Prince Edward Island Stroke Recovery

"Life After Stroke" Launched 2011 - Help Make It Better.

2011-12-26T08:26:00.000-08:00

Gary Gray - Stroke Survivor since 2002

Just a quick note to let you know about ; - SOMETHING SPECIAL!

You know stroke is all about awareness, education and prevention. (or at least that has been mostly the case in the past)

While awareness, education and prevention are of utmost importance (even for secondary stroke prevention) there is a need that has been largely ignored in the past.- Stroke Survivor Support!

A few years ago (Nov 2007) I met a researcher from a university in Montreal at a stroke workshop in Charlottetown. Her name was Dr. Nancy Mayo and her focus was on finding ways to support stroke survivors to get the most out of life. She gave a presentation titled "Getting On With The Rest Of Your Life After Stroke". (45 minute video on the community based stroke support program)

Charlotte Comrie, Dr. Nancy Mayo and Gary Gray (2007)

In her presentation she talked about a research project that was about to be rolled out in a number of communities in Canada. As part of the project there was a booklet published also titled "Getting On With The Rest Of YourYour Life After Stroke". It talked about acceptance, attitude, setting goals, getting involved and generally building a NEW life after stroke.

Can You Help?

It is interesting and sad to see in the above video just how technology challenged our health system is.Unfortunately when it comes to long term support for stroke survivors it is just as challenged. We must be grateful for The Canadian Stroke Network and their support to Dr. Mayo in conducting her research which shows the need for project based stroke support in communities throughout the country. It is a painfully slow process to engage minds and resources within communities, to adjust attitudes and build the kind of support network needed to give a reasonable level of community project based meaningful activity to stroke survivors everywhere...editors note (Gary)

Last year a stroke survivor posted a comment on this blog asking why everything was geared to awareness and prevention and asked why the focus was not on support for survivors. That got me to thinking and I just couldn't get that question out of my mind. So, I created a Facebook page and a blog. and called them "My Life After Stroke" These sites were designed to support us as survivors by providing a place to meet other survivors and tell our stories, discuss questions that are important to us, share photos, pages, groups, videos, books and blogs taken and written by us and post research information about stroke recovery that may be helpful to us. So far there are 152 fans following the "My Life" page.THANK YOU EVERYONE!

In late September 2011 "The Canadian Stroke Network" launched a new website designed to provide support for survivors and help us and our families rebuild our lives based on the original Dr. Nancy Mayo model of "Getting On With The Rest Of Your Life After Stroke"

The Website is www.lifeafterstroke.ca and it can be a huge step forward to supporting us in our recoveries..

I encourage you as a stroke survivor, caregiver, family member or healthcare professional to PLEASE: FIRST: Go to the new site and take a look around. SECOND: Click on the contact link and tell the people at the CSNW what could be changed and/or added to improve the site to make it a place of support for US.

Gary Gray
Stroke survivor since 2002

Make Death Wait!

2011-11-04T05:27:00.000-07:00

A NEW public awareness campaign launched by Heart and Stroke Canada.

Make Death Wait...Women!

Make Death Wait... Men!

Yes it's dramatic because it needs to be to get our attention.

Pass this on to your family and your friends.

THANKS! "The more that we share means the more that we care"

Gary

Stroke survivor since 2002

I'm not the fastest turtle on the beach

Touched by stroke? Join our conversation at www.facebook.com/mylifeafterstroke

Brain Attack 101!!!

2011-10-09T10:13:00.000-07:00

Brain Attack, A Stroke Survival Guide...

Learn three important points about Stroke.

1. Stroke is the third leading cause of death after Heart Attack and Cancer. Stroke is the leading cause of long term disability.

2 Stroke can happen to anyone of any age anywhere and at anytime. Learn the signs of stroke.

3. Prevention of stroke and recovery from stroke is possible. Watch the video and visit the website www.stroke.org to learn more.

If you would like to share your story, you can. www.stroke.org/faces

Gary

Stroke Survivor since 2002

Not the fastest turtle on the beach :p

PEI Organized Stroke Care Model Progress Report

2011-09-12T19:37:00.000-07:00

The Question?

Improved infrastructure, staffing, training, programs and more will take some 4 years to put in place to improve stroke care in Prince Edward Island. True or False?

The Model!

Organized Stroke Care Model

"About Organized Stroke Care Model
Organized Stroke Care promotes a coordinated approach to early detection and assessment of warning signs of stroke, and timely access to appropriate treatments and specialized health care providers. "

So, What does the progress report look like?

Progress of the Organized Stroke Care Model for Prince Edward Island is moving along nicely.

This model that was announced in the April 2009 Provincial budget to be put in place between 2009 and 2013 is progressing along and meeting the time lines that has been set out for it.

A common myth is that the stroke unit located at the QEH in Charlottetown was the only component of the plan to improve stroke care on Prince Edward Island.

The fact is that there are a number of components that were announced in the 2009 budget under the banner "Organized Stroke Care Model" that would in fact take four years to bring into being.

Read the full report here.

For comparison purposes here is the information paper that I published in cooperation with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of PEI. just prior to the release of the 2009 provincial budget.

Acute Stroke Unit PEI pdf

Gary Gray
Stroke Survivor since 2002

p.s. A special thank you to everyone who has helped to bring about the amazing accomplishments involved with this program and those who continue to work hard to make sure that it will be fully in place by the end of 2013.

On behalf of the entire Prince Edward Island stroke community - THANK YOU!!!

Stop My Stroke n Get A FREE Tee :D

2011-08-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

Stroke is a Medical Emergency....Call 911

Great news!!!

This morning when I opened my mailbox I got a surprise... A FREE "Quick - Responder" Tee Shirt from the folks at www.stopmystroke.com

I challenge you to also learn the signs of stroke and you can at www.stopmystroke.com

Once you know the signs of stroke you can take the quiz. By knowing the signs of stroke you too can answer the quiz questions correctly and qualify for your own FREE Tee.

Not only will you get a great tee but you will have something very valuable to carry with you for the remainder of your life. The KNOWLEDGE to stop stroke. You can save yourself......you can also save others.

How awesome is that?

Gary Gray
Stroke Survivor Since 2002

"Living A Healthy Life" Spring 2011 Newsletter

2011-08-05T07:45:00.000-07:00

The "Living A Healthy Life" program has released it's Spring 2011 newsletter and we are giving you a link to read, download and/or print it out. Enjoy!

The uploaded file is in "Google Docs" in PDF format so if you have trouble with accessing the file please let me know. My e mail is garydotgray@gmail.com

Here is the link: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B6aiexyJGOgWMTdmZDQ2MzgtNjdjMy00Yjg3LTg2ODMtOGI4M2E0NWQ2NWQ1&hl=en_US

or, to make it easy, you can CLICK HERE to get the newsletter. It is also online at: http://www.gov.pe.ca/photos/original/DHW_LHL_Newslet.pdf

You can also visit the PEI HEALTHY LIVING WEBSITE

Thanks for visiting... Simply click the "Join this site" button (up and to the Right) to be notified of new posts on this blog.

Wishing all stroke survivors the very best with your recovery and beyond!

Gary
Stroke Survivor since 2011

Jennifer Drawdy Shares Her Stroke Testimonial

2011-07-21T17:02:00.000-07:00

Did Jennifer notice that a stroke was about to happen to her?

No, it was early in the morning. She had been reading in bed and had made herself a cup of coffee. She had just got up to let her dogs go pottie and was getting another cup of coffee and going back to her reading.

The lesson here is that Stroke CAN strike ANYWHERE and at ANY TIME.

How many stroke signs did you notice?

1 Numbness on the Left side of her body
2 Paralysis to the point of collapse and unable to get up.
3, One side of her face drooping.
4, Passing out.

Did she know what was wrong?

No, She didn't recognize the signs of stroke.

Did she call 911?

No, she called friends and family.

Would you know what to do?

Would you call 911?

Learn the SIGNS OF STROKE and if you or someone near you is showing any of the signs, CALL 911

STROKE is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY.(knowing this basic information could save the life of you or someone you love)

5 warning signs of stroke

If you or someone near you experience
- Trouble seeing in one or both eyes
- Numbness, weakness of face or limbs.
- Bad Headaches
- Difficulty walking, loss of balance
- Difficulty speaking or understanding speech - Call 911!!!

Stroke is a medical emergency...

Being The Best That I Can Be... My New Normal!

2011-07-03T09:37:00.000-07:00

Stroke Survivor Gary Gray in the Community

I would like to share with you a series of videos that will help you to learn about Stroke.
You may not be familiar with stroke, what causes it, how it manifests itself, the damage it causes and how someone who has survived a stroke can relearn to do basic skills that were damaged and/or destroyed by the stroke.

The series will also help you understand how a survivor can rebuild a life. (always different and often better than our pre stroke life)

Video # 1: Understanding Stroke

Video # 2: Risk Factors Of Stroke

Video # 3: Symptoms Of Stroke

Video # 4: Preventing Stroke

Video # 5: Effects Of Stroke (Stroke Recovery #1

Video # 6: Recovering Mobility After Stroke (Stroke Recovery # 2)

Video # 7: Recovering Emotions After Stroke (Stroke Recovery # 3)

Video # 8: Recovering Cognition After Stroke (Stroke Recovery #4)

Thank you for taking the time to watch these videos so that you can become better educated and more aware of Stroke.

A survivor has a lot of work to do. By working with a therapist the survivor moves toward the goal of independent living. Independent Living can be broken down into three areas.

1. ADL Activities of Daily Living: Through use of Physio and Occupational therapy a survivor can relearn to carry out the tasks of daily living like housekeeping, food preparation, eating, bathing, dressing, laundry etc.

2. Socializing and community living: Through use of Physio and Occupational therapies as well as speech a survivor can relearn to carry out the tasks of daily living within the community such as walking, talking, driving, grocery shopping, eating out and spending time with friends.

3. Returning to meaningful productivity within the community: Through use and by expanding the use of skills learned in numbers 1 and 2 a survivor can relearn to become a productive member of the community once again. Whether it be going back to do paid work or doing volunteer work, the survivor can relearn the skills that are needed to become a valued productive member of their community.

The one option that is NOT an option is staying in bed and/or not leaving the house. Survivors need to get up and get going. Our communities need to support survivors to achieve their goals.

Lets consider survivors that have made the efforts required and have been given the support required to accomplish their goals. Everyone has been rewarded with success. We are all winners!

First visit "My Life After Stroke" to read many stories of how survivors have been successful.

Then if you are a Caregiver or family member of a survivor you might like to visit "Strokecaregivers"

In order to really help people everywhere begin to understand STROKE, why it happens, who is at risk, how to get help F.A.S.T., what are the effects and the possibilities we are working on telling "The Stories Of Stroke"

This will be released at a future date so if this is something that interests you please become a friend, fan or follower to receive further information and releases.

If you liked this post why not share it with your friends. TOGETHER, WE CAN STOP STROKE!

Gary Gray
Stroke Survivor since 2002

STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY!

2011-06-21T21:30:00.000-07:00

Emergency Medical Technition - EMT

The Question: by Mary Runnalls - When you had your stroke how long did it take for you to get to the hospital? Do you think there were consequences because of that or not?

The Answer: by Gary Gray - Thanks for your question Mary. My first indication was when I went to order a coffee at a local coffee shop and I had no voice, none, nada. Next, Left side weakness. Fortunately they called 911 and EMT's arrived within 10 minutes. I blacked out before they put me in the ambulance. Even though there was a hospital only 5 minutes away I would be transferred twice and go to a special brain unit. Over 6 hours would elapse before they did the first cat scan. It confirmed a bleed deep in my brain. Family and friends were with me around the clock. After four more days they took a second cat scan. Then, the next day (6 th post stroke) I was transferred to an acute care hospital. On the 10 th day post stroke I was transferred to a rehab unit and suffered another episode during the transfer. It took me another 12 days before I came out of my coma. A full 22 days post stroke. I guess all things considered I am fortunate to be as good as I am. I spent another 60 days post coma in rehab and acute before I was released to live with my caregivers. There were still lots of issues to work through and another 9 months before I moved to the apartment where I continue to live a basic Independent life. Being able to drive and do some volunteer work came back about 12 months post stroke.Apparently stress was the main cause that made my BP go through the roof and cause the bleed. There have been others in our community that have had this happen to them. Unfortunately I can't talk to them because none of them survived. They say 20% survive. that's 1 in 5 or 2 in 10. It looks like I was the 1 in 5. What more can I say. : ) - Gary

Want to see more answers to the question? Cilck Here to read more and visit the "Stroke Survivors Who Love Life" page

Stroke Education And Awareness Events Being Held

2011-06-16T07:18:00.000-07:00

As part of the Public Awareness and Education connected with June being Stroke Awareness month I attended an information session at the Montague Rotary Library on Wednesday.

"Services for stroke survivors
Wednesday, June 15th at 2:30 p.m. June is Stroke Month. Judi Gosbee (Physiotherapist-Home Care), Anna Nabuurs (Team Leader-Home Care), and Joan Watson (Occupational Therapist-Home Care) will be at the Library to deliver an information session on services available to stroke survivors and answer your questions. This discussion would benefit stroke survivors, their family members, and caregivers. All are welcome!"

Unfortunately I was the only one who showed up for the event. (I guess stroke survivors and their families in Eastern PEI are being well cared for and didn't see the need to find out what services are available to them)

Melysia LaFrance was also there from The PEI Heart and Stroke Foundation. Melysia brought along some copies of the booklet "Getting On With The Rest Of Your Life After Stroke"

I met Judi Gosbee a new home care Physiotherapist for the first time and she introduced me to a new product called the "Dictus Band" for drop foot.

I personally found the hour spent there to be beneficial and would recommend for stroke survivors, caregivers and family members to attend similar events that may be held in your local area.

My Life After Stroke

2011-05-30T11:22:00.000-07:00

Gary Gray living "My Life After Stroke"

Hello to all Stroke Survivors, Family members, Caregivers and Stroke care professionals,

I have a simple question: How has your life been touched by stroke?

Let me guess. You or someone that you love has had a stroke, In my case it was a classic case of a bolt out of the blue. I couldn't speak and I was experiencing weakness in my Left side. Fortunately I was in a place where I received help right away. Within a few minutes I lapsed into a state of unconscious. Due to my blood pressure being unusually high that morning I had a bleed in the middle of my brain and my brain cells were being destroyed by a tiny pool of blood that was flooding through my head.

To tell my story and the stories of other stroke survivors we have created a small community that is dedicated to helping both we stroke survivors and others come together, learn and share just what it is like to experience stroke, survive and recover to a point that we can live a satisfying and productive life after stroke.

Our community is made up of three main social media tools.

First is our Facebook Fan Page: "My Life After Stroke" by clicking the "Like" button on this page you will be added to our Facebook followers and you will receive in your news feed any posts that are posted on our wall. You can also join the conversation by posting a link to our wall or commenting on our post.

Second there is our Blog: "My Life After Stroke" this is where we will post interesting and informative information about living our lives after stroke. There could be articles, webpage links, mp3s or videos or even podcasts and webinars. You can even publish your own posts on our blog as a guest blogger.

Third is our Twitter Feed: "After My Stroke" this is where we can interactively post short (140 character) bits of information and links that we would like to share about our lives after stroke.

These three social media sites are designed to work together as place for members of our stroke community to learn and share about living our lives after stroke. These are simple uncluttered pages where a survivor can feel comfortable spending time reading, watching, listening or interacting with other survivors, family members, caregivers and health care professionals.

We warmly invite you to come, join in our conversation and learn more about My Life After Stroke.

We can also be contacted by email if you prefer either mylifeafterstroke@gmail.com or garydotgray@gmail.com

Smiles :o)

Gary Gray
Stroke Survivor since 2002

Pass The Salt!...Interesting Research Results

2011-05-08T10:37:00.000-07:00

Image by http://www.jwatch.org

Hi to all of our PEI Stroke Recovery followers,

I just listened to this interesting fifteen minute podcast from "Journal Watch" about salt and the effects that salt in our diet can have on our health. I thought you might like to listen too.

This post is for information only and we are NOT promoting it's content as something that you would want to follow personally. We just thought you might find the content interesting. It does raise the point that ongoing research can produce interesting results.

After you have had a chance to listen to the podcast, we invite you to share with our followers by posting a comment on what you thought of it. Thanks!.

Click the link to go to the podcast page then click on the podcast to listen Podcast 120: Pass the salt!

We will post again soon,

How To Beat The Risk Factors Of Stroke

2011-04-29T13:27:00.000-07:00

photo credit - Health PEI

Hi to all of our Stroke Recovery readers.

To help people just like you get help quick in the event of a stroke we have highlighted the "5 Warning Signs Of Stroke" and explained what to do if they are happening to you or to someone around you.

To help people just like you become aware of what the 8 modifiable risk factors that can cause stroke are we have highlighted "The 8 Modifiable Risk Factors Of Stroke"

BUT! - Until now there has not been, in one convenient place, concise information about how to manage those risk factors. What the bench marks are for each factor to maintain our health and avoid having a stroke.( This includes secondary stroke for people who are living with some of these very risk factors)

NOW! - we here at Prince Edward Island Stroke Recovery are pleased to be able to share with you, a new publication from Health PEI called "Passport To Health".. It highlights 9 risk factors to health and explains how to manage each one of them, in cooperation with your health care professional..

Get your copy of the "Passport To Health" publication here.

With the information contained in this publication, along with it's tips, tools and Internet links we can target our risk factors that effect us personally. We can set goals to manage or eliminate those risk factors and enjoy the freedom, of living a healthy life.

We challenge everyone, who reads this post, to obtain a copy of this publication and use it to build your road to a healthy life.

If you live in North America the odds are that you have at least 1 risk factor and the possibility is great that you have more than one. Even people who live in other parts of our world in all likelihood have at least 1 risk factor.

We here at Prince Edward Island Stroke Recovery are working on the "Contract To Health" which should be available in the very near future. It is a contract that you make with yourself to either manage or eliminate all 9 risk factors from your live.

This is doable and now we have the tools to get it done.

Wishing everyone better health and remember that WORKING TOGETHER through education and awareness WE CAN STOP STROKE!!!

We will post again soon,

STROKE Education Suppliment In Canadian-Health Magazine

2011-04-11T19:15:00.000-07:00

Canadian Health Spring 2011

Hello to all my PEI Stroke Recovery readers,

While I was at the Lawtons Drugs next door this evening I noticed a magazine rack in the waiting room filled with the latest edition of the Canadian Medical Association quarterly magazine "Canadian Health" As I leafed through it I noticed an article on Fatigue that I thought I would like to read. I picked up the couple of items that I had come for and then took a copy of the magazine as I noticed the large "FREE" sign that dominated the very top of the magazine rack. The price was right as Lawtons Drugs was providing the magazines at no charge.

Back in my big blue chair I proceeded to devour the contents of the magazine. I skimmed the article on Fatigue . It dealt not with the "stop in your tracks" fatigue that comes as a result of traumatic brain injury, suffered from a stroke type brain attack. It dealt with the fatigue that comes late in the day. That comes after not getting proper sleep at night, or not taking in sufficient fuel at the beginning of the day. Th body is left lacking to make it through the entire work day. My eyes skimmed through the remainder of the magazine stopping here and there as something caught my attention. Then, on pages 56 and 57 they met, "full stop", with familiar material.

Two pages of "STROKE Education Supplement" that spoke of the importance of Awareness and Education in reducing the occurrence of stroke in Canada. (50,000 new strokes in Canada each year) The supplement spoke of methods for health care professionals, stroke survivors, caregivers and families. These methods are being developed through the "Organized Stroke Care Model" and are being promoted as ways to support the 315,000 Canadians living with the after effects of stroke.

It was great to see this two page "stroke education supplement" in this high profile health magazine.

Please pick up a copy if you are near a Lawtons Drugs. You can also check it out by clicking the links in this blog post. Please pass on this link "stroke education supplement" in order to make others aware and educate them that together we can "STOP STROKE!"

I will post again soon,

Stroke Awareness And Support Association

2011-04-03T18:54:00.000-07:00

Christa Orsino-Heck

Welcome to all of my younger stroke survivor readers,

When a stroke happens o a younger person teens, twenties, thirties, forties and fifties it can present an extra layer of isolation. Survivors of those ages can feel very alone. Like they are the only person in the world to have this awful thing happen to them.

Actually, that is not the case and stroke does occur in younger persons.

Christa Orsino-Heck a younger stroke survivor has organized a way to reach out to other younger stroke survivors. She calls her organization Stroke Awareness And Support Association

This is a place where you can share your story on line with other young stroke survivors and reach out to learn about the experiences of others.

I hope that you find Christa's organization to be a place where you can connect with others your own age and through you connections learn more about yourself as well as the others of your own age who have suffered a similar attack and survived. I hope that through these connections you will receive as well as provide the support that you need to get on with the rest of your life.

Together with awareness and education we can STOP STROKE!

I will post again soon..

Secrets To Stroke Recovery

2011-02-20T18:53:00.000-08:00

Secrets of Stroke Recovery

Welcome to our PEI Stroke Recovery readers

In this post I want to talk a little bit about the secrets to stroke recovery. These are important secrets that you may not be made aware of as a survivor progressing through the stages of stroke.

This post is intended to be a work in progress and because of that it will be changing and evolving over a period of time. It is my intent to review my stroke experience over the past eight plus years and extract from it the secrets that I have learned along the way.

Lets start with my number one secret:

Attitude. - A positive attitude is absolutely necessary. "Thoughts effect Actions and in turn actions effect results" and so it follows that in order to effect positive results in recovery we need to think positive thoughts.

Check out these two posts that I have written over the past few months:. Number one secret to stroke recovery and Stroke Recovery Is Possible

Now lets talk about secret number two .

Goals -: A goal is like a desired destination. If you went for a drive and you didn't have a destination there would be no sense of accomplishment in getting there. You could end up who knows where and I hope that you enjoyed the drive because that is all it is going to be.

Goals can be short term or long term for example my goal for every day is "to be the best that my body will allow me to be". "Short term" and my life goal is "to improve my quality of life over time". "Long Term"

Here is an Acronym taken from the book "Messy Manager" that can be applied to goals to make them productive. SMAP-TFU

S - Specific
M- Measurable
A - Attainable
P - Passionate
-
T - Time Oriented
F
U - Followed Up

Lets also look at a post that I posted along the way talking about goals. Click Here to read the post and watch the video.

Secret number three

Heart Healthy Diet - to be developed

Secret number four.

A Regular Exercise Routine - : to be developed

Secret number five.

Regular Health Care Professional Checkup Routine - to be developed

Secret number six.

Retraining The Brain - to be developed

Secret number seven.

Learning New Things - to be developed

   Research - to be developed.

   Increased Education And Awareness - to be developed

And a bonus secret.

Volunteering - to be developed

   Helping Others - to be developed

   Networking - to be developed

Thi post continues to be a work in progress. Please feel free to provide your own experiences, thoughts, ideas and feedback by posting a comment or more if you wish. Also you can email me if you would rather. Thanks!

Stroke Care Toolkits For Health Care Professionals

2011-02-14T21:19:00.000-08:00

Health Care Professionals

Welcome to all our Professional Health Care readers,

We are very excited about the research and development work that has been taking place here in Canada over the past few years to establish a national stroke strategy. As part of this body of work a number of toolkits have been developed to assist health care professionals in their day to day work.

PLEASE take the time to click through to each of the toolkits as well as the 2010 update and the new website. We hope that you will find these toolkits helpful and that you will make good use of them. THANKS!

Toolkit #1 of 7 Canadian Stroke Strategy Community Reintegration Toolkit

Toolkit #2 of 7 Canadian Stroke Strategy Outpatient Rehab Resource Toolkit

Toolkit # 3 of 7 Canadian Stroke Strategy Stroke Unit How To Guide

Toolkit # 4 of 7 Canadian Stroke Strategy EMS Educational Resource

Toolkit # 5 of 7 Canadian Stroke Strategy Best Practices Toolkit

Toolkit # 6 of 7 Canadian Stroke Strategy Secondary Prevention Toolkit

Toolkit # 7 of 7 Canadian Stroke Strategy SPIRIT data collection system

Also a link to the Canadian Stroke Strategy Canadian Best Practices Recommendations for Stroke Care 2010 Update

and a link to the new Canadian Best Practices Recommendations for Stroke Care website

These resources have been in development over the past five years as part of the developing Canadian Stroke Strategy to improve outcomes as related to prevention, response, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration phases of stroke.

As health care professionals you are working in these very areas every day. PLEASE, make the best use possible of these toolkits yourself as well as making others aware and encourage them to make use of them too.

By promoting education and awareness one person at a time we can STOP STROKE!

We will post again soon,
.

Stroke Dropped From Long Time Number-Three Spot

2011-02-10T06:30:00.000-08:00

Hi to all of my PEI Stroke Recovery readers,

The Stroke Awareness Foundation is reporting that progress is being made in stroke prevention due to greater education and awareness. This is very good news and it reflects just how important stroke education and awareness is. Please help to increase the education and awareness in your community. Thanks!

Click the links below to learn more.

Stroke dropped from it’s long time number-three spot

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=470052546723

By making sure that your community is educated and made aware of the warning signs and the risk factors of stroke you can help to reduce the chance of stroke occurring even further.

You can also get to know the stroke survivors in your community. Help them to reintegrate back into the community and support them through the local chapter of the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Thanks!

I will post again soon,

ps By all means feel free to follow my blog, leave a comment and/or share this post with your Facebook friends and Twitter followers. Thanks! Together we CAN get the message out to our communities.

Stroke Survivors Who Love Life - Therapy Page

2011-01-28T16:12:00.000-08:00

Hi to all of our PEI Stroke Recovery readers,

Today we want to introduce you to a brand new Facebook fan page. It is called "Stroke Survivors Who Love Life - Therapy Page"

This is what is written under the "information" tab:

Description:

"Through The Journey of Life
by Author Unknown

Do not undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others.
It is because we are different that each of us is special.

Do not set your goals by what other people deem important.
Only you know what is best for you.
Do not take for granted the things closest to your heart.

Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.
Do not let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past nor for the future.
By living your life one day at a time, you live all of the days of your life.
Do not give up when you still have something to give.
Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
It is a fragile thread that binds us to each other.

Do not be afraid to encounter risks.
It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.
Do not shut love out of your life by saying it is impossible to find.
The quickest way to receive love is to give love.
The fastest way to lose love is too hold it too tightly.
In addition, the best way to keep love is to give it wings

Do not dismiss your dreams.
To be without dreams is to be without hope.
To be without hope is to be without purpose.
Do not run through life so fast that you forget not only where you have been,
but also where you are going.

Life is not a race,
but a journey to be savored each step of the way."

Click here to go directly to the page.

Thanks for taking the time to check it out. We hope that ypu will find the page to be a help in your recovery.

We will post again soon. :)

Recovery Is Possible - Ask Garrett!

2011-01-24T07:56:00.000-08:00

Hi to all of my stroke recovery readers,

You may remember Garrett Mendez, a young man who suffered a stroke five years ago.

Garrett is an amazing example to any of us who have been effected by a brain injury and or stroke.

Listen to Garrett in his recent T.V.. interview that he did during a fund raiser for his rehab facility

Click here to watch Garrett's interview

Click here to learn the back story

Click here to read Garret's story and visit his website.

Thanks Garrett for this inspiring interview and all that you do to increase awareness, educate and inspire us about just how possible recovery is. Thanks as well to Eileen Mendez (Garrett's mom) for your amazing support through Garret's recovery. You both deserve a high five. - HIGH FIVE!!! (and a Lefty fist pump LOL)

I will post again soon,

Gary

Have You Had A TIA? - 500,000 Available In Canada In 2011

2010-12-22T21:33:00.000-08:00

Hi to all of my PEI Stroke Recovery readers,

Have you had a TIA? (Transient Ischemic Attack)

You don't know or you are just not sure what a TIA is. Well a TIA is commonly referred to a mini stroke. Canadian Statistics tell us that some 50,000 people experience a stroke in Canada every single year. However, new information released in 2010 indicates that that number may very well represent one tenth of the actual number of Canadians that suffer stroke each year. Why?

According to this new information 450,000 Canadians suffer a stroke but they may never know that it happened.
These events are not to be laughed off as being something minor. They more often are a warning that something is wrong and having such an event could mean that if ignored something more serious like a stroke may well happen in the future.

On Prince Edward Island we now have our Secondary Stroke Prevention Clinic open at the Prince County Hospital. We are seeing more Islanders being helped to recognize that they may very well have suffered a TIA, are at risk of a secondary stroke and are in need of secondary stroke education and support. This unit has been set up as a pilot to work out the kinks before the service is rolled out across the Island in 2012.

You don't have to attend the clinic to learn more about what a TIA is, if you are at risk and what to do if you or someone near you begins showing the signs of having one.

Click here to read the Canadian Heart and Stroke brochure " You've Had A TIA" right here online.

This is important information that could save your live or the life of someone you love.

Whether you have in fact had a TIA or you may be at risk of having one I encourage you to invest a few minutes of your time to read this brochure. Those few minutes that you take RIGHT NOW could be the best investment that you could ever make. Especially if YOU are one of the 500,000 Canadians that will suffer a stroke or a TIA in Canada this year.

Watch this video to learn more:

If you are reading this post and live in a country outside Canada, you can apply like figures to that country. For Example in the United States the numbers would look something like this.

Population: 300,000,000
Strokes: 500,000
unreported TIA's 4,500,000
Total strokes and TIA's 5,000,000

I will post again soon,

Gary

New Website For "Canadian Best Practice Recommendations For Stroke Care"

2010-12-13T08:49:00.000-08:00

Welcome to all of my PEI Stroke Recovery readers,

As a stroke community in Canada we have been long awaiting the 2010 update to the "Canadian Best Practice Recommendations For Stroke Care"

It was released on December 3rd 2010.

Click here to download your copy or just read it online. There are some pretty nifty additions. One in particular that I like personally is the use of hyperlinks in the PDF.

O.K, I hear you "What are hyperlinks and what is a PDF?"

1. Hyperlink - A little piece of computer code that allows the reader to click in a blue underlined text link and then be taken directly to what is being talked about. Like the "Click here" up above to take you to the 2010 update.

2. PDF - Public Document File. Documents are able to be published electronically using the public document file format so that anyone with a computer and Internet access can either read to document online, download the document to their personal hard drive/memory stick or print the document using a local printer.

In order to open a PDF the user will need to have Acrobat Reader downloaded and installed on the computer that is being used. (most if not all newer computers usually have it on them)

Oh Yes! For a major announcement: The Canadian Best Practices has launched a new website. Click here to go there now.

This is an awesome website with the very latest information and links to stroke research reports and partners there. I encourage you to spend some time there checking out everything including the new "Transitions Of Care" links.

This amazing document and website is the result of a partnership of The Canadian Stroke Strategy, The Canadian Stroke Network and The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

I hope that as a reader of "Prince Edward Island Stroke Recovery" you will find the answers to your questions about stroke whether you are a survivor, a caregiver or a health care provider. I encourage you to tell me what it is you need by way of a comment or contact me directly. All of my contact info is contained on my web page. Simply click here to go there.

I will post again soon,

Gary

Medications And Patient Safety - What You NEED To Know...

2010-12-10T12:22:00.000-08:00

To all of my PEI Stroke Recovery readers,

Do you take medications to maintain or improve your health? The majority of people do. What are the dangers of taking meds and what would qualify to be tracked as a medication in your body?

Lets see what health Canada has to say on the matter. Here is a quote from Health Canada's website.

"Seniors may be more prone to illness due to the weakening of the body's natural defences. It's not surprising, therefore, that many require a greater number of drugs to treat their health problems. Because seniors also tend to have more than one health problem, they may receive multiple prescriptions or they may combine prescription drugs with over-the-counter products or with natural remedies. Given that the aging body is more sensitive to the effects of many medications, the combinations can cancel the benefits of any or all medications and produce adverse reactions, such as memory loss, sleepiness, agitation and confusion. These effects have been associated with falls and other injuries."

Notice that prescription drugs, over the counter and natural remedies all play a part and should be tracked because of the posed dangers.

Although the above quote mentions seniors, others as well can be in similar danger. Those of all ages with an acute illness or chronic condition such as a stroke survivor.

What is being done to mediate these risks?

In Canada we have an organization called The Canadian Patient Safety Institute. (CPSI)

The CPSI has produced a brochure called "Safe Care... Accepting No Less" I recommend that all of our readers read this publication. Just click on the above link to access the brochure.

What will this mean to stroke survivors? In P.E.I., we have a patient safety wing under Health P.E.I. and under that wing there are new tools that promote patient safety.

Tool no. one: Home Medication List

Tool no. two: Know Your Medications pamphlet.

These tools are designed to inform and to protect persons that are at risk of miss use and or abuse of medications.

Please print out or pick up your personal copies of these tools and make use of them to protect yourself.

Survivors and caregivers in other provinces and states are encouraged to check with your local health authority for similar tools that are available in your area.

I will post again soon,

Gary

p.s. Additional important information from Karen McCaffery of Patient Safety, Health P.E.I.

"The intent of this medication list is to help ensure patients bring an accurate up-to-date list with them when they visit their healthcare provider. It is the patient's responsiblity to fill out this form and keep it current. We want to encourage that they include all prescription, non-prescription and over-the-counter medications, including herbals, vitamins and minerals, eye/ear drops, inhalers, nasal spray, patches, liquids, injections, ointments/creams and any samples obtained from a doctor's office. It is just one tool and patients can still be encouraged to bring in their medications or another medication list, such as the DIS list or pharmacy list. However, many of the items listed above are not found on the DIS or pharmacy medication lists."

Secondary Stroke Prevention Clinic Pilot Open At PCH

2010-11-26T14:57:00.000-08:00

Welcome to all our stroke recovery and at risk readers,

Here is the long awaited news that one more piece of the Organized Stroke Care Model for P.E.I. is now in place. The details are included in the following government press release dated November 25, 2010.

November 25, 2010
For immediate release
Secondary Stroke Prevention Clinic pilot up and running at Prince County Hospital

Health PEI
The first phase of the Organized Stroke Care Model for Prince Edward Island is now complete with the launch of the Secondary Stroke Prevention Clinic pilot at Prince County Hospital (PCH), says Health and Wellness Minister Carolyn Bertram.
“Government remains committed to implementing a provincial Organized Stroke Care model to help improve the lives of Islanders who are either at risk of suffering a stroke or who have suffered a stroke,” said Minster Bertram. “It is important that we continue work in partnership with Health PEI to promote a timely and coordinated provincial approach to prevention, early assessment and comprehensive care by interdisciplinary health care teams across the continuum of care. The establishment of the Secondary Stroke Prevention Clinic pilot at Prince County Hospital is a key part of that approach and will lay the foundation for future clinics across the Island.”
Secondary stroke prevention is focussed on patients who have already experienced a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a non-disabling stroke, and those who are at high risk of stroke.
“The Secondary Stroke Prevention Clinic pilot provides out-patient follow-up care for acute TIA patients and post-acute stroke patients,” said Dr. Doug Carmody, Internist at PCH and medical lead for the Secondary Stroke Prevention Clinic pilot. “This pilot offers a patient-centred approach to specifically address risk factors for stroke including assistance with lifestyle management and assessment by a coordinated clinical staff with specialized training in TIA and stroke management.”
People who suffer a stroke or a TIA are at high risk of recurrent strokes and other vascular events. Quick identification of risk factors and appropriate treatment is critical to prevent further strokes and the possibility of even greater damage and disability. A TIA is an important warning sign that a person is at increased risk of a full-blown stroke.
Major risk factors for stroke include age, high blood pressure, smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes. 83 per cent of Islanders have at least one of these major risk factors and 45 per cent have at least two.
The Secondary Stroke Prevention Clinic pilot will initially receive referrals for patients who have been identified as having a known or suspected acute TIA or stroke and who live within the Prince County catchment area. The purpose of the pilot is to evaluate and plan for the appropriate resource requirements prior to expanding the Secondary Stroke Prevention service provincially.
The establishment of the pilot at PCH completes the first phase of the three-phased Organized Stroke Care Model for Prince Edward Island. Government has invested $2.1 million into phase one which includes the Secondary Stroke Prevention Pilot Clinic at PCH, as well as creating and filling a Provincial Stroke Care Coordinator position and instituting an acute in-patient stroke unit and in-patient stroke rehabilitation unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Phase two, includes the establishment of district-level ambulatory stroke rehabilitation services, a provincial roll-out of secondary stroke prevention services, and provincial stroke rehabilitation assessment clinic. Phase three includes the establishment of community re-integration services. Phases two and three will be implemented over the next two years.
Health PEI is responsible for coordinating and delivering Organized Stroke Care services.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability. In PEI, there are approximately 350 strokes annually – this equals about one stroke every day.
-30-
Media Contact: Amanda Hamel
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Gary Gray Speaks To Southern Kings Arts Council

2010-11-01T19:56:00.000-07:00

By Tom Rath
tom.rath@yahoo.ca
Writing is more than an art form, it's a way to exercise one’s creativity, guest speaker Gary Gray of Montague said at this month’s meeting of the Southern Kings Arts Council.
"For me, as a stroke survivor, it is both a form of escape, and a way to help me discover and develop what I call my new normal," Mr Gray said.
"The stories of my childhood that you read in Prince Edward Island Tales are not just my latest writings. They are my first writings, too. I joined the Montague Library Writers Group because I found writing was good therapy for me."
Always an active participant in community affairs, Mr Gray suffered a major stroke eight years ago while stopping for coffee. After a blurred three weeks of CAT scans and semi-consciousness, he awoke to the realization that his entire world had changed.
Mr Gray faced major challenges in learning once again how to walk, talk and dress under conditions of fatigue, depression and anxiety. Even sitting up to eat took effort. A left-handed man with a paralyzed left side has much to learn.
"It’s more than just regaining physical strength," Mr Gray said. "After all, much of what we do doesn’t happen in the hands, but in the brain itself. I had to battle memory loss and fuzzy thinking, and somehow teach my brain how to survive and succeed under these new conditions."
Part of his progress stemmed from involvement in a new writing group formed at the Montague Library.
"By putting words down on paper, I helped clear my thoughts and my thinking patterns. That, plus my involvement with the Heart and Stroke Foundation, gave me new accomplishments – skills, strengths and reassurance that while I’m not necessarily the old Gary Gray, I am the new Gary Gray. I am surviving and succeeding in my new normal."
The Southern Kings Arts Council exists to support the arts community, and to enhance public awareness and appreciation of the arts in this region of Prince Edward Island. Guest speaker meetings are held in the boardroom of Active Communities, Main Street, Montague, at 7:30pm on the third Tuesday of most months, and are open to the public. Admission is free

Do You Know How Much Salt You Ate Today?

2010-10-27T17:09:00.000-07:00

Welcome to all of our readers who are interested in stroke prevention, label reading and salt intake

We have posted this great video all about the healthy use of salt from the Sodium 101 website.

The video is self explanatory so go ahead and learn while you view.

To learn more just click here to go directly to the Sodium 101 website.

Enjoy and stay healthy.

We will post again soon.

Gary

p.s. who knew... :)

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The 8 Modifiable Risk Factors Of Stroke

2010-10-08T07:05:00.000-07:00

The information posted here and the links connect to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Prince Edward Island.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to the folks there for making this important information available for us to share.

Do YOU know the 8 modifiable risk factors of stroke?

Stroke prevention

You can't control your family history, age, gender or ethnicity. But fortunately, you can do something about other factors that could increase your risk of having a stroke such as obesity, diet, diabetes, smoking, over drinking, inactivity, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol.

Stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Without oxygen-rich blood, brain cells begin to die. If the blood supply is not restored, the affected part of the brain dies, causing disability and death.

Help prevent a stroke by learning more about the risk factors you can do something about and those you can't control.

Risk issues you can do something about

and two bonus issues

Risk factors you can't control

What is your risk?

Are you at risk? Take the Heart&Stroke Risk Assessment^TM and get a personalized risk profile and a customized action plan for healthy living that includes tips, tools, recipes and much more to help you reduce your risk.

For more information on stroke prevention, please read our brochure Taking control: Lowering your risk of heart disease and stroke.

I am a eight year stroke survivor.

Read my story

Join my Net Friends

Till next post.

Smiles :o)

Gary

Living A Life After Stroke

2010-10-06T07:20:00.000-07:00

Hi to all of my readers being challenged with having to live with a chronic condition as well as living a life after stroke

This article is being reposted from the Eastern Graphic newspaper (peicanada.com) by Gary Gray aka garydotgray as he was interviewed by staff writer Jonathan Charlton

photo credit Jonathan Charlton

Optimism enables stroke victim to help others along the way

Since his stroke in 2002, Gary Gray of Montague has become a local leader in helping other stroke victims recover.
His road hasn’t been easy. "I knew I wouldn’t get my life before the stroke back, but I would get back as much as I could."
Mr Gray's first challenge was to accept what had happened, that things would be different.
"The first reaction is to be angry, to think 'I want my life back.'"
The left side of his body was affected and since he was left handed he had to relearn many basic skills such as how to write.
He had to work through what is called brain fog, where blood in his brain damaged cells and affected his ability to think clearly. There was also the physical fatigue.
But slowly, he began to recover.
"I would walk the length of the bedroom, living room and porch. I would do that every two hours."
Eventually he had built up enough stamina to go for walks outside.
Mr Gray sharpened his mental faculties by working on his computer.
"The first thing I had to do was answer about 800 emails that I’d collected," he laughs.
He then turned his attention to researching strokes online. He found strokenetwork.org, a stroke support group run by an American stroke victim which had about 3,000 members worldwide.
"We understood what the other ones were going through. So we could develop a better recovery because of that."
As Mr Gray recovered he outgrew the support group and turned his attention to his neighbourhood. Even as recently as a few years ago he says it was rare to see people walking down the street with a cane or ordering food at a restaurant with a speech impediment.
"Stroke survivors in that time were reclusive. Self-conscious about their condition."
So Mr Gray kept his ear to the ground and when he learned about other stroke victims he invited them to contact him and he offered support and encouragement.

"They began recognizing that I had a positive attitude and had recovered from my stroke."

It was that positive attitude that led to him to being asked three times to be a leader for a Living a Healthy Life, a peer support program invented at Stanford University and implemented by the provincial government. (People can register for Living a Healthy Life at 1-888-854-7244).
It teaches people with chronic health problems such as asthma or diabetes or are stroke or heart attack survivors how to work through their recoveries and maintain healthier lifestyles.
"Most of it I knew," Mr Gray says. "But this reinforced it, it was like an 'aha' moment."
"All of us living with chronic conditions, we have to deal with them now. They’re part of our lives."
Mr Gray found that people with different conditions went through some of the same symptoms, such as fatigue or anxiety, and could teach each other. While he had had success with his exercises, for example, others had tried to do too much too soon, didn’t achieve their goals and got discouraged.
He also liked the teamwork aspect - each person got a buddy that checked up on them, making sure they remembered meetings and asking how they were doing.
"If you have someone to remind you, that helps. You’re not alone anymore."
Still, he feels taking on a leadership role with that group isn’t his niche. He enjoys working as a midpoint between survivors and organizations and government. One thing he wants to check out is Bungalow Software, a series of computer programs developed by an American couple that help stroke victims overcome speech impediments. He knows at least two people in the area that could benefit.
It’s one way he’ll help other survivors, but he’s not worrying too much about the future.
"It’s hard to say. I don’t know. I’ll let it continue as it unfolds."

As a stroke survivor and after being directly involved in this training as a participant, I believe that this program deserves being adopted as one piece in the puzzle of life after stroke. - Gary Gray

The reposting of this article is meant to promote education and awareness of living with chronic conditions as well as living life after stroke.

Click here to read the original article by Jonathan Charlton.

Life After A Stroke - Living A Healthy Life With Chronic Conditions

2010-10-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

Hi to all of our readers with chronic conditions

To day, I would like to introduce you to a program that I believe will help you develop your coping skills to manage your chronic condition.

I am a stroke survivor: I struggle with fatigue and limited ability to do just the routine tasks of daily living.

You may be working through the challenges of any number of chronic conditions.

I found this six week course a great help in dealing with the challenges of Stroke.

Living A Healthy Life With Chronic Conditions is provided in many Prince Edward Island Communities with a small reregistration charge of only $10.00

Each training session is led by a trained health care professional along with a trained volunteer. They work as a team to provide the needed skills for participants to manage chronic conditions on a daily basis.

"Living a Healthy Life is a fun and practical program that helps people with ongoing health conditions overcome daily challenges and maintain active, fulfilling lives. Throughout the program, people develop the skills they need to help themselves. They gain confidence and motivation to manage their health, and feel more positive about their lives."

To learn the skills to manage your chronic condition click here

This same program is offered in many other provinces and states throughout North America. Try typing "living a healthy life" into a search engine such as Google to find one near you.

I will post again soon and in the meantime why not learn the skills to live healthy one day at a time.

http://www.gov.pe.ca/health/index.php3?number=1034519&lang=E

Gary

Nancy Mayo and Getting On With The Rest Of Your Life After A Stroke

2010-09-30T08:27:00.000-07:00

Charlotte Comrie - Nancy Mayo - Gary Gray photo credit The Guardian

Hi to all of my stroke survivor readers

This post is for all of you as well as your caregivers and your families.

Being able to accept the abrupt change in your life that having a stroke can bring can be very difficult to come to grips with let alone manage your life after a stroke..

The health care system in North America and the world deals mainly with stroke from a clinical viewpoint So where does that leave you when you are discharged from rehab and left to get on with your life after a stroke?

Dr. Nancy Mayo of McGill University in Montreal Canada is a true pioneer in this field of research.

I first met Dr. Mayo in Charlottetown Prince Edward Island in November of 2007 at 5 years post stroke. ( that was when the picture above was taken)

We were both in Charlottetown to attend the "Strategies for Stroke Recovery" conference that was being held there.

I gave an address on Friday Night that was titled "The New Normal" and Dr. Mayo gave the keynote address the next morning titled "Getting On With The Rest Of Your Life After Stroke". As I had been invited to attend Dr. Mayo's presentation I took along a recorder and recorded it. The recording is in audio only so you don't get to see the visual side. {the slide presentation)

There are many great points that Dr. Mayo highlighted in her presentation. As she was addressing a group of health care professionals that day the first half hour is a bit dry with clinical background information. In the last half hour she begins to draw out the needs that are faced by a stroke survivor and family that is being discharged from rehab and facing life after stroke back in the community.

Since November 2007 Dr. Mayo has developed a 36 page booklet called "Getting On With The Rest Of Your Life After Stroke" that is designed to assist stroke survivors and families to cope with life after a stroke.

In April of 2009 the Prince Edward Island government included in their annual budget announcement that Prince Edward Island over the next four years would be adopting an "Organized Stroke Care Model" to deal with the challenge of stroke within our province. (see my 4 page background report prepared and distributed to all of our provincial elected reps prior to the budget being announced)

In April 2010 the opening of both the Acute Stroke Care (Unit 8) and the Rehab Stroke Care (Unit 7) were announced for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown. At the same time the announcement for the Secondary Stroke Prevention Unit for the Prince County Hospital in Summerside was postponed to October 2010.

I am going to stop there for today. There is more to this story and I will get into that another day as we continue to explore this journey of getting on with the rest of your life after stroke together.

In the meantime I welcome any stories and/or comments that you would care to share with me and all of our readers about your life after a stroke.

thanks!

Gary

Where Can I Get My Blood Pressure Checked On PEI?

2010-09-20T09:44:00.000-07:00

Welcome to all my readers with high blood pressure,

My question is: Where can I have my blood pressure checked on Prince Edward Island? If you are thinking I could use any of the machines at the pharmacies, then that seems like a simple answer. Let me share with you what my pharmacist said about those machines. He told me that he was not having one installed in his store because in his opinion the readings on those machines were not very accurate. He said that if you really thought that your pressure should be checked then have it checked by going to a hospital emergency department.

Of course the nurse at my doctors office always checks my BP on every visit. How often is that? Every six months or once a year? Longer?

As a stroke survivor with a chronic fatigue condition as well as paralysis, and balance issues I have a routine of having a visit to my doctor every three months. As I am on blood pressure meds I like to have my BP taken on a regular basis. It is also a comfort for me to go eyeball to eyeball with the doc so that if I have any concerns or something is beginning to trend in the wrong direction then he can pick up on it sooner.

If I feel that I need to be checked sooner than the three month cycle than I can call to make a n appointment or check in at the local emergency desk.

The Dept of Health on P.E.I. is also making available a new program to help people enjoy living a healthy life with chronic conditions. This six week program is well worth the time spent as it teaches skills to manage our chronic conditions on a day to day basis.

The benefits of such skills bring us peace of mind and the knowledge that we are taking good care of ourselves in our day to day lives.

I would really like to hear from you as to how you manage your condition. Where and how often you get your BP checked along with any other checkups that you require.

Has your doctor or other health care professional recommended that you attend the Healthy Living program?

Click here to learn more about the program.

Do you think that there should be blood pressure clinics in public places like malls, stores and public events on Prince Edward Island? How important is knowing your blood pressure to you?

Thanks for reading my post and I hope that you will share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

Eat Atlantic Challenge Sept 2nd

2010-09-04T21:07:00.000-07:00

Eat Atlantic Challenge Sept 2nd: "
This post has been re posted from Rachelle Wood by (garydotgray)

Do you know where your food comes from? On September 2nd Maritimers are asked to only eat Atlantic produced products that day and beyond. With the rising awareness of ethical eating, consumers are choosing to shop closer to home. Locally grown produce is often more nutritious while producing a smaller carbon footprint.

Co-op Atlantic is organizing local events to help celebrate this special dietary day. Members of the public can enjoy samples of Atlantic produced products at the Charlottetown location on Walker Drive. Follow the Eat Atlantic Challenge on facebook wall to find out more details and to make your dietary pledge.

I signed the pledge, and here’s my PEI produced meal plan for today:

Breakfast: 2 PEI free range eggs + 1 local bakery whole wheat bread, PEI roasted coffee with honey drop

Snack: handpicked PEI apple + slice of Cows creamery cheddar cheese

Lunch: garden veggie stir fry with oishi sauce and uncle’s homegrown chicken

Snack: fresh fruit smoothie with Island berries and Purity dairy skim milk

Supper: PEI lobster, corn on the cob, garden fresh yellow beans, new PEI potatoes

Local eating just makes sense. It’s easy to do and often more affordable. Planning your meals a day in advance can help you stay on track. To find out more about local eating or where to buy food, read the 100 mile diet.

The Eat Atlantic website hosts a kids club, which includes healthy inspired projects for kids and parents. Learn more about nutrition and how your food is grown on this interactive website. As a parent, it’s your responsibility to be a healthy food role model for your children. Openly discuss nutrition with them and take family outings to local farms.

How do you plan on enjoying Eat Atlantic day? Hopefully with lots of food

"

Stroke Recovery And A Healthy Lifestyle

2010-08-20T15:14:00.000-07:00

A Special Hi to Stroke Survivors and Caregivers

As you may or may not know one of the keys to stroke recovery is healthy living while watching our weight and maintaining a healthy diet. I would like to share with you a tool that I have been asked to test for our Stroke Education and Awareness committee. It is found on the Canadian Heart and Stroke site and is called the Healthy Weight Action Plan.

Click here to access the Healthy Weight Action Plan

Heart & Stroke Healthy Weight Action Plan

The Heart&Stroke Healthy Weight Action Plan™ is a 12-week,
step-by-step program that will support you in achieving healthy habits
and a healthy weight—for life. The Healthy Weight Action Plan will:

Identify your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Provide tips, advice and support to help you lose weight.
Help you create a personalized action plan for healthy living.

I have also been asked to test another diet tool by another well known
organization but you will have to wait till after I try it. I will put up a
future blog post on it then.

I hope you enjoy using the Healthy Weight Action Tool as much as I am.

Smiles :o)

Gary

FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2008

Meet Kyle Jay a Brain Stem Stroke Survivor...

Hi Everyone

In March of this year (2008) I was introduced by Cathy Sinclair of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of PEI to a young man from our community by the name of Kyle Jay.

Cathy introduced me by way of telling me that Kyle had suffered a Brain Stem Stroke and was "locked in". He and his family were in a hospital in Halifax (200 miles away) and could I be available to be contacted by them and help them with access to getting support from the stroke community.

So after an email introduction to Kyle's mom Darlene I began to get the word out to the stroke community and stroke survivors and caregivers started to respond to my request to contact Kyle through his FaceBook group, email or a personal visit.

Thank you every body for your support. Kyle has been moved back to te Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown where he continues to make good progress with his recovery.

He was moved into the Rehab Unit on Monday where I got to visit (and meet him for the first time) him Monday evening and his dad (Garth) snapped this picture of us together.

Here is a link to my Stroke Network Blog where I have been re posting Darlene's FaceBook posts so that Stroke Network Members that don't have a FaceBook account could follow Kyle's progress.

Here is a link to Kyle's FaceBook Group so you can learn more about this amazing young man.

Kyle is an amazing young man through his "can do" attitude, his great smile and laugh, support of his family, friends and community as well as members of the world wide stroke community Kyle is accomplishing the impossible. (recovery from a brain stem stroke and a "locked in" condition)

Yes Kyle is a real life inspiration to all stroke survivors everywhere. "Yes We Can"

Smiles :o)

Gary

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2007

Introduction

It was August 9th, 2002. A bright sun shiny day and I spent the entire day with my two daughters visiting from Charlottetown as well as my sister and her family visiting from Vancouver, B.C. and Saskatoon, Sask.

We enjoyed a wonderful family day topped off by going out for an early dinner at a nice local Italian restaurant.

I am very fortunate to have that memory as August 9th, 2002 would prove to be the last day of my life.....Pre Stroke!

After dinner the kids headed back to Charlottetown, my sister settled in for a quiet evening at home and I changed into my security uniform for a night security job that I had been doing on weekends for the past four years.

Everything seemed to be very normal. No one suspected that within twenty four hours I would be fighting for my life in a Moncton hospital bed and the odds were that I might very well not win.

For that part of the story you will have to wait for the next post.

In the meantime here is a picture of me with my two daughters Krista and Karol, my sister Irene and my grand niece Carlie. The picture that you see here was taken about 4:30 p.m. on that same day in August. (it is the last picture taken of me before the Stroke ...just around 18 hours pre stroke)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2007

Recovering Abilities

What are these abilities that need to be recovered? Do you need a list?

Well let's start with a short list for now and we will expand as we go along.

The ability to stay awake longer than ten seconds at a time.

The ability to just use the bathroom without being bedfast with pads, the catheter and flipping (like a fried egg )to have my pad changed.

The ability to eat without someone feeding me.

The ability to talk without the slur.

The ability to bathe myself and brush my own teeth.

The ability to move my Left hand that I write with, shave with and wash my face with.

The ability to sit up in my wheel chair rather than in the recline position.

The ability to transfer from bed to wheel chair without two nursing staff having to attend me. (every time)

The ability to stay in my wheel chair longer than an hour because of the unbearable fatigue that smothers me.

So that will be the first batch of lost abilities that I will work on recovering.

So how did you loose all of those abilities you ask.

Let me tell you my story, A story of abilities that were lost in a moment of time and takes a journey of years and years of time to recover only some of them. So

My name is Gary, I am a stroke survivor and this is my story.

Garlic Salmon Over Spinach....yum!

2010-06-23T07:09:00.000-07:00

Hi again

Diet is another very important part of recovering from and prevention of Stroke.

Here is a great web site by Posit Science that promotes Brain Healthy foods... Enjoy!

Brain-healthy foods in this recipe

Salmon is chock-full of DHA, the omega-3 fatty acid with the most evidence for brain benefits. Almost any salmon is a good choice for the brain, not just because of high good-for-you DHA levels but also because of relatively low levels of bad-for-you mercury. Wild salmon is probably a better choice than farmed salmon, due to lower levels of PCBs. Spinach and garlic may add to the brain benefits of this recipe!

http://www.positscience.com/about-the-brain/brain-healthy-activities/thinkfood/recipe-02

Gary

Canadian Led Stroke Study Reveals Surprises

2010-06-21T15:24:00.000-07:00

Welcome,

Canada is breaking new ground in world stroke research and the study findings are providing surprises.

Seemingly healthy Canadians under 50 are unknowingly walking around with pre-existing brain damage that puts them at increased risk of a full-blown stroke, Canadian researchers are warning.
In a study believed to be a world first, Montreal researchers who investigated 168 stroke patients age 18 to 50 discovered that 29 per cent had old brain lesions — small clusters of dead brain cells.

To learn more and watch the video click here: or copy and paste the link below into your browser.

http://www.globalnational.com/health/Silent+brain+damage+points+greater+stroke+risk+study/3127740/story.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+canwest%2FF8169+%28Global+National%29

Smiles :o)

Gary

Hypertension tops list of stroke risk factors

2010-06-18T11:48:00.000-07:00

Hypertension tops list of stroke risk factors

“The findings showed that those on the fruit- and vegetable-rich diet experienced a significant reduction in blood pressure,” says Barr. “Those on the diet with milk products as well showed an even more significant reduction.”

High blood pressure is the single biggest driver of stroke risk and potentially lethal damage to the brain, according to a major Canadian-led global study that shows 10 risk factors account for 90 per cent of the risk for stroke worldwide.
Five of them — blood pressure, smoking, diet, abdominal obesity and lack of regular exercise — were singled out for their magnitude of risk.

To learn more and watch the video click here: or either click the link below or copy and paste it in your browser.

http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Hypertension+tops+list+stroke+risk+factors/3169829/story.html#ixzz0rWiSPGDz

Smiles :o)

Gary

Thinkfood -- Recipe of the Week! | Posit Science

2010-06-16T07:36:00.000-07:00

Thinkfood -- Recipe of the Week! | Posit Science

Save A Life - Watch The video!!!

2010-06-14T19:05:00.000-07:00

Welcome

Stroke awareness is very important! Do you know what a stroke is?

You can save a life simply by watching the video, and posting the web address of this post to your Twitter feed or your Facebook account. Just copy and paste this link address. Thanks!

http://princeedwardislandstrokerecovery.blogspot.com/2010/06/save-life-watch-video.html

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in America and the number one cause of long term disability.

Don't forget to pass along the link so that others learn the warning signs of stroke too.

http://princeedwardislandstrokerecovery.blogspot.com/2010/06/save-life-watch-video.html

Smiles :o)

Gary

Stroke Nursing News - Spring 2010

2010-06-14T09:10:00.000-07:00

Welcome

One way to stay up to date on the latest happenings on stroke in Canada is to become a regular reader of the newsletter publication "Stroke Nursing News" - Enjoy!!

Go to the "Canadian Stroke Strategy" newsletters to read other issues of the newsletter.

Smiles :o)

Gary

Stroke Recovery Secret Number One...

2010-06-13T19:07:00.000-07:00

Hi and welcome back

This post will reveal the First Secret to Stroke Recovery - Attitude!

Why Attitude? Well, there is a saying that goes like this - "Change your attitude and you change your life"...Wayne Gretzky

Attitude is the most important factor to attain our goal of "being the very best that our body will allow us to be".If we have a positive attitude and really work toward our goal it can be simply amazing as to how our bodies will respond.

I would like you now to view this ten minute video of a presentation given by Mr. Zig Zigler. Mr Zigler is known world wide as a marketing expert and author of many books such as "Meet Me At The Top"

This video may be presented from a marketing point of view but the principals contained within it can be applied to the challenge of stroke recovery.

Than you for taking the time to view Mr Zigler's video. I hope you found it to be of value and you are welcome to return to this post as often as you would like to view it again.

I would like to encourage you to tell me your thoughts on the power of this video to influence your life in a positive way by leaving a comment on this post.

So the first tool in the Stroke Recovery is "Having A Positive Attitude". Learn to appreciate what you have in your life. Do not pine after the things that you have lost. Practice this technique over and over until it becomes second nature to you.

If you are a recent stroke survivor I hope that you or your caregiver will become a follower of this blog. For more information on what we are trying to accomplish with this blog please review the post "Welcome To Prince Edward Island Stroke Recovery".

Wishing you well in your journey to recovery,

Smiles :o)

Gary.

Welcome to Prince Edward Island Stroke Recovery

2010-06-12T15:50:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Prince Edward Island Stroke Recovery.

This blog (web log) has been created to share information with and support the stroke community of Prince Edward Island. It is also my personal hope that the national stroke community of Canada as well as the International stroke community will benefit from the information provided through future posts.

I have been a stroke survivor for the past nearly eight years having suffered a hemoragic stroke in August of 2002. During those eight years my recovery progress has been slow but steady. I continue to recover even though the health care professionals at the time were not optimistic that there would be any recovery beyond that magic cutoff time of six months.

Times are changing in the world of stroke and I will attempt to share the secrets of my recovery through the future posts of this blog.

To give you (the reader) a sense from where I plan to share this vital information I am going to direct you now to a web page that I created a couple of years ago. The page was actually created ahead of it's time but steady progress is being made in the direction of the information on this page.

I have not shared this information on the web before but rather provided any information through a previous blog that I had created several years ago called "The Signs Of A Stroke"

I will be directing future readers of that blog over here and plan to post any future posts about stroke and my personal journey here.

As you are waiting for posts to appear you can find me on the web by searching "Gary Gray pei" in the Google search engine. You can also visit my "home page"

Thank you for visiting my Prince Edward Island Stroke Recovery blog. I hope you become a follower of my posts and we can share our experiences by simply commenting on any of the posts that you wish.

Smiles :o)

Gary

p.s. To visit my previous posts on my "Signs Of A Stroke" blog they are still available here