 00:16:23.370
24 hours later.
00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:25.470
You can't walk.
00:16:25.889 --> 00:16:26.909
You could barely talk.
00:16:27.539 --> 00:16:28.740
I couldn't move my hand.
00:16:29.610 --> 00:16:37.049
The way I went in, not in great shape, mind you, but I was still cognitively well, could speak everything was on fire.
00:16:37.049 --> 00:16:37.259
Like.
00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:39.899
You know, other than the fact that it was 500.
00:16:40.169 --> 00:16:40.980
30 pounds.
00:16:43.259 --> 00:16:48.600
Other than the fact that I was 1,230 pounds, you would not have been able to tell that there was much wrong with me.
00:16:49.049 --> 00:16:50.669
Fast forward 24 hours later.
00:16:50.669 --> 00:16:51.690
I'm in a hospital bed.
00:16:51.809 --> 00:16:52.379
I can't talk.
00:16:52.409 --> 00:16:54.149
I can't write, I can't read.
00:16:54.690 --> 00:16:55.440
I still can't write.
00:16:56.129 --> 00:16:57.419
I couldn't go to the restroom.
00:16:57.419 --> 00:16:58.379
I couldn't go to the bathroom.
00:16:58.409 --> 00:16:58.649
Like.
00:16:59.549 --> 00:17:00.000
Nothing.
00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:01.740
That's weird.
00:17:02.129 --> 00:17:02.970
That is.
00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:05.039
Stroke in a nutshell.
00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:10.410
You know, the other thing I get a lot and people are like, oh, how are you doing?
00:17:10.650 --> 00:17:11.578
I'm doing good, man.
00:17:11.578 --> 00:17:12.868
I put a lot of work into this.
00:17:12.868 --> 00:17:18.358
I work really hard, but like, Listen, you can work as hard as you want on stroke, but sometimes stroke.
00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:21.299
Multiple years out.
00:17:22.890 --> 00:17:28.470
I'm not going to say stroke always wins, but like, You're never done recovering.
00:17:28.470 --> 00:17:29.460
If that makes sense.
00:17:29.490 --> 00:17:29.849
Like.
00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:47.759
It's it's gotten easier over the years as I put more work in, it's all compounded, but like, I still can't write like, I can't, I can write, but I can't write like the way I want to, certainly not the way I used to, not that day that I went into the hospital.
00:17:48.450 --> 00:17:49.470
Certainly not like that.
00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:52.200
Not December of 2019.
00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:54.660
When I was sitting on the other side of the room, looking out the window.
00:17:55.650 --> 00:18:01.980
Behind the computer working for, you know, a big web web agency, you know, in my previous career.
00:18:02.339 --> 00:18:04.799
Doodling in a notebook now I'm not right like that yet.
00:18:05.009 --> 00:18:06.509
Uh, and we're five years out.
00:18:06.539 --> 00:18:06.839
So.
00:18:08.549 --> 00:18:10.079
You know, it's a.
00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:12.839
It's hard.
00:18:12.839 --> 00:18:13.470
It's challenging.
00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:15.210
There's there's a lot to it.
00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:21.119
And I had some notes and I don't like the notes that I wrote down.
00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:23.400
So let me think about this for a minute.
00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:25.049
I'm going to take a quick pause.
00:18:25.710 --> 00:18:28.619
And just think what are some more.
00:18:30.450 --> 00:18:30.839
Things.
00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:34.470
I mean, I really, honestly, as a stroke survivor, who's putting in a lot of work.
00:18:34.829 --> 00:18:36.869
Almost every day for the last five years.
00:18:37.769 --> 00:18:42.450
I don't think people appreciate how much work it takes to.
00:18:43.829 --> 00:18:48.480
Get to, uh, um, And I'm only using myself as an example because.
00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:52.079
I don't want to mention anybody individually.
00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:54.660
I'm not having a guest on this, this, this episode.
00:18:55.109 --> 00:18:55.799
So it was just me.
00:18:56.730 --> 00:18:57.630
You know, it's.
00:18:59.099 --> 00:19:00.690
To be 530 pounds.
00:19:00.690 --> 00:19:01.680
And to now, B.
00:19:02.190 --> 00:19:06.450
Less than 250 pounds does that means I've lost myself.
00:19:07.170 --> 00:19:07.950
In body weight.
00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:09.329
More than myself.
00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:10.950
You know, I made a joke.
00:19:11.130 --> 00:19:11.700
Months ago.
00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:16.440
At 530 pounds, it was like Jason, Kelsey, Asia's brother, Travis, Kelsey.
00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:24.420
And then, you know, And now I'm just down to Travis, his size and probably a little under, so that, that in itself is a lot of work.
00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:24.720
And.
00:19:25.470 --> 00:19:27.599
I said the last, last episode or last week.
00:19:29.579 --> 00:19:30.930
I don't think as a, as, as.
00:19:31.559 --> 00:19:34.380
Somebody who had a stroke with a bit of a heart thing.
00:19:35.609 --> 00:19:43.140
Uh, it was not a heart attack, but my heart was obviously under significant stress to have a stroke part B part of that.
00:19:43.230 --> 00:19:44.970
I had a fib, you know, that's.
00:19:45.329 --> 00:19:47.970
Uh, Sort of misfiring.
00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:51.210
Uh, out of balance arrhythmia and you're in.
00:19:51.329 --> 00:19:54.690
In your, in your heart, basically a yard is not in sinus rhythm.
00:19:55.380 --> 00:19:56.190
It is now.
00:19:57.059 --> 00:20:06.299
That, that was probably, you know, when that, when I got it back in rhythm, a couple of years after the stroke, that's probably what helped a lot of my mobility.
00:20:06.329 --> 00:20:10.470
And really pressing on and getting back into the gym though, I wanted to.
00:20:12.329 --> 00:20:13.349
But this is not easy.
00:20:13.410 --> 00:20:14.670
This is not easy.
00:20:14.730 --> 00:20:15.480
I can't iterate.
00:20:15.990 --> 00:20:17.250
I can't reiterate that enough.
00:20:18.569 --> 00:20:21.779
The strokes whoever's out there, know this, but it's just, it's hard.
00:20:23.130 --> 00:20:25.019
You know, there's, there's a lot of struggles.
00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:26.730
There's there's work.
00:20:26.789 --> 00:20:27.720
There's family.
00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:30.359
There's like I had this discussion with somebody today.
00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:33.119
And they're like, oh, how do you say so motivated?
00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:34.980
I mean, man, I got three kids.
00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:35.910
Away.
00:20:36.690 --> 00:20:37.769
Uh, family.
00:20:37.799 --> 00:20:40.200
My parents had passed the year before my stroke.
00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:40.859
Like there.
00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:42.599
I don't know.
00:20:42.660 --> 00:20:45.960
I mean, I have friends, but the nobody's coming to save me.
00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:54.450
And I don't know, there are two choices either I quit, which I'm not really into, or, or I push forward and I figure it out.
00:20:55.380 --> 00:21:04.529
And again, But there with that, it should be said there are a lot of emotional weights, um, that come with it.
00:21:04.619 --> 00:21:07.200
There are a lot of internal struggles and battles.
00:21:07.230 --> 00:21:08.339
There's ego.
00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:18.150
You know, which I talked about a bunch and I think a lot of stroke survivors have where, you know, you just kind of think, oh, I'll just pop back to the way I was or.
00:21:19.710 --> 00:21:20.940
You know, I still struggle with this.
00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:22.019
It's it's it's.
00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:24.390
There are challenges.
00:21:24.450 --> 00:21:28.079
Um, I was always used to doing everything kind of.
00:21:28.890 --> 00:21:32.369
Because I could, because I wanted to, because it was faster.
00:21:33.329 --> 00:21:34.049
And.
00:21:34.769 --> 00:21:37.200
Each day I'm reminded that a.
00:21:37.950 --> 00:21:41.220
As far as I've come and I certainly could get further.
00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:44.490
There are limitations.
00:21:44.579 --> 00:21:47.549
I can cognitively keep up with the best of them.
00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:47.700
I.
00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:49.829
I can probably keep up with most, if not.
00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:51.150
The majority.
00:21:51.809 --> 00:21:57.000
Um, But there are, there are speeds that certain things I can't do to speed that.
00:21:57.269 --> 00:21:59.970
I used to be able to do, like, whether it's speaking, you.
00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:02.549
Most people would say I speak pretty clearly.
00:22:02.549 --> 00:22:04.170
Obviously I'm a little tired today.
00:22:04.769 --> 00:22:09.960
As I'm recording this, but generally speaking, most people can not even tell I've had a stroke.
00:22:10.619 --> 00:22:14.789
Which is good again, that's good for me because that means putting in the work it's paying off.
00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:15.269
Great.
00:22:16.529 --> 00:22:18.720
Also very much not helpful.
00:22:19.109 --> 00:22:23.549
Because again, all this work put into it is, is a.
00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:27.960
Is challenging and stroke is relentless.
00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:31.170
And again, I know I'm repeating myself.
00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:40.769
I have terrible notes for this, this, um, This episode, I wanted a bunch of rabbit Q and a things I think.
00:22:41.069 --> 00:22:44.369
You know, Again, it's a club.
00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:45.240
Nobody wants to head.
00:22:46.109 --> 00:22:51.480
I mean, it's great to be part of the club now, but it's, it's really not one I recommend joining.
00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:53.519
I recommend figuring out your.
00:22:54.569 --> 00:23:05.819
Your whatever, whether it's discuss, um, some kind of demons, whether it's, um, weight loss, whether it's food, whether you're struggling with a lot of things, whatever you can do.
00:23:07.230 --> 00:23:11.130
To give yourself the best chance to never be a part of this club.
00:23:11.130 --> 00:23:12.269
I highly recommend.
00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:17.400
Because if you or somebody, you know, Uh, has had a stroke.
00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:19.200
No, it is challenging.
00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:23.250
And again, I don't think Eddie's strokes who are out there is looking for pity.
00:23:23.430 --> 00:23:34.410
Um, it's more just about understanding, like, There's a difference between sympathy and empathy and, you know, It's hard.
00:23:34.410 --> 00:23:36.900
It's hard for everybody to get on the same page.
00:23:36.930 --> 00:23:38.759
It's it's it's just.
00:23:39.420 --> 00:23:54.240
You know, Uh, if somebody seems like they want to talk, talk, you know, if somebody says, oh, I had a stroke and they don't say anything else, let them be, um, I think a lot of things, you know, what's discouraging to me is I think.
00:23:55.170 --> 00:23:55.920
I think of this.
00:23:58.410 --> 00:24:00.299
In the context of be me, right.
00:24:00.329 --> 00:24:02.190
I'm now in my forties.
00:24:02.789 --> 00:24:04.500
Going back to school for an MBA.
00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:07.319
And really wanting to join.
00:24:07.890 --> 00:24:14.670
You know, I love what I do with survivor science and, but I'd really want to be a part of an organization and team again, right.
00:24:14.670 --> 00:24:16.109
Because my kids are a little older.
00:24:16.109 --> 00:24:18.480
I've worked really hard on my body and my brain.
00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:20.130
I feel sharp.
00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:21.990
I feel like I could do anything.
00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:28.710
And I still think sometimes people see in my bio or in my headline or on my social media.
00:24:30.029 --> 00:24:30.960
Oh stroke survivor.
00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:34.769
And they, they, they sort of conjure up these things of what I am or who I am.
00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:38.819
And yes, I'm also the loud mouth, the podcasts or the.
00:24:39.630 --> 00:24:47.640
Somebody trying to bring awareness to stroke and stroke awareness and build a community and build something that doesn't currently exist.
00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:49.319
And you know, that slow going.
00:24:50.130 --> 00:24:50.940
And so.
00:24:51.690 --> 00:24:55.950
People will make judgements or they just make assumptions more likely.
00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:58.650
And it's just like, you know, I gotta be honest.
00:25:00.599 --> 00:25:02.819
I love a challenge and I welcome anybody to give you.
00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:07.470
I've heard it said before.
00:25:08.369 --> 00:25:10.680
A number of people have seen me move and do things.
00:25:10.710 --> 00:25:17.910
They're like, they're like, you're moving faster to me and I didn't even have a stroke and I definitely didn't have a stroke and have.
00:25:18.329 --> 00:25:18.720
So.
00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:24.869
It's just interesting to me, because again, I know if I'm facing these challenges.
00:25:25.619 --> 00:25:30.690
I got to imagine other survivors is facing similar upheld battle on the regular.
00:25:31.380 --> 00:25:34.890
Um, And I think it's important cause strokes two hours.
00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:35.549
Yeah.
00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:38.789
There are many different types of stroke survivors, too.
00:25:38.789 --> 00:25:39.059
Right?
00:25:39.089 --> 00:25:42.119
There's many different types of strokes as you've likely heard.
00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:45.000
Um, hemorrhagic, ischemic, uh, AVM.
00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:47.369
There are all suck.
00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.869
If I'm being honest.
00:25:48.930 --> 00:25:54.210
Um, And it doesn't mean stroke survivors, no longer have goals or dreams or ambitions.
00:25:54.269 --> 00:25:55.319
I think a lot of us do.
00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:56.369
I think many of us do.
00:25:57.869 --> 00:25:59.250
But there are two camps.
00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:04.289
There are the Debbie downer camps and there are those that are trying to get after it and do things and help.
00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:07.380
And whether it's helping other survivors helping themselves like.
00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:16.230
Even as strokes are just able to help themselves and get back to work and do things and all these things like that's helping, that's helping society.
00:26:16.230 --> 00:26:19.470
That's helping motivate, that's helping show other people what's possible.
00:26:21.210 --> 00:26:24.029
Yeah, it's just, it's it's really interesting to me.
00:26:24.119 --> 00:26:31.500
Um, So, uh, let's see if there's anything else that pops off for me.
00:26:31.559 --> 00:26:33.119
We talked about emotions.
00:26:33.329 --> 00:26:35.819
I mean, Again, this is, this has kind of.
00:26:37.170 --> 00:26:47.849
I wanted to plan a better episode for episode 75, but I feel like, I think some of the big takeaways are like, you're never done recovering as a stroke survivor, and that's an important message.
00:26:48.930 --> 00:26:50.369
For Schuster overs, non chokes.
00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:51.119
Folks survivors.
00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:55.109
Caregivers, family members, friends dammit my hands all over the place.
00:26:56.309 --> 00:26:57.480
The invisible battles.
00:26:57.480 --> 00:27:00.450
You just it's, it's really hard to know.
00:27:00.450 --> 00:27:00.750
And.
00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:03.660
Listen, this, this again is both sides.
00:27:03.660 --> 00:27:08.039
It's it's, it's the survivor's side, but it's also the other side.
00:27:08.369 --> 00:27:10.470
We need some understanding and some empathy.
00:27:11.369 --> 00:27:14.039
And it's always a balance and it's working things out.
00:27:14.849 --> 00:27:19.259
You know, because you can't imagine how hard this is, unless you've actually been through it.
00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:23.549
Again, I referenced the walking into the hospital one day and the next day.
00:27:24.690 --> 00:27:25.349
Paralyzed.
00:27:25.950 --> 00:27:27.480
Like that is a.
00:27:28.890 --> 00:27:29.819
Bizarre.
00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:33.000
Feeling that I can't.
00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:39.720
Really even articulate to the level it deserves, but it is like, Beyond bizarre.
00:27:41.549 --> 00:27:42.000
I mean.
00:27:42.450 --> 00:27:44.220
Uh, I don't want to say the wrong thing here, but.
00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:48.960
There are similar instances.
00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:54.750
Perhaps, like if you think about veterans, which we've talked about before with PTSD and.
00:27:55.559 --> 00:27:59.039
Soldiers who have gone off to war one day, things are fine.
00:27:59.069 --> 00:28:02.099
And the next it's chaos like that is.
00:28:03.750 --> 00:28:05.460
Very much what stroke is like.
00:28:06.569 --> 00:28:08.460
I just can't reiterate that enough.
00:28:08.609 --> 00:28:09.210
I can be.
00:28:10.470 --> 00:28:14.670
Again, I think, I think a big thing too, is a lot of stroke survivors, you know?
00:28:16.170 --> 00:28:17.339
I'm a little proactive.
00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:18.269
I'm pretty loud.
00:28:18.269 --> 00:28:19.079
I'm pretty big.
00:28:19.170 --> 00:28:20.759
Unfortunate to be that way.
00:28:21.690 --> 00:28:23.970
So people don't say these things to me.
00:28:25.410 --> 00:28:27.269
But they might say I'm just somebody else.
00:28:27.390 --> 00:28:30.839
Um, The the.
00:28:32.250 --> 00:28:33.539
People who.
00:28:35.009 --> 00:28:39.750
Some people may perceive to be, um, not as sharp as you think they are.
00:28:40.140 --> 00:28:41.039
They might vary.
00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:43.470
It could be, they might not be.
00:28:43.799 --> 00:28:46.740
But the better chances they have some sort of aphasia.
00:28:47.460 --> 00:28:47.880
A speeds.
00:28:48.029 --> 00:28:49.470
Um, A speech.
00:28:49.559 --> 00:28:52.799
Related, uh, deficit as a result of stroke.
00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:57.450
You know, it's, it's, it's not quite as easy for stroke survivors.
00:28:58.589 --> 00:29:00.960
Including myself who talks all the time.
00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:08.880
Um, To get the words out that I say, you know, Think about brain fart, we all know what a brain fart is.
00:29:08.940 --> 00:29:14.579
Uh, But that's stroke on a daily basis versus a once in a while thing.
00:29:15.930 --> 00:29:16.980
Sometimes it's just harder.
00:29:17.069 --> 00:29:18.930
It's not harder to process.
00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:21.660
It's just harder to process as quickly, I think.
00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:23.339
And everybody again is different.
00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:26.160
There are plenty of trucks, drivers that have full processing speed.
00:29:26.730 --> 00:29:28.619
Some even better than before stroke.
00:29:28.650 --> 00:29:31.049
Um, You know, but if you're looking for.
00:29:31.589 --> 00:29:33.750
A stroke survivor to have excellent.
00:29:34.589 --> 00:29:37.170
Perfect clear speech throughout the day.
00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:44.430
That is going to be rare, not a possible, but it just takes a moment.
00:29:44.490 --> 00:29:50.279
Um, you know, some people like myself, I used to be great at speaking off the cuff on the fly.
00:29:51.180 --> 00:29:52.109
Didn't need to warm up.
00:29:52.170 --> 00:29:53.970
Didn't have any breathing issues.
00:29:54.029 --> 00:29:57.630
Um, Yeah, it's just, things are different.
00:29:57.630 --> 00:30:01.200
And I think we want more people outside the community to understand.
00:30:02.339 --> 00:30:03.569
We're we're more than capable.
00:30:03.599 --> 00:30:06.390
I mean, if, if you're shucks over and you're up and walking in your.
00:30:06.990 --> 00:30:08.609
Doing certain things like, yeah.
00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:10.859
It's always a balance.
00:30:12.089 --> 00:30:16.049
Um, you might have slight things that you need help with here and there.
00:30:16.049 --> 00:30:21.059
Like maybe a hand, like I still hate button down shirts because I hate doing buttons.
00:30:21.059 --> 00:30:23.130
I could do a lot of things, but I.
00:30:24.509 --> 00:30:27.390
You know, my desire to button a shirt is pretty low.
00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:28.829
She did it on the list.
00:30:28.859 --> 00:30:34.019
Again, it's handwriting and buttoning buttons are probably my two lowest and two weakest.
00:30:34.859 --> 00:30:37.380
Things left, but there are plenty of other things I can do.
00:30:37.470 --> 00:30:48.839
Um, So, yeah, it can be discouraging sometimes because I feel like even myself I'm fighting battles against, uh, just society or.
00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:52.859
What people think, you know, and maybe it's my own fault.
00:30:52.950 --> 00:30:54.599
Um, who knows.
00:30:55.380 --> 00:30:56.609
But really, yeah, really like.
00:30:57.750 --> 00:31:01.680
I think one, a good way of describing this, that recovery recovery has never done.
00:31:01.710 --> 00:31:03.359
You can get a lot, lot better.
00:31:03.809 --> 00:31:06.599
I think we've seen that with guests on this show, we've seen that.
00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:09.599
You know, Myself.
00:31:09.630 --> 00:31:10.440
I feel a lot better.
00:31:10.440 --> 00:31:11.190
I feel amazing.
00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:13.680
Honestly, I feel better than I felt in my twenties and thirties.
00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:18.240
And, um, Yeah, but there are changes, then things are different.
00:31:18.269 --> 00:31:18.990
And I think.
00:31:19.890 --> 00:31:22.319
Even five years out and hopefully not.
00:31:22.619 --> 00:31:23.460
Too much longer.
00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:31.740
But for the foreseeable future stroke is like the goalposts moving every single week, which is fun.
00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:34.140
Sure, but also frustrating.
00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:36.150
Um, Let's see.
00:31:36.150 --> 00:31:37.859
Yeah, I know this episode.
00:31:37.950 --> 00:31:40.349
I tried to squeeze this in, in between calls today.
00:31:40.349 --> 00:31:40.650
And I.
00:31:41.250 --> 00:31:42.839
I thought I had much better notes in front of me.
00:31:42.839 --> 00:31:46.980
I took a bunch of notes yesterday and I either had misplaced them or, or.
00:31:47.849 --> 00:31:50.880
Whatever, but it had a whole bunch of things that people want to talk about.
00:31:50.880 --> 00:31:52.950
And, um, hopefully we touched on a lot of them.
00:31:52.950 --> 00:31:53.789
I think we did.
00:31:54.480 --> 00:32:00.420
Again, talking about stroke every each and every week, three, three times a week on podcasts.
00:32:00.450 --> 00:32:04.829
I tend to repeat myself, but I'm sure not everybody's catching every minute of every episode.
00:32:05.789 --> 00:32:08.369
So I think it's super important to talk about.
00:32:08.369 --> 00:32:10.200
We'll talk about it many more times.
00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:24.990
Uh, coming up, uh, I got a couple of new guests on the docket for the coming weeks, but another really fantastic stroke server just today, really looking forward to have a conversation with him, he actually has.
00:32:25.858 --> 00:32:27.869
Like me, he's not just a stroke survivor.
00:32:27.869 --> 00:32:33.599
He has, um, not, he does not have an S he has, um, I don't want to give it away.
00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:37.079
He has something else that is, is in the similar family.
00:32:37.679 --> 00:32:48.749
He's had that for about 15 years, give or take, and now he's had, um, I don't think that they're directly correlated to is, is, is longer-term thing.
00:32:49.919 --> 00:32:50.338
As that.
00:32:50.878 --> 00:32:52.469
We'll ask him on the show because he.
00:32:53.459 --> 00:32:59.308
He's had a couple of strokes now, uh, older gentlemen, but very sharp, very fed, uh, really excited to talk to him.
00:32:59.308 --> 00:33:00.239
Had a great call today.
00:33:00.239 --> 00:33:01.798
I really enjoyed talking to him.
00:33:02.459 --> 00:33:03.118
Funny too.
00:33:03.118 --> 00:33:09.088
Cause he's, he's, he's done some similar things that the cat, a podcast about his thing previously years ago.
00:33:09.749 --> 00:33:11.308
The stroke sort of, kind of.
00:33:12.239 --> 00:33:13.979
The first one was fine for my gathering.
00:33:14.009 --> 00:33:15.598
The second one was okay.
00:33:16.499 --> 00:33:24.088
Unfortunately, he didn't just have one because as we all know, For a variety of reasons you might have more than one stroke.
00:33:24.148 --> 00:33:28.588
Um, I am fingers crossed hopefully only going to ever have that one.
00:33:29.429 --> 00:33:32.278
But, you know, Never say, never knock on wood.
00:33:32.669 --> 00:33:37.108
Uh, but that's my hope is that, uh, it's one and a one and done is my hope.
00:33:37.138 --> 00:33:37.288
I.
00:33:37.318 --> 00:33:38.308
I'm hoping Ms.
00:33:38.308 --> 00:33:38.848
As the.
00:33:39.898 --> 00:33:42.778
The other thing that I get to deal with forever, which is fun.
00:33:42.838 --> 00:33:45.538
Um, But yeah.
00:33:45.659 --> 00:33:47.999
Uh, let's see.
00:33:48.058 --> 00:33:49.019
So that'll be really fun.
00:33:49.048 --> 00:33:52.138
That's coming up, uh, later in the month.
00:33:52.169 --> 00:33:54.898
So Friday we'll be in those solo episode.
00:33:55.798 --> 00:33:58.739
We'll recap the week got a couple more calls today and tomorrow.
00:33:59.308 --> 00:33:59.638
I'm sure.
00:33:59.638 --> 00:34:01.469
I'll have a lot of fun things to bring on Friday.
00:34:01.469 --> 00:34:02.788
So that's really good.
00:34:02.788 --> 00:34:06.058
If you think of anything that I didn't talk about today that you want me to do.
00:34:06.568 --> 00:34:10.798
Mention, uh, on Friday's episode or bring back up on another episode.
00:34:10.798 --> 00:34:11.489
That would be great.
00:34:11.489 --> 00:34:12.208
Share that with me.
00:34:12.208 --> 00:34:12.838
Let me know.
00:34:13.978 --> 00:34:14.398
But yeah.
00:34:14.548 --> 00:34:18.509
Uh, I guess, you know, what's the one thing that you wish people stopped saying to you?
00:34:18.509 --> 00:34:20.938
Cause I know, I wish everybody was out talking to me.
00:34:21.418 --> 00:34:26.759
Uh, not stroke survivors and not the stroke community, but generally the people outside.
00:34:27.929 --> 00:34:29.338
I mean, I meet a lot of nice people.
00:34:29.369 --> 00:34:30.599
A lot of people that actually are.
00:34:30.989 --> 00:34:32.548
You know, They like to check in.
00:34:32.579 --> 00:34:34.289
They want to check in because I've talked to them.
00:34:34.289 --> 00:34:34.648
Cause I've.
00:34:35.699 --> 00:34:38.938
Connected with them on a personal level within the neighborhood within.
00:34:39.719 --> 00:34:42.088
You know, my, my general community where I live.
00:34:43.018 --> 00:34:43.918
That's all fine.
00:34:44.039 --> 00:34:45.599
What I really don't want to do is.
00:34:46.739 --> 00:34:50.128
I don't want to answer questions for people that really don't know me.
00:34:50.338 --> 00:34:51.329
Don't care.
00:34:52.378 --> 00:34:53.188
I dunno.
00:34:53.188 --> 00:34:56.188
I, I know it sounds a little weird, but I like talking to people.
00:34:56.188 --> 00:34:57.688
If they're curious about stroke, if.
00:34:58.588 --> 00:35:01.768
You know, they've seen me or they've heard my story or they know something about it.
00:35:02.188 --> 00:35:04.949
Always happy to answer a question, but I just meant like the people that.
00:35:05.548 --> 00:35:08.159
That try to pretend to be polite.
00:35:08.188 --> 00:35:11.429
And they, they want to pretend like they care, but they don't give a shit.
00:35:12.418 --> 00:35:13.949
Those who I'm tired talking to.
00:35:13.978 --> 00:35:15.688
So, um, Yeah.
00:35:16.228 --> 00:35:22.889
Again, what's the weirdest thing or, or, or one of the things that you wish people stopped saying to you and, you know, what's one of the most.
00:35:23.068 --> 00:35:24.119
Uh, surprising things.
00:35:24.119 --> 00:35:25.168
That's helped you recover.
00:35:25.858 --> 00:35:26.969
Something to think about for the week.
00:35:27.028 --> 00:35:28.079
Let me know on social.
00:35:28.108 --> 00:35:30.929
A if you've got a good answer, you want Bergen up on Friday's episode?
00:35:30.929 --> 00:35:32.099
I definitely do that.
00:35:33.179 --> 00:35:34.469
I am super tired.
00:35:34.978 --> 00:35:35.668
I'm talking today.
00:35:35.668 --> 00:35:36.599
So I'm exhausted.
00:35:36.628 --> 00:35:39.539
Uh, But I hope you enjoyed episode 75 of the podcast.
00:35:39.539 --> 00:35:40.648
Uh, I know I did.
00:35:40.648 --> 00:35:41.188
I know.
00:35:41.188 --> 00:35:42.869
Uh, I'll be back again Friday.
00:35:43.349 --> 00:35:49.498
To wrap up the week and I hope you're having a great start to your January of 2025.
00:35:49.619 --> 00:35:50.338
Don't forget.
00:35:50.338 --> 00:35:53.668
Check out survivors sides, the website, sign up for the newsletter.
00:35:53.668 --> 00:35:54.719
Sign up for the blog.
00:35:55.739 --> 00:35:59.548
Uh, if you're interested, check out the community, I still have that special going on right now.
00:36:00.358 --> 00:36:02.548
Uh, big news, big news.
00:36:02.789 --> 00:36:07.588
If you're listening and you made it all the way to the end, I'm thinking about doing a little Facebook group.
00:36:08.248 --> 00:36:10.409
Despite my best intentions.
00:36:10.409 --> 00:36:14.818
So we'll see that my pop up here in the next couple of days, um, Okay.
00:36:15.239 --> 00:36:17.099
So our science.com podcast.
00:36:17.278 --> 00:36:22.199
To Riverside and it's dot com to go get previous episodes or wherever you get your favorite podcast and a.
00:36:23.068 --> 00:36:24.898
Yeah, go check in on yourself.
00:36:24.929 --> 00:36:27.748
Have a great rest of your Wednesday.
00:36:27.748 --> 00:36:29.338
And I will see you back here on Friday.
00:36:29.518 --> 00:36:29.938
All right.
00:00:07.559 --> 00:00:10.080
Welcome back to another episode of survivor science.
00:00:10.500 --> 00:00:17.579
This is episode 75 and I am pumped up here as I am fresh out of the shower, not sorting through my hurry for a change.
00:00:18.210 --> 00:00:20.489
And if you are watching this, you're going to see.
00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:22.769
Me without a hat.
00:00:23.429 --> 00:00:24.089
That's right.
00:00:24.359 --> 00:00:25.890
I decided to.
00:00:26.969 --> 00:00:28.559
Take a break from the hat.
00:00:28.829 --> 00:00:32.009
I, uh, it's been getting on my nerves slightly.
00:00:32.969 --> 00:00:36.780
I've lost so much weight that none of my fitted hats fit anymore.
00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:43.560
So I'm taking a break and it would be beneficial probably for my forehead.
00:00:44.189 --> 00:00:50.880
If I took a break because I run with hats and I've got this cut on my head that I've had for almost a year now.
00:00:50.909 --> 00:00:54.450
And it's time to, uh, stop wearing hats when running.
00:00:54.899 --> 00:01:00.630
Let it heal up real quick, which is not going to be real quick because nothing ever heals quick when you're on blood thinners.
00:01:01.710 --> 00:01:03.299
Uh, that's a topic for another day.
00:01:04.200 --> 00:01:05.219
But, uh, yeah.
00:01:05.219 --> 00:01:06.569
Welcome to episode 75.
00:01:06.569 --> 00:01:07.469
I'm really pumped up.
00:01:07.500 --> 00:01:09.239
As you can tell fresh out of the shower.
00:01:09.780 --> 00:01:12.180
Uh, had a little break from phone calls.
00:01:12.180 --> 00:01:12.780
So yeah.
00:01:13.620 --> 00:01:18.269
This episode, I want to hop into, uh, the reality of life after stroke.
00:01:18.900 --> 00:01:22.319
But that's just the reality because we all live the reality day after day.
00:01:22.829 --> 00:01:24.750
And we know it's not easy.
00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:26.340
It's a, it's a lot.
00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:27.420
It's a lot of work.
00:01:27.450 --> 00:01:30.299
It's uh, sometimes I might make it look easy.
00:01:30.299 --> 00:01:32.459
I know some people make it look easy to me.
00:01:33.269 --> 00:01:34.530
And it's not.
00:01:34.739 --> 00:01:40.950
Um, but the reality is as a stroke survivor, we have to overcome a lot of challenges.
00:01:41.609 --> 00:01:42.930
A lot of different things.
00:01:42.930 --> 00:01:49.739
And I think in this episode, we're going to chat about some of the things that we as stroke survivors really wish people knew.
00:01:50.159 --> 00:01:53.760
Had a couple people reach out to me, suggest some things I'll bring them up.
00:01:54.390 --> 00:01:57.359
Uh, nobody wants to be named, so that's fine.
00:01:58.349 --> 00:02:00.840
But, yeah, there's a lot of different things to this episode.
00:02:01.409 --> 00:02:04.170
Obviously it's all for all the survivors out there.
00:02:04.260 --> 00:02:08.189
Caregivers, family members, anybody involved in the stroke community.
00:02:08.788 --> 00:02:13.800
But more so than that, I want to involve the people that are not strokes if I were just because God knows.
00:02:13.800 --> 00:02:15.629
I think every strokes are out there.
00:02:15.689 --> 00:02:16.889
We'll say this to you.
00:02:18.479 --> 00:02:21.240
Do everything you can to.
00:02:21.840 --> 00:02:24.569
Try not to be part of this club.
00:02:25.110 --> 00:02:30.659
This is the club that nobody welcome to the club that nobody ever wanted to be a part of shout out to.
00:02:31.110 --> 00:02:32.610
Alicia over at Sao.
00:02:32.759 --> 00:02:34.289
She's the one who said that at first.
00:02:35.189 --> 00:02:44.099
Uh, hopefully one day I'll get her on the podcast and I just, uh, I love when she said that, because obviously it resonated with me.
00:02:44.159 --> 00:02:46.710
This is a club that I never wanted it to be a part of.
00:02:46.740 --> 00:02:47.550
No offense.
00:02:48.060 --> 00:02:49.409
I think we can all agree.
00:02:49.530 --> 00:02:54.960
Um, Yeah, this is it's interesting journey.
00:02:54.960 --> 00:03:00.150
I'm not like mad about it, but I also could very much picture my life.
00:03:00.780 --> 00:03:05.370
The way it was prior to my stroke and that doesn't seem.
00:03:06.330 --> 00:03:10.229
Listen, it's not bad now, but it definitely wasn't that bad then.
00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:13.949
And, uh, Yeah, I think there's a lot of lessons to.
00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:14.789
To learn.
00:03:14.789 --> 00:03:15.870
Sorry, I got a runny nose.
00:03:16.169 --> 00:03:16.860
It's fun.
00:03:17.370 --> 00:03:18.539
It's cold here in Florida.
00:03:18.539 --> 00:03:21.240
I know it's a cold to anybody else in the world, but it's a.
00:03:22.080 --> 00:03:27.930
Whatever, um, Uh, nobody cares about my ma my runny nose, but it's annoying me.
00:03:27.960 --> 00:03:30.569
And, um, I record all these podcasts.
00:03:31.710 --> 00:03:36.479
Oh, we getting them all on YouTube this year for all the episodes and going through the back catalog.
00:03:36.509 --> 00:03:46.080
But anyways, The big topic, the main point of this episode, episode 75, which is kind of an, uh, You know, it's not a huge milestone, but it's a mile.
00:03:46.110 --> 00:03:46.379
So.
00:03:47.580 --> 00:03:53.669
And so what are some of the things we as stroke survivors want other non stroke survivors to know?
00:03:53.669 --> 00:03:59.520
I think a lot of us in the community as chokes, VARs, want to help other Shokes to ours because we know how hard this is.
00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:00.900
We know how difficult it is.
00:04:01.590 --> 00:04:03.389
And anything we can do to help.
00:04:03.629 --> 00:04:04.919
Lessen the load.
00:04:05.490 --> 00:04:06.569
Ease the burden.
00:04:06.689 --> 00:04:12.539
Um, whatever we can share, whatever you can glean from things that we can share, I think is super important.
00:04:13.500 --> 00:04:15.180
Listen, it's kind of like social media.
00:04:15.180 --> 00:04:18.449
It's always weird when people don't like things or people on heart things.
00:04:19.019 --> 00:04:19.980
That's free.
00:04:20.040 --> 00:04:20.399
Like.
00:04:21.120 --> 00:04:22.199
Why not share.
00:04:22.740 --> 00:04:23.759
What we already know.
00:04:23.790 --> 00:04:25.740
I mean, I'm not saying don't make money.
00:04:25.740 --> 00:04:30.449
I'm not saying don't, you know, sell your, your, your courses or.
00:04:31.620 --> 00:04:34.050
Whatever you do, don't sell like thousands.
00:04:34.500 --> 00:04:34.949
I mean.
00:04:35.639 --> 00:04:36.449
Do whatever you want.
00:04:37.860 --> 00:04:38.459
To be honest.
00:04:38.459 --> 00:04:38.759
Yeah.
00:04:38.790 --> 00:04:41.850
Like if you are an expert in something and you've really mastered in.
00:04:42.540 --> 00:04:47.220
Uh, field, I think you should sell a lot of that information, but you could also share a lot of it.
00:04:47.970 --> 00:04:48.240
No.
00:04:48.810 --> 00:04:49.589
Survivors science.
00:04:49.589 --> 00:04:51.209
I give a lot of things away for free people.
00:04:51.240 --> 00:04:54.569
Tell me all the time I should charge more money, this, that, and the other thing.
00:04:54.569 --> 00:05:02.939
And as you know, honestly, I probably should, but I also just want to do the thing, because if you don't start, you'll never start.
00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:06.389
Um, You know, but I've talked about that too.
00:05:06.389 --> 00:05:11.730
Sometimes we can get so far ahead that we, we forget to circle back and figure out yeah.
00:05:11.819 --> 00:05:15.149
You know, Whatever I love doing this podcast.
00:05:15.149 --> 00:05:16.560
I just want to share my story.
00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:16.949
Share.
00:05:17.519 --> 00:05:21.329
What I've learned, what other people learn, what, what people want to talk about in this stroke community?
00:05:21.360 --> 00:05:23.100
Because this is again, is a.
00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:24.870
It's a great club.
00:05:24.930 --> 00:05:29.040
I love being a member of the show community now, but I also could.
00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:30.600
Very much.
00:05:30.600 --> 00:05:38.069
Imagine my life prior to the stroke and it wasn't so bad, but I, again, I know how hard this is and I think we can all agree.
00:05:39.629 --> 00:05:44.399
It's hard on us sharing the information within the community is great.
00:05:45.540 --> 00:05:46.860
But I think more than that.
00:05:47.310 --> 00:05:49.259
What's picker this all like.
00:05:49.709 --> 00:05:50.759
It's really.
00:05:51.720 --> 00:05:55.170
Sharing with people who are not stroke survivors, because the.
00:05:55.529 --> 00:05:55.949
You don't.
00:05:56.970 --> 00:05:59.009
Again, I look back at my own story.
00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:06.839
Everybody's got a different take here, but I think it's, um, Looking back.
00:06:06.839 --> 00:06:09.959
I wish somebody had told me, I wish I'd known sooner.
00:06:10.769 --> 00:06:12.449
Hey Wil, you're doing a lot of things wrong.
00:06:12.449 --> 00:06:13.889
You've got a high blood pressure.
00:06:13.889 --> 00:06:15.269
You should stop smoking.
00:06:15.540 --> 00:06:18.839
Stopped drinking cut out the crap because otherwise.
00:06:19.410 --> 00:06:21.569
This is going to be what's happening.
00:06:21.810 --> 00:06:23.759
This is going to be what happens to you?
00:06:24.899 --> 00:06:26.339
Am I God, would I have.
00:06:26.699 --> 00:06:29.069
I mean, I think I would've listened to myself.
00:06:29.069 --> 00:06:32.459
I probably wouldn't have listened to myself, but I like to believe.
00:06:32.970 --> 00:06:36.779
Had I known how different life would be, how tough things are.
00:06:37.500 --> 00:06:38.699
And listen, they're better.
00:06:39.300 --> 00:06:40.259
But it could be easier.
00:06:40.980 --> 00:06:49.350
Um, I remember doing a Tik TOK video back in the fall with my son, when he was at football practice one day, I was like, when will walking?
00:06:50.129 --> 00:06:52.290
Or running ever feel.
00:06:52.829 --> 00:06:57.149
Normal again, because now I walk and that's great.
00:06:57.360 --> 00:06:58.350
I'm out of the wheels here.
00:06:58.350 --> 00:06:59.639
I've done a lot of work on that.
00:06:59.670 --> 00:07:00.990
I talked about that endlessly.
00:07:01.019 --> 00:07:02.970
We know how many thousands of miles I've run.
00:07:03.870 --> 00:07:04.410
Awesome.
00:07:04.769 --> 00:07:06.180
It's still doesn't feel normal.
00:07:07.259 --> 00:07:08.430
And what do I mean by normal?
00:07:08.459 --> 00:07:11.370
I mean, I mean, effortless, I mean, the way.
00:07:11.879 --> 00:07:15.689
Walking running or doing anything felt the majority of my life.
00:07:16.769 --> 00:07:17.610
Even now.
00:07:19.019 --> 00:07:20.759
Uh, day in and day, day out.
00:07:20.850 --> 00:07:23.160
I have to think about every single step.
00:07:23.699 --> 00:07:25.500
Where I'm stepping helm stepping.
00:07:25.529 --> 00:07:27.329
I notice it by stepping is off.
00:07:27.329 --> 00:07:28.050
I notice if.
00:07:29.100 --> 00:07:30.569
Things don't feel quite right.
00:07:30.689 --> 00:07:36.569
And it's, it's just constant and I'm sure there are some ways and some things I could do to.
00:07:38.069 --> 00:07:39.540
You know, work around that.
00:07:40.019 --> 00:07:43.500
I think running's probably honestly, I'll be, I'll be honest.
00:07:43.500 --> 00:07:43.709
Yeah.
00:07:43.740 --> 00:07:47.220
Like when I run, I probably don't think about it as much.
00:07:48.300 --> 00:07:48.959
But I think.
00:07:49.410 --> 00:07:50.670
It's just did.
00:07:50.699 --> 00:07:52.439
It's not going to go away.
00:07:52.649 --> 00:07:56.819
Uh, hopefully maybe one day I'll, I'll go so many miles on somebody's feet.
00:07:57.870 --> 00:07:58.620
On my feet.
00:07:59.459 --> 00:08:01.500
That it will feel that way.
00:08:01.800 --> 00:08:03.089
But I'll be honest again.
00:08:03.930 --> 00:08:05.069
Because that's what I do here.
00:08:06.209 --> 00:08:08.730
So reasonably, I think I talked about it last episode.
00:08:08.759 --> 00:08:17.939
Um, I stopped taking some B12 for my multiple sclerosis because I just ran out and I didn't think it was any big deal.
00:08:19.230 --> 00:08:23.819
And it, uh, anyways, got it back on the menu for my pillow locks.
00:08:23.879 --> 00:08:26.430
I have been ticky it I've been working on things.
00:08:26.430 --> 00:08:30.209
I'm doing some more strength, training and bike riding at the gym.
00:08:31.709 --> 00:08:34.500
And it does seem as though.
00:08:34.798 --> 00:08:42.808
M S is that fun thing that rears its ugly head at when it feels most convenient to Ms and a.
00:08:43.678 --> 00:08:47.250
Yeah, just to have it a little bit of drop foot on the right foot this week.
00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:49.769
Um, again, going to see some people.
00:08:51.029 --> 00:08:53.399
See what's up, make sure nothing is super wrong.
00:08:53.429 --> 00:08:54.629
Nothing feels wrong.
00:08:54.629 --> 00:08:56.700
It just annoys the crap out of me.
00:08:57.629 --> 00:08:58.200
Because why?
00:08:58.200 --> 00:09:02.159
Because I take all my vitamins, I take all my medicines, I do everything right.
00:09:02.190 --> 00:09:06.840
And Ms is like, nah, Eh, Oh shit.
00:09:06.840 --> 00:09:13.019
Well, Uh, I feel like you are going to have drop foot for a week.
00:09:13.679 --> 00:09:14.940
Hopefully, this is temporary.
00:09:15.029 --> 00:09:19.679
Uh, my suspicion is that my body is still kind of.
00:09:20.370 --> 00:09:23.730
Getting back on track with getting the B12 back in the body.
00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:27.360
Anyways, long story short, that's just part of life.
00:09:27.389 --> 00:09:31.169
Um, And we deal with things as they come.
00:09:31.470 --> 00:09:35.309
A lot of interesting conversations today and yesterday and later today.
00:09:36.360 --> 00:09:38.039
But, uh, and more on that.
00:09:38.340 --> 00:09:41.879
On Friday when we recap kind of the week, but, um, okay.
00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:43.500
So let's focus on this show.
00:09:43.500 --> 00:09:43.889
I'm sorry.
00:09:43.889 --> 00:09:44.759
I'm all over the place.
00:09:44.759 --> 00:09:45.000
Maybe.
00:09:45.299 --> 00:09:47.340
Maybe I shouldn't shower before podcasts.
00:09:47.340 --> 00:09:49.919
Cause I'm on fire and all over the place.
00:09:51.090 --> 00:10:00.059
So, what are the, some of the things that we as stroke survivors generally wished people knew, you know, I, I, I think this is a broad topic.
00:10:00.360 --> 00:10:02.340
We could probably do multiple episodes in this.
00:10:04.080 --> 00:10:06.269
Uh, a lot of people said fatigue.
00:10:06.990 --> 00:10:09.120
I agree.
00:10:09.480 --> 00:10:10.139
Yes.
00:10:11.460 --> 00:10:14.519
But I feel like this one's been beaten over the head, but maybe not.
00:10:15.929 --> 00:10:17.340
It's not about needing naps.
00:10:17.370 --> 00:10:17.909
I think.
00:10:18.299 --> 00:10:22.799
What I'd really want people to know is that stroke is a brain injury.
00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:28.950
If you're not familiar with stroke, I highly recommend getting up to speed on stroke because God knows.
00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:33.720
You don't want to have one, if you can avoid it, obviously not all.
00:10:34.830 --> 00:10:39.690
It's not avoidable in every single case, but the more I talk to people, the more I learn.
00:10:40.230 --> 00:10:46.559
Whether it's, you know, some women I've met have had stroke because they were on birth control because they had a kid like that.
00:10:46.950 --> 00:10:48.809
That just seems unfair.
00:10:49.289 --> 00:10:58.500
Um, There's some people who seemingly have it for no reason that were in great shape that were runners like eat healthy, exercised.
00:10:59.370 --> 00:11:02.970
And then just had like some random thing happen.
00:11:03.269 --> 00:11:04.559
Um, That.
00:11:05.100 --> 00:11:08.070
Those are kind of like, that's kind of the 20%, right.
00:11:09.029 --> 00:11:10.320
Then you take the 80%.
00:11:10.470 --> 00:11:11.250
So they say.
00:11:12.149 --> 00:11:13.379
Of people like myself.
00:11:13.740 --> 00:11:14.610
I was drinking.
00:11:14.669 --> 00:11:15.600
I was smoking.
00:11:15.659 --> 00:11:17.549
I was, I had hypertension.
00:11:17.580 --> 00:11:19.950
I had so many things wrong with me.
00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:21.330
That's probably why I've.
00:11:21.330 --> 00:11:24.000
So over-corrected over the last five years.
00:11:25.019 --> 00:11:27.299
I was doing absolutely everything wrong.
00:11:28.019 --> 00:11:28.889
Again, smoking.
00:11:29.429 --> 00:11:31.470
I had undiagnosed CLPD.
00:11:31.500 --> 00:11:37.019
I had sleep apnea, had no freaking idea because my wife is deaf and oh, my kids just didn't mention it.
00:11:38.039 --> 00:11:42.059
And, um, you know, again, just, I D I was doing a lot.
00:11:42.179 --> 00:11:43.440
My diet was crap.
00:11:43.470 --> 00:11:47.039
Like wasn't a care care, my body, I wasn't resting.
00:11:47.039 --> 00:11:48.029
I wasn't sleeping.
00:11:48.059 --> 00:11:51.149
I wasn't doing any of the things you need to do.
00:11:52.980 --> 00:11:59.909
So to circle back to fatigue, my body and my brain were just ready to explode, including my heart, because.
00:12:01.710 --> 00:12:07.830
I didn't slow down and, you know, fatigue is a real thing for a lot of stroke survivors.
00:12:07.950 --> 00:12:08.519
I.
00:12:09.809 --> 00:12:17.009
Still can't slow down because the way I battle fatigue, I definitely had fatigue year one and year two.
00:12:17.070 --> 00:12:17.370
There's.
00:12:18.149 --> 00:12:20.700
Absolutely unequivocally year one.
00:12:21.509 --> 00:12:26.610
Almost every stroke survivor I've met has some sort of fatigue, at least in year one.
00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:30.690
Why because your brain needs to recover, it needs to heal.
00:12:31.769 --> 00:12:40.110
You've got to start to learn how to adapt to whatever situation deficits you're left with after being diagnosed and having a stroke.
00:12:41.399 --> 00:12:43.169
You just need time to heal.
00:12:43.559 --> 00:12:47.759
Again, The brain is like the major.
00:12:48.809 --> 00:12:50.490
Piece of the equation.
00:12:50.850 --> 00:12:57.149
If your brain is not in good shape, you're probably not going to be in good shape physically, mentally, or emotionally.
00:12:57.149 --> 00:12:57.600
So that.
00:12:58.559 --> 00:13:00.269
That healing that needing a nap.
00:13:00.419 --> 00:13:04.350
That's you call whatever you want, but the brain needs time to heal.
00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:06.450
It's just, it's just science.
00:13:06.929 --> 00:13:11.909
Like so, you know, yes, there's going to be some fatigue.
00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:13.769
You're going to be overstimulated.
00:13:13.799 --> 00:13:16.379
You're going to have a lot of things coming at you.
00:13:16.500 --> 00:13:17.519
A lot to deal with.
00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:19.710
Fatigue.
00:13:20.340 --> 00:13:26.610
Is broad, but yes, every stroke survivor is going to be exhausted, tired, and need time to heal.
00:13:27.179 --> 00:13:28.919
The mental load of recovery.
00:13:28.919 --> 00:13:30.149
That's part of fatigue.
00:13:31.169 --> 00:13:33.600
Again, this goes to the invisible battles.
00:13:33.600 --> 00:13:36.600
We fight, like there's a lot of physical disabilities.
00:13:36.600 --> 00:13:38.490
Some things don't kick in right away.
00:13:39.269 --> 00:13:42.480
Sometimes people like myself, try to do everything in a year.
00:13:42.509 --> 00:13:44.970
One that also is not wise.
00:13:46.259 --> 00:13:52.529
So, yeah, these are some of the, just, just a few of the things that we're touching on today, but it's, um, You know, I.
00:13:54.330 --> 00:13:55.950
Uh, probably to my detriment.
00:13:55.950 --> 00:13:58.590
I'm one of those people, like I wasn't, I don't know.
00:13:58.830 --> 00:14:00.600
I had an old strip, my stroke out.
00:14:00.629 --> 00:14:01.559
Was that a weird time?
00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:03.450
It was right before COVID so.
00:14:04.200 --> 00:14:10.230
By the time I came out of inpatient, I, and I went back in for the EMS, came out of inpatient the second time.
00:14:10.259 --> 00:14:11.460
That was when COVID happened.
00:14:12.750 --> 00:14:18.899
And so I don't have a real clear indication if my experience, I'm assuming it wasn't normal.
00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:22.950
But I would go out a little bit, but nobody was really out.
00:14:22.950 --> 00:14:30.600
So it was a little easier for me to fake a smile going through the store on the wheelchair, in the wheelchair cart thing.
00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:32.970
That I never thought I'd have to use.
00:14:35.580 --> 00:14:39.720
But, yeah, there's so many invisible battles that we as stroke survivors are facing.
00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:43.320
It's, it's hard to explain to people, but I think the best way.
00:14:44.129 --> 00:14:45.000
That I can explain.
00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:51.960
It is like, Or the best example rather is that when I had my stroke, I went into the hospital.
00:14:52.679 --> 00:14:53.820
Before I had my stroke.
00:14:53.820 --> 00:14:58.259
I walked in on two feet at 530 pounds into the hospital.
00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:00.389
You know, they.
00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:02.159
Brought me back.
00:15:02.250 --> 00:15:04.019
They caught the AFib.
00:15:04.500 --> 00:15:09.179
On the heart monitor while they were checking my, all my, my, my vitals before they.
00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:11.669
And the lucky if he caught the AFib.
00:15:12.269 --> 00:15:13.409
That's why they admitted me.
00:15:13.980 --> 00:15:15.450
At that point I went in, I have.
00:15:15.690 --> 00:15:18.899
I eventually wound up having this stroke while in the hospital.
00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:20.490
They didn't catch it.
00:15:20.669 --> 00:15:22.860
Long story short didn't know about TPA.
00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:24.299
Didn't get tip TPA.
00:15:25.590 --> 00:15:30.570
Um, But the explanation, the point I was trying to make is here.
00:15:30.659 --> 00:15:33.899
I walked into the hospital December, 2019.
00:15:36.059 --> 00:15:37.470
Less than five days later.
00:15:38.129 --> 00:15:40.830
It would be another 18 months before I'd walk again.
00:15:40.860 --> 00:15:44.399
And at that point, I didn't know if I'd ever be able to walk again and that's just.
00:15:45.059 --> 00:15:46.080
That alone.
00:15:47.070 --> 00:15:50.970
To go from literally pretend you go into a hospital on a Friday.
00:15:51.509 --> 00:15:53.159
You wake up on a Saturday.
00:15:53.850 --> 00:15:54.720
And you can't walk.
00:15:54.750 --> 00:15:56.159
Like that's weird.
00:15:56.850 --> 00:16:04.860
So, if you can wrap your head around that you can wrap your head around like, That's one of the many pieces that a stroke survivor goes through when having a stroke.
00:16:05.820 --> 00:16:07.710
And that gives you some perspective probably.
00:16:08.460 --> 00:16:10.169
Think how weird about that will be for you.
00:16:10.169 --> 00:16:12.840
If you're somebody who does, you know, you currently walk, you.
00:16:13.049 --> 00:16:14.100
You've not had a stroke.
00:16:14.639 --> 00:16:16.169
But, you know, somebody who's had a stroke.
00:16:16.529 --> 00:16:18.600
Think about how weird that is too.
00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:21.210
Walk into a hospital.
00:16:22.169 --> 00:16:23.370
24 hours later.
00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:25.470
You can't walk.
00:16:25.889 --> 00:16:26.909
You could barely talk.
00:16:27.539 --> 00:16:28.740
I couldn't move my hand.
00:16:29.610 --> 00:16:37.049
The way I went in, not in great shape, mind you, but I was still cognitively well, could speak everything was on fire.
00:16:37.049 --> 00:16:37.259
Like.
00:16:37.980 --> 00:16:39.899
You know, other than the fact that it was 500.
00:16:40.169 --> 00:16:40.980
30 pounds.
00:16:43.259 --> 00:16:48.600
Other than the fact that I was 1,230 pounds, you would not have been able to tell that there was much wrong with me.
00:16:49.049 --> 00:16:50.669
Fast forward 24 hours later.
00:16:50.669 --> 00:16:51.690
I'm in a hospital bed.
00:16:51.809 --> 00:16:52.379
I can't talk.
00:16:52.409 --> 00:16:54.149
I can't write, I can't read.
00:16:54.690 --> 00:16:55.440
I still can't write.
00:16:56.129 --> 00:16:57.419
I couldn't go to the restroom.
00:16:57.419 --> 00:16:58.379
I couldn't go to the bathroom.
00:16:58.409 --> 00:16:58.649
Like.
00:16:59.549 --> 00:17:00.000
Nothing.
00:17:01.139 --> 00:17:01.740
That's weird.
00:17:02.129 --> 00:17:02.970
That is.
00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:05.039
Stroke in a nutshell.
00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:10.410
You know, the other thing I get a lot and people are like, oh, how are you doing?
00:17:10.650 --> 00:17:11.578
I'm doing good, man.
00:17:11.578 --> 00:17:12.868
I put a lot of work into this.
00:17:12.868 --> 00:17:18.358
I work really hard, but like, Listen, you can work as hard as you want on stroke, but sometimes stroke.
00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:21.299
Multiple years out.
00:17:22.890 --> 00:17:28.470
I'm not going to say stroke always wins, but like, You're never done recovering.
00:17:28.470 --> 00:17:29.460
If that makes sense.
00:17:29.490 --> 00:17:29.849
Like.
00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:47.759
It's it's gotten easier over the years as I put more work in, it's all compounded, but like, I still can't write like, I can't, I can write, but I can't write like the way I want to, certainly not the way I used to, not that day that I went into the hospital.
00:17:48.450 --> 00:17:49.470
Certainly not like that.
00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:52.200
Not December of 2019.
00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:54.660
When I was sitting on the other side of the room, looking out the window.
00:17:55.650 --> 00:18:01.980
Behind the computer working for, you know, a big web web agency, you know, in my previous career.
00:18:02.339 --> 00:18:04.799
Doodling in a notebook now I'm not right like that yet.
00:18:05.009 --> 00:18:06.509
Uh, and we're five years out.
00:18:06.539 --> 00:18:06.839
So.
00:18:08.549 --> 00:18:10.079
You know, it's a.
00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:12.839
It's hard.
00:18:12.839 --> 00:18:13.470
It's challenging.
00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:15.210
There's there's a lot to it.
00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:21.119
And I had some notes and I don't like the notes that I wrote down.
00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:23.400
So let me think about this for a minute.
00:18:23.400 --> 00:18:25.049
I'm going to take a quick pause.
00:18:25.710 --> 00:18:28.619
And just think what are some more.
00:18:30.450 --> 00:18:30.839
Things.
00:18:30.839 --> 00:18:34.470
I mean, I really, honestly, as a stroke survivor, who's putting in a lot of work.
00:18:34.829 --> 00:18:36.869
Almost every day for the last five years.
00:18:37.769 --> 00:18:42.450
I don't think people appreciate how much work it takes to.
00:18:43.829 --> 00:18:48.480
Get to, uh, um, And I'm only using myself as an example because.
00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:52.079
I don't want to mention anybody individually.
00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:54.660
I'm not having a guest on this, this, this episode.
00:18:55.109 --> 00:18:55.799
So it was just me.
00:18:56.730 --> 00:18:57.630
You know, it's.
00:18:59.099 --> 00:19:00.690
To be 530 pounds.
00:19:00.690 --> 00:19:01.680
And to now, B.
00:19:02.190 --> 00:19:06.450
Less than 250 pounds does that means I've lost myself.
00:19:07.170 --> 00:19:07.950
In body weight.
00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:09.329
More than myself.
00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:10.950
You know, I made a joke.
00:19:11.130 --> 00:19:11.700
Months ago.
00:19:12.779 --> 00:19:16.440
At 530 pounds, it was like Jason, Kelsey, Asia's brother, Travis, Kelsey.
00:19:16.440 --> 00:19:24.420
And then, you know, And now I'm just down to Travis, his size and probably a little under, so that, that in itself is a lot of work.
00:19:24.420 --> 00:19:24.720
And.
00:19:25.470 --> 00:19:27.599
I said the last, last episode or last week.
00:19:29.579 --> 00:19:30.930
I don't think as a, as, as.
00:19:31.559 --> 00:19:34.380
Somebody who had a stroke with a bit of a heart thing.
00:19:35.609 --> 00:19:43.140
Uh, it was not a heart attack, but my heart was obviously under significant stress to have a stroke part B part of that.
00:19:43.230 --> 00:19:44.970
I had a fib, you know, that's.
00:19:45.329 --> 00:19:47.970
Uh, Sort of misfiring.
00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:51.210
Uh, out of balance arrhythmia and you're in.
00:19:51.329 --> 00:19:54.690
In your, in your heart, basically a yard is not in sinus rhythm.
00:19:55.380 --> 00:19:56.190
It is now.
00:19:57.059 --> 00:20:06.299
That, that was probably, you know, when that, when I got it back in rhythm, a couple of years after the stroke, that's probably what helped a lot of my mobility.
00:20:06.329 --> 00:20:10.470
And really pressing on and getting back into the gym though, I wanted to.
00:20:12.329 --> 00:20:13.349
But this is not easy.
00:20:13.410 --> 00:20:14.670
This is not easy.
00:20:14.730 --> 00:20:15.480
I can't iterate.
00:20:15.990 --> 00:20:17.250
I can't reiterate that enough.
00:20:18.569 --> 00:20:21.779
The strokes whoever's out there, know this, but it's just, it's hard.
00:20:23.130 --> 00:20:25.019
You know, there's, there's a lot of struggles.
00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:26.730
There's there's work.
00:20:26.789 --> 00:20:27.720
There's family.
00:20:27.720 --> 00:20:30.359
There's like I had this discussion with somebody today.
00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:33.119
And they're like, oh, how do you say so motivated?
00:20:33.180 --> 00:20:34.980
I mean, man, I got three kids.
00:20:35.579 --> 00:20:35.910
Away.
00:20:36.690 --> 00:20:37.769
Uh, family.
00:20:37.799 --> 00:20:40.200
My parents had passed the year before my stroke.
00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:40.859
Like there.
00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:42.599
I don't know.
00:20:42.660 --> 00:20:45.960
I mean, I have friends, but the nobody's coming to save me.
00:20:47.279 --> 00:20:54.450
And I don't know, there are two choices either I quit, which I'm not really into, or, or I push forward and I figure it out.
00:20:55.380 --> 00:21:04.529
And again, But there with that, it should be said there are a lot of emotional weights, um, that come with it.
00:21:04.619 --> 00:21:07.200
There are a lot of internal struggles and battles.
00:21:07.230 --> 00:21:08.339
There's ego.
00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:18.150
You know, which I talked about a bunch and I think a lot of stroke survivors have where, you know, you just kind of think, oh, I'll just pop back to the way I was or.
00:21:19.710 --> 00:21:20.940
You know, I still struggle with this.
00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:22.019
It's it's it's.
00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:24.390
There are challenges.
00:21:24.450 --> 00:21:28.079
Um, I was always used to doing everything kind of.
00:21:28.890 --> 00:21:32.369
Because I could, because I wanted to, because it was faster.
00:21:33.329 --> 00:21:34.049
And.
00:21:34.769 --> 00:21:37.200
Each day I'm reminded that a.
00:21:37.950 --> 00:21:41.220
As far as I've come and I certainly could get further.
00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:44.490
There are limitations.
00:21:44.579 --> 00:21:47.549
I can cognitively keep up with the best of them.
00:21:47.579 --> 00:21:47.700
I.
00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:49.829
I can probably keep up with most, if not.
00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:51.150
The majority.
00:21:51.809 --> 00:21:57.000
Um, But there are, there are speeds that certain things I can't do to speed that.
00:21:57.269 --> 00:21:59.970
I used to be able to do, like, whether it's speaking, you.
00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:02.549
Most people would say I speak pretty clearly.
00:22:02.549 --> 00:22:04.170
Obviously I'm a little tired today.
00:22:04.769 --> 00:22:09.960
As I'm recording this, but generally speaking, most people can not even tell I've had a stroke.
00:22:10.619 --> 00:22:14.789
Which is good again, that's good for me because that means putting in the work it's paying off.
00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:15.269
Great.
00:22:16.529 --> 00:22:18.720
Also very much not helpful.
00:22:19.109 --> 00:22:23.549
Because again, all this work put into it is, is a.
00:22:25.559 --> 00:22:27.960
Is challenging and stroke is relentless.
00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:31.170
And again, I know I'm repeating myself.
00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:40.769
I have terrible notes for this, this, um, This episode, I wanted a bunch of rabbit Q and a things I think.
00:22:41.069 --> 00:22:44.369
You know, Again, it's a club.
00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:45.240
Nobody wants to head.
00:22:46.109 --> 00:22:51.480
I mean, it's great to be part of the club now, but it's, it's really not one I recommend joining.
00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:53.519
I recommend figuring out your.
00:22:54.569 --> 00:23:05.819
Your whatever, whether it's discuss, um, some kind of demons, whether it's, um, weight loss, whether it's food, whether you're struggling with a lot of things, whatever you can do.
00:23:07.230 --> 00:23:11.130
To give yourself the best chance to never be a part of this club.
00:23:11.130 --> 00:23:12.269
I highly recommend.
00:23:14.039 --> 00:23:17.400
Because if you or somebody, you know, Uh, has had a stroke.
00:23:17.460 --> 00:23:19.200
No, it is challenging.
00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:23.250
And again, I don't think Eddie's strokes who are out there is looking for pity.
00:23:23.430 --> 00:23:34.410
Um, it's more just about understanding, like, There's a difference between sympathy and empathy and, you know, It's hard.
00:23:34.410 --> 00:23:36.900
It's hard for everybody to get on the same page.
00:23:36.930 --> 00:23:38.759
It's it's it's just.
00:23:39.420 --> 00:23:54.240
You know, Uh, if somebody seems like they want to talk, talk, you know, if somebody says, oh, I had a stroke and they don't say anything else, let them be, um, I think a lot of things, you know, what's discouraging to me is I think.
00:23:55.170 --> 00:23:55.920
I think of this.
00:23:58.410 --> 00:24:00.299
In the context of be me, right.
00:24:00.329 --> 00:24:02.190
I'm now in my forties.
00:24:02.789 --> 00:24:04.500
Going back to school for an MBA.
00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:07.319
And really wanting to join.
00:24:07.890 --> 00:24:14.670
You know, I love what I do with survivor science and, but I'd really want to be a part of an organization and team again, right.
00:24:14.670 --> 00:24:16.109
Because my kids are a little older.
00:24:16.109 --> 00:24:18.480
I've worked really hard on my body and my brain.
00:24:19.079 --> 00:24:20.130
I feel sharp.
00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:21.990
I feel like I could do anything.
00:24:22.740 --> 00:24:28.710
And I still think sometimes people see in my bio or in my headline or on my social media.
00:24:30.029 --> 00:24:30.960
Oh stroke survivor.
00:24:30.960 --> 00:24:34.769
And they, they, they sort of conjure up these things of what I am or who I am.
00:24:35.579 --> 00:24:38.819
And yes, I'm also the loud mouth, the podcasts or the.
00:24:39.630 --> 00:24:47.640
Somebody trying to bring awareness to stroke and stroke awareness and build a community and build something that doesn't currently exist.
00:24:47.700 --> 00:24:49.319
And you know, that slow going.
00:24:50.130 --> 00:24:50.940
And so.
00:24:51.690 --> 00:24:55.950
People will make judgements or they just make assumptions more likely.
00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:58.650
And it's just like, you know, I gotta be honest.
00:25:00.599 --> 00:25:02.819
I love a challenge and I welcome anybody to give you.
00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:07.470
I've heard it said before.
00:25:08.369 --> 00:25:10.680
A number of people have seen me move and do things.
00:25:10.710 --> 00:25:17.910
They're like, they're like, you're moving faster to me and I didn't even have a stroke and I definitely didn't have a stroke and have.
00:25:18.329 --> 00:25:18.720
So.
00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:24.869
It's just interesting to me, because again, I know if I'm facing these challenges.
00:25:25.619 --> 00:25:30.690
I got to imagine other survivors is facing similar upheld battle on the regular.
00:25:31.380 --> 00:25:34.890
Um, And I think it's important cause strokes two hours.
00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:35.549
Yeah.
00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:38.789
There are many different types of stroke survivors, too.
00:25:38.789 --> 00:25:39.059
Right?
00:25:39.089 --> 00:25:42.119
There's many different types of strokes as you've likely heard.
00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:45.000
Um, hemorrhagic, ischemic, uh, AVM.
00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:47.369
There are all suck.
00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.869
If I'm being honest.
00:25:48.930 --> 00:25:54.210
Um, And it doesn't mean stroke survivors, no longer have goals or dreams or ambitions.
00:25:54.269 --> 00:25:55.319
I think a lot of us do.
00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:56.369
I think many of us do.
00:25:57.869 --> 00:25:59.250
But there are two camps.
00:25:59.279 --> 00:26:04.289
There are the Debbie downer camps and there are those that are trying to get after it and do things and help.
00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:07.380
And whether it's helping other survivors helping themselves like.
00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:16.230
Even as strokes are just able to help themselves and get back to work and do things and all these things like that's helping, that's helping society.
00:26:16.230 --> 00:26:19.470
That's helping motivate, that's helping show other people what's possible.
00:26:21.210 --> 00:26:24.029
Yeah, it's just, it's it's really interesting to me.
00:26:24.119 --> 00:26:31.500
Um, So, uh, let's see if there's anything else that pops off for me.
00:26:31.559 --> 00:26:33.119
We talked about emotions.
00:26:33.329 --> 00:26:35.819
I mean, Again, this is, this has kind of.
00:26:37.170 --> 00:26:47.849
I wanted to plan a better episode for episode 75, but I feel like, I think some of the big takeaways are like, you're never done recovering as a stroke survivor, and that's an important message.
00:26:48.930 --> 00:26:50.369
For Schuster overs, non chokes.
00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:51.119
Folks survivors.
00:26:51.539 --> 00:26:55.109
Caregivers, family members, friends dammit my hands all over the place.
00:26:56.309 --> 00:26:57.480
The invisible battles.
00:26:57.480 --> 00:27:00.450
You just it's, it's really hard to know.
00:27:00.450 --> 00:27:00.750
And.
00:27:01.799 --> 00:27:03.660
Listen, this, this again is both sides.
00:27:03.660 --> 00:27:08.039
It's it's, it's the survivor's side, but it's also the other side.
00:27:08.369 --> 00:27:10.470
We need some understanding and some empathy.
00:27:11.369 --> 00:27:14.039
And it's always a balance and it's working things out.
00:27:14.849 --> 00:27:19.259
You know, because you can't imagine how hard this is, unless you've actually been through it.
00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:23.549
Again, I referenced the walking into the hospital one day and the next day.
00:27:24.690 --> 00:27:25.349
Paralyzed.
00:27:25.950 --> 00:27:27.480
Like that is a.
00:27:28.890 --> 00:27:29.819
Bizarre.
00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:33.000
Feeling that I can't.
00:27:33.599 --> 00:27:39.720
Really even articulate to the level it deserves, but it is like, Beyond bizarre.
00:27:41.549 --> 00:27:42.000
I mean.
00:27:42.450 --> 00:27:44.220
Uh, I don't want to say the wrong thing here, but.
00:27:46.019 --> 00:27:48.960
There are similar instances.
00:27:49.680 --> 00:27:54.750
Perhaps, like if you think about veterans, which we've talked about before with PTSD and.
00:27:55.559 --> 00:27:59.039
Soldiers who have gone off to war one day, things are fine.
00:27:59.069 --> 00:28:02.099
And the next it's chaos like that is.
00:28:03.750 --> 00:28:05.460
Very much what stroke is like.
00:28:06.569 --> 00:28:08.460
I just can't reiterate that enough.
00:28:08.609 --> 00:28:09.210
I can be.
00:28:10.470 --> 00:28:14.670
Again, I think, I think a big thing too, is a lot of stroke survivors, you know?
00:28:16.170 --> 00:28:17.339
I'm a little proactive.
00:28:17.400 --> 00:28:18.269
I'm pretty loud.
00:28:18.269 --> 00:28:19.079
I'm pretty big.
00:28:19.170 --> 00:28:20.759
Unfortunate to be that way.
00:28:21.690 --> 00:28:23.970
So people don't say these things to me.
00:28:25.410 --> 00:28:27.269
But they might say I'm just somebody else.
00:28:27.390 --> 00:28:30.839
Um, The the.
00:28:32.250 --> 00:28:33.539
People who.
00:28:35.009 --> 00:28:39.750
Some people may perceive to be, um, not as sharp as you think they are.
00:28:40.140 --> 00:28:41.039
They might vary.
00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:43.470
It could be, they might not be.
00:28:43.799 --> 00:28:46.740
But the better chances they have some sort of aphasia.
00:28:47.460 --> 00:28:47.880
A speeds.
00:28:48.029 --> 00:28:49.470
Um, A speech.
00:28:49.559 --> 00:28:52.799
Related, uh, deficit as a result of stroke.
00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:57.450
You know, it's, it's, it's not quite as easy for stroke survivors.
00:28:58.589 --> 00:29:00.960
Including myself who talks all the time.
00:29:01.200 --> 00:29:08.880
Um, To get the words out that I say, you know, Think about brain fart, we all know what a brain fart is.
00:29:08.940 --> 00:29:14.579
Uh, But that's stroke on a daily basis versus a once in a while thing.
00:29:15.930 --> 00:29:16.980
Sometimes it's just harder.
00:29:17.069 --> 00:29:18.930
It's not harder to process.
00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:21.660
It's just harder to process as quickly, I think.
00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:23.339
And everybody again is different.
00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:26.160
There are plenty of trucks, drivers that have full processing speed.
00:29:26.730 --> 00:29:28.619
Some even better than before stroke.
00:29:28.650 --> 00:29:31.049
Um, You know, but if you're looking for.
00:29:31.589 --> 00:29:33.750
A stroke survivor to have excellent.
00:29:34.589 --> 00:29:37.170
Perfect clear speech throughout the day.
00:29:38.880 --> 00:29:44.430
That is going to be rare, not a possible, but it just takes a moment.
00:29:44.490 --> 00:29:50.279
Um, you know, some people like myself, I used to be great at speaking off the cuff on the fly.
00:29:51.180 --> 00:29:52.109
Didn't need to warm up.
00:29:52.170 --> 00:29:53.970
Didn't have any breathing issues.
00:29:54.029 --> 00:29:57.630
Um, Yeah, it's just, things are different.
00:29:57.630 --> 00:30:01.200
And I think we want more people outside the community to understand.
00:30:02.339 --> 00:30:03.569
We're we're more than capable.
00:30:03.599 --> 00:30:06.390
I mean, if, if you're shucks over and you're up and walking in your.
00:30:06.990 --> 00:30:08.609
Doing certain things like, yeah.
00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:10.859
It's always a balance.
00:30:12.089 --> 00:30:16.049
Um, you might have slight things that you need help with here and there.
00:30:16.049 --> 00:30:21.059
Like maybe a hand, like I still hate button down shirts because I hate doing buttons.
00:30:21.059 --> 00:30:23.130
I could do a lot of things, but I.
00:30:24.509 --> 00:30:27.390
You know, my desire to button a shirt is pretty low.
00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:28.829
She did it on the list.
00:30:28.859 --> 00:30:34.019
Again, it's handwriting and buttoning buttons are probably my two lowest and two weakest.
00:30:34.859 --> 00:30:37.380
Things left, but there are plenty of other things I can do.
00:30:37.470 --> 00:30:48.839
Um, So, yeah, it can be discouraging sometimes because I feel like even myself I'm fighting battles against, uh, just society or.
00:30:50.039 --> 00:30:52.859
What people think, you know, and maybe it's my own fault.
00:30:52.950 --> 00:30:54.599
Um, who knows.
00:30:55.380 --> 00:30:56.609
But really, yeah, really like.
00:30:57.750 --> 00:31:01.680
I think one, a good way of describing this, that recovery recovery has never done.
00:31:01.710 --> 00:31:03.359
You can get a lot, lot better.
00:31:03.809 --> 00:31:06.599
I think we've seen that with guests on this show, we've seen that.
00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:09.599
You know, Myself.
00:31:09.630 --> 00:31:10.440
I feel a lot better.
00:31:10.440 --> 00:31:11.190
I feel amazing.
00:31:11.220 --> 00:31:13.680
Honestly, I feel better than I felt in my twenties and thirties.
00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:18.240
And, um, Yeah, but there are changes, then things are different.
00:31:18.269 --> 00:31:18.990
And I think.
00:31:19.890 --> 00:31:22.319
Even five years out and hopefully not.
00:31:22.619 --> 00:31:23.460
Too much longer.
00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:31.740
But for the foreseeable future stroke is like the goalposts moving every single week, which is fun.
00:31:32.519 --> 00:31:34.140
Sure, but also frustrating.
00:31:34.200 --> 00:31:36.150
Um, Let's see.
00:31:36.150 --> 00:31:37.859
Yeah, I know this episode.
00:31:37.950 --> 00:31:40.349
I tried to squeeze this in, in between calls today.
00:31:40.349 --> 00:31:40.650
And I.
00:31:41.250 --> 00:31:42.839
I thought I had much better notes in front of me.
00:31:42.839 --> 00:31:46.980
I took a bunch of notes yesterday and I either had misplaced them or, or.
00:31:47.849 --> 00:31:50.880
Whatever, but it had a whole bunch of things that people want to talk about.
00:31:50.880 --> 00:31:52.950
And, um, hopefully we touched on a lot of them.
00:31:52.950 --> 00:31:53.789
I think we did.
00:31:54.480 --> 00:32:00.420
Again, talking about stroke every each and every week, three, three times a week on podcasts.
00:32:00.450 --> 00:32:04.829
I tend to repeat myself, but I'm sure not everybody's catching every minute of every episode.
00:32:05.789 --> 00:32:08.369
So I think it's super important to talk about.
00:32:08.369 --> 00:32:10.200
We'll talk about it many more times.
00:32:11.759 --> 00:32:24.990
Uh, coming up, uh, I got a couple of new guests on the docket for the coming weeks, but another really fantastic stroke server just today, really looking forward to have a conversation with him, he actually has.
00:32:25.858 --> 00:32:27.869
Like me, he's not just a stroke survivor.
00:32:27.869 --> 00:32:33.599
He has, um, not, he does not have an S he has, um, I don't want to give it away.
00:32:33.599 --> 00:32:37.079
He has something else that is, is in the similar family.
00:32:37.679 --> 00:32:48.749
He's had that for about 15 years, give or take, and now he's had, um, I don't think that they're directly correlated to is, is, is longer-term thing.
00:32:49.919 --> 00:32:50.338
As that.
00:32:50.878 --> 00:32:52.469
We'll ask him on the show because he.
00:32:53.459 --> 00:32:59.308
He's had a couple of strokes now, uh, older gentlemen, but very sharp, very fed, uh, really excited to talk to him.
00:32:59.308 --> 00:33:00.239
Had a great call today.
00:33:00.239 --> 00:33:01.798
I really enjoyed talking to him.
00:33:02.459 --> 00:33:03.118
Funny too.
00:33:03.118 --> 00:33:09.088
Cause he's, he's, he's done some similar things that the cat, a podcast about his thing previously years ago.
00:33:09.749 --> 00:33:11.308
The stroke sort of, kind of.
00:33:12.239 --> 00:33:13.979
The first one was fine for my gathering.
00:33:14.009 --> 00:33:15.598
The second one was okay.
00:33:16.499 --> 00:33:24.088
Unfortunately, he didn't just have one because as we all know, For a variety of reasons you might have more than one stroke.
00:33:24.148 --> 00:33:28.588
Um, I am fingers crossed hopefully only going to ever have that one.
00:33:29.429 --> 00:33:32.278
But, you know, Never say, never knock on wood.
00:33:32.669 --> 00:33:37.108
Uh, but that's my hope is that, uh, it's one and a one and done is my hope.
00:33:37.138 --> 00:33:37.288
I.
00:33:37.318 --> 00:33:38.308
I'm hoping Ms.
00:33:38.308 --> 00:33:38.848
As the.
00:33:39.898 --> 00:33:42.778
The other thing that I get to deal with forever, which is fun.
00:33:42.838 --> 00:33:45.538
Um, But yeah.
00:33:45.659 --> 00:33:47.999
Uh, let's see.
00:33:48.058 --> 00:33:49.019
So that'll be really fun.
00:33:49.048 --> 00:33:52.138
That's coming up, uh, later in the month.
00:33:52.169 --> 00:33:54.898
So Friday we'll be in those solo episode.
00:33:55.798 --> 00:33:58.739
We'll recap the week got a couple more calls today and tomorrow.
00:33:59.308 --> 00:33:59.638
I'm sure.
00:33:59.638 --> 00:34:01.469
I'll have a lot of fun things to bring on Friday.
00:34:01.469 --> 00:34:02.788
So that's really good.
00:34:02.788 --> 00:34:06.058
If you think of anything that I didn't talk about today that you want me to do.
00:34:06.568 --> 00:34:10.798
Mention, uh, on Friday's episode or bring back up on another episode.
00:34:10.798 --> 00:34:11.489
That would be great.
00:34:11.489 --> 00:34:12.208
Share that with me.
00:34:12.208 --> 00:34:12.838
Let me know.
00:34:13.978 --> 00:34:14.398
But yeah.
00:34:14.548 --> 00:34:18.509
Uh, I guess, you know, what's the one thing that you wish people stopped saying to you?
00:34:18.509 --> 00:34:20.938
Cause I know, I wish everybody was out talking to me.
00:34:21.418 --> 00:34:26.759
Uh, not stroke survivors and not the stroke community, but generally the people outside.
00:34:27.929 --> 00:34:29.338
I mean, I meet a lot of nice people.
00:34:29.369 --> 00:34:30.599
A lot of people that actually are.
00:34:30.989 --> 00:34:32.548
You know, They like to check in.
00:34:32.579 --> 00:34:34.289
They want to check in because I've talked to them.
00:34:34.289 --> 00:34:34.648
Cause I've.
00:34:35.699 --> 00:34:38.938
Connected with them on a personal level within the neighborhood within.
00:34:39.719 --> 00:34:42.088
You know, my, my general community where I live.
00:34:43.018 --> 00:34:43.918
That's all fine.
00:34:44.039 --> 00:34:45.599
What I really don't want to do is.
00:34:46.739 --> 00:34:50.128
I don't want to answer questions for people that really don't know me.
00:34:50.338 --> 00:34:51.329
Don't care.
00:34:52.378 --> 00:34:53.188
I dunno.
00:34:53.188 --> 00:34:56.188
I, I know it sounds a little weird, but I like talking to people.
00:34:56.188 --> 00:34:57.688
If they're curious about stroke, if.
00:34:58.588 --> 00:35:01.768
You know, they've seen me or they've heard my story or they know something about it.
00:35:02.188 --> 00:35:04.949
Always happy to answer a question, but I just meant like the people that.
00:35:05.548 --> 00:35:08.159
That try to pretend to be polite.
00:35:08.188 --> 00:35:11.429
And they, they want to pretend like they care, but they don't give a shit.
00:35:12.418 --> 00:35:13.949
Those who I'm tired talking to.
00:35:13.978 --> 00:35:15.688
So, um, Yeah.
00:35:16.228 --> 00:35:22.889
Again, what's the weirdest thing or, or, or one of the things that you wish people stopped saying to you and, you know, what's one of the most.
00:35:23.068 --> 00:35:24.119
Uh, surprising things.
00:35:24.119 --> 00:35:25.168
That's helped you recover.
00:35:25.858 --> 00:35:26.969
Something to think about for the week.
00:35:27.028 --> 00:35:28.079
Let me know on social.
00:35:28.108 --> 00:35:30.929
A if you've got a good answer, you want Bergen up on Friday's episode?
00:35:30.929 --> 00:35:32.099
I definitely do that.
00:35:33.179 --> 00:35:34.469
I am super tired.
00:35:34.978 --> 00:35:35.668
I'm talking today.
00:35:35.668 --> 00:35:36.599
So I'm exhausted.
00:35:36.628 --> 00:35:39.539
Uh, But I hope you enjoyed episode 75 of the podcast.
00:35:39.539 --> 00:35:40.648
Uh, I know I did.
00:35:40.648 --> 00:35:41.188
I know.
00:35:41.188 --> 00:35:42.869
Uh, I'll be back again Friday.
00:35:43.349 --> 00:35:49.498
To wrap up the week and I hope you're having a great start to your January of 2025.
00:35:49.619 --> 00:35:50.338
Don't forget.
00:35:50.338 --> 00:35:53.668
Check out survivors sides, the website, sign up for the newsletter.
00:35:53.668 --> 00:35:54.719
Sign up for the blog.
00:35:55.739 --> 00:35:59.548
Uh, if you're interested, check out the community, I still have that special going on right now.
00:36:00.358 --> 00:36:02.548
Uh, big news, big news.
00:36:02.789 --> 00:36:07.588
If you're listening and you made it all the way to the end, I'm thinking about doing a little Facebook group.
00:36:08.248 --> 00:36:10.409
Despite my best intentions.
00:36:10.409 --> 00:36:14.818
So we'll see that my pop up here in the next couple of days, um, Okay.
00:36:15.239 --> 00:36:17.099
So our science.com podcast.
00:36:17.278 --> 00:36:22.199
To Riverside and it's dot com to go get previous episodes or wherever you get your favorite podcast and a.
00:36:23.068 --> 00:36:24.898
Yeah, go check in on yourself.
00:36:24.929 --> 00:36:27.748
Have a great rest of your Wednesday.
00:36:27.748 --> 00:36:29.338
And I will see you back here on Friday.
00:36:29.518 --> 00:36:29.938
All right.
Survivor Science Newsletter: Helping You Rebuild Your Brain, Inspiring Resilience, and Navigate Your Second Chance! 💖
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