Anyone going to the Patient & Carer Symposium in Leeds on 18th April

[kkatz]

Just curious if anyone going to the AF Symposium in Leeds.

[Thomas45]

Yes, Dr Matt Fay is always worth listening to. As the programme shows the first 45 minutes are for registration,teas and coffee, I don't have to travel in the height of the rush hour to get there. I walk with a stick for balance as I have right foot drip, so the 10. Minute walk will take me 15-20 minutes, but I need more exercise.a

[kkatz in reply to Thomas45]

So you're only going for the free coffee then ! Never been to one before but I like to learn as much as possible about my illness.

[Thomas45 in reply to kkatz]

No free coffee for me. I don't drink coffee, haven't done for 15years. Mentioning that the first 45 minutes are for registration and teas and coffees means I don't have to get there on the dot of 9.30am, as long as I'm there for about 10am. That means I don't have to battle against people rushing to work. Having Foot drop slows me down and causes balance problems. I cannot fit in every train seat, as I have long legs. When I last went to Leeds it was by car. Because of Foot drop I cannot drive and have disposed of my car.

Dr. Matt Fay is always worth listening to, which is why I'm going.

[Thomas45]

In case you don't know what foot drop is, it's when the Peroneal nerve in your leg sends a message to a muscle to lift my foot off the ground when I wish to walk, and nothing happens. In the early stages of this you fall over a lot as the "bad" foot stays firmly on the ground., (actually the nerve is damaged and can't send any messages). After a lot of falling over you learn to lift your foot up by lifting your leg from the knee, but you still have a balance problem. That combined with my 6ft 6inches height meant initially some painful falls.

Now I wear an orthotic on that leg and foot which helps, but I walk much slower than I did before the nerve damage.

[CDreamer]

Too far for me to travel but all of the Patient Days in Birmingham I’ve attended have been so informative and often the best thing is talking to other people and how they manage.