Hey hey

[lloydyuk]

Headway happy people!

What's new with you all? List your latest achievements and accomplishments here...I bet there's a lot more than we first think....especially as the collective of survivors we are.

Come on let's ave it!!

[lloydyuk]

I'll start if it helps..

I started last sept determined to be able to do a full studio cycling class by March.

I put my mind to it and gave it my best shot. I found it scary and hard to even get on an exercise bike to begin with but I did it! I built my fitness slowly and did my first proper class in March as planned. I've gone every week since.

I really do believe what the mind perceives we are all capable of following.

Ok the gym has been my thing since I was 15 I felt I lost everything with my BI 2 years ago I couldn't even sit up on a bed without falling. I cried to rehab consultant telling him I couldn't live how I was then. I fell so many times dislocating fingers, cutting myself but I would never let it beat me I owed it to myself.

I inched my way to where I am now, backing myself as best I could when I could and here I am!!

You can all achieve something if you want it enough prove it to yourself you owe it to yourself for getting this far whatever it may be. Take a breath a go for it no matter what it is you choose your goal

[Jennaberri]

I have been hand rearing an orphaned wood pigeon for the past 4 weeks, it was a few days old when it was bought to me. Had no feathers and is now fully feathered. I didn't. Think I would manage it because of my forgetfulness and having been signed off work with stress, but she sqwarks at me whenever i go near the kitchen which reminds me to feed her. I have been noting down feeds and amounts (to the nearest ish). I am very proud, might stumble at the teaching her to fly stage, but i'm confident nature will take its course.

[lloydyuk in reply to Jennaberri]

Wow that's so cool what an achievement and so satisfying I imagine, that's brilliant

[lisa85 in reply to Jennaberri]

Congratulations jennaberri that's huge, also congratulations lloyduk.

Well mine are the following:-

BI was ten years ago in January, back in 2009 I run my first 5k and completed it in 41 mins 15.9 seconds, not run since as broke both feet, not together so I'm rather afraid of hurting or breaking them again.

In January this year my ten year anniversary I shaved all my hair off as a way to show people that yes I've got a bi must I'm normal like them and to raise awareness and funds of my headway branch, managed to raise £1351,17.

I'm walking pen-y-fan next Saturday and doing the 3 peeks way that the solders do,

So that's my achievements so far.

Lisa85 xxx

[lloydyuk in reply to lisa85]

Wow they are awesome achievements!!

Love it

[lisa85 in reply to lloydyuk]

Thank you very much.

Lisa85 xx

[BaronC]

I got out of a chair this morning without grunting or groaning.

I haven't yelled at any kids, yet...

[lloydyuk in reply to BaronC]

Nice one Andy, patience is a virtue as they say!

[lisa85 in reply to BaronC]

Well done x

[Danslatete in reply to BaronC]

You're doing great! How long have they been on holiday?

[BaronC in reply to Danslatete]

Feels like about six months. It's been a week...

[Danslatete in reply to BaronC]

Mine have been off 4 weeks, feels like a life time!

Only 3 weeks left though, mustn't grumble as many hands make less work for me 😉👍

[Hidden]

Thats the second week in a new job done and dusted. Copious notes made, steep learning curve but we`ll get there.

Have the weekend off but TONS to do in the flat and could do with a strong man, a car, a plumber, a painter, a carpenter, an electrician and about £500. It aint gonna happen, is it? Well, the painter bit I can do......happy and, hopefully dry weekend, all

[Matt2584]

I used to draw since I was little. It started off with cartoons at first but then progressed and drew other stuff. Then I had something called a BI in 1996.

When I first picked up a pen and began to write, I could not even hold the pen! In time it got better and I could also continue with my drawing until I ended up in hossy once again... And again... And so on.

Anyway, fast forward to 2001/02. I just finished college, decided to drop out early because pressure was getting to me. I decided to stay home, had no intentions of getting a job and later found I could not get one anyway.

For about six years I did very little with myself and therefore lost a load of confidence and motivation and was very anti social. I stopped drawing altogether.

2007 is when I found out about Headway. I joined them. Confidence grew. Motivation came back. I started drawing again. I joined another support group/charity and the people there loved my drawings and have helped me massively with my art.

I have more knowledge of art as well now and am on the verge of selling my work :).

[lloydyuk in reply to Matt2584]

Nice one Matt great to understand your story

[lisa85 in reply to Matt2584]

Fantastic news about ur drawing, good luck with the sales, you should put some of ur pics up here before you sell them?

Lisa85 xxx

[Matt2584 in reply to lisa85]

Thanks Lisa :).

I have posted some of my pictures before on here but you might have missed them and I have do post caricatures at times as well. The caricatures are drawings I did years ago so they won't look as good as to what I draw now :).

I shall repost a couple of my recent pictures as you may have missed them.

Take care,

MJ

[lisa85 in reply to Matt2584]

Thank you MJ, I look forward to seeing them, I've seen a few of your caricatures and they are very good.

Lisa85 xxx

[Matt2584 in reply to lisa85]

Thank you Lisa :).

[Danslatete]

I re learned reading, got my speech understandable and recovered my balance and limited my odd gait. After the early stuff.

Going to gym and Aqua aerobics, forcing me to interact socially. Starting Headway and getting involved in START. This led to doing art in college. Then I started volunteering with cubs, was made a leader, which gave me confidence to apply for a breakfast club job in school. I was asked to apply for a primary school asst post and I also applied for support for learning at the same time. Then I applied for a position with Angus special Playscheme as a playscheme asst.

I would never have believed for one minute that I could have come so far in 12 years. I work 25-29 hours a week but it feels like a full time job.

My biggest achievement is learning to drive again to enable me to do all of those things.

I'm about to enquire at college about courses In child care/development which is a major step. I still struggle to retain information and I can't spell for toffee anymore.

I can't believe I have come so far in a short time.

My biggest difficulty still is social engagement, I'm not thinking it will become much easier to manage. I was invited to my school teacher wedding reception, I stayed about an hour and a half before things got too much. I'm glad I went but I do feel embarrassed at having to leave early. Some people have given up inviting me to social stuff.

[lloydyuk in reply to Danslatete]

Another great load of stuff to be proud of

[moo196]

Since my cvst ( still haven't found anyone who has had this ) last October I've managed to improve so much ( found some inner strength from somewhere since my partner of 18 years kissed my goodbye at a&e never to be seen again ...) and today I have biked another 7.5 miles - with some ladies of the village and now am trying to settle down to plan my biggest adventure so far - hoping to go to South Africa on a small group tour holiday since my rtw tour got postponed due to illness ...... want to give it a go ... good to get out of comfort zone and I need to test out how I feel about everything to do with travel and get myself not thinking of b i or my ex........

Good to hear that others have some really positive things to tell us about too

Onwards !!

[lloydyuk in reply to moo196]

Love it so inspiring

[Matt2584 in reply to moo196]

Moo, you say you have not found anyone who had a cyst. Well it is lucky I read your comment because I had a cyst.

I was diagnosed with one tumour on the brainstem in 96 and I was then diagnosed with a cyst right next door to the original tumour.

I basically call the cyst a second tumour because that is what my doc told me a cyst was, very similar to a tumour.

[moo196 in reply to Matt2584]

Hey Matt,

Thanks for your reply - one of us needs specsavers !! I know a lot of us here have had similar symptoms if not the same diagnosis. Cyst near brainstem sounds nasty ..... hope things are going well.

Mine was a case of c v s t - cerebral venal sinus thrombosis - basically a blood clot on the brain on the vein side of things ..... at least brain got some oxygen - but apparently very rare ( unique I like to think of it as ) .

Back to the paper/housework for now

K

[Matt2584 in reply to moo196]

Ah C.V.S.T, now I get it. Not cvst that looks like a typo of 'cyst' as I first thought :). Funny you mention supersavers as I wear specs as well :). I don't think they worked today though :D.

It must be quite rare then because I have never heard of it before :).

[Matt2584 in reply to Matt2584]

Supersavers? I mean specsavers. Speaking of typos...

[moo196 in reply to Matt2584]

I have my new vari focals to get used to ..... Yeah, most people look at me strangely when I mention CVST - even local headway group have not seen a case of this before .... And medical students were REALLY keen to see me at hospital - though in the first couple of days I said yes, but later ..... Thank goodness local hospital were aware of this condition and if I had to be ill thank god it was here in Cambridge ....... just made banana cake - must count as one of my 5 a day ??

[amateurwriter]

I managed to graduate from couch to 5k this morning by doing a parkrun (a free 5km run that takes place around the uk), it's took me nearly a year (11 months) to graduate when they say about 9 weeks to complete, I managed to do it eventually and I'm really proud that I managed to graduate since some dr's have said that I may stop walking because some signals from my brain sometimes stop before they reach my legs and my knees will give way because they aren't told to keep me up, I did today's run in 40 mins and 22 secs and I ran the whole course hills included

[Matt2584 in reply to amateurwriter]

Hi Siobhan :),

I did not know this about the signals to your legs sometimes stopping which may mean you might stop walking.

I really hope this does not happen and anyway it is a doctor saying you MAY stop walking. That doesn't NECESSARILY mean you will.

Sure docs know a thing or two about the body but they don't know everything and I even proved my neuro surgeon wrong on one theory.

Before one of my ops, she asked me to cough. So I gave a cough and she could tell from the sound of that cough that I would wake up from the op woth a chest infection.

I was saying "But what if..." But she was adamant that would happen.

Anyway, I told the reat of my family and I stocked up on vitamin C weeks before the op and I woke up with no chest infection :).

STICK THAT IN YER PIPE AND SMOKE IT!

[amateurwriter in reply to Matt2584]

Hi Matt,

It's not something I mention that often, if it's not in my head it can't come true that's what I think

It happens when I'm running and my knees will just buckle, it can happen anytime really, I'm used to it now, the other day I went out for a run and my knees just stopped wouldn't bend, wouldn't move nothing for about 5seconds but eventually they started moving again thankfully

I hope it doesn't happen either, I'm determined to prove dr's wrong and after 4 years I've proved them wrong at first they said I'd leave hospital in a wheel chair then I walked out of the hospital the day after, week and a half later was told that in the next 6 months I will stop walking, 4 years laters I'm still walking and running and hopefully in 2-3 years will be able to complete my very first marathon

Think that's all we can do is prove dr's wrong with what they say

Take care,

Siobhan

[Matt2584 in reply to amateurwriter]

Although some docs can be caring people, I think they can also be a bit fear-mongerish. They tell you things that doesn't even happen sometimes.

They fear what could happen to your body but fearing over something that could happen does worse to you than it actually happening... If that makes any sense at all.

Take care :),

MJ

[amateurwriter in reply to Matt2584]

Yep that makes sense to me, basically by saying it to someone it is more likely to make it come true but also on the other hand it makes people more determined to prove dr's wrong, e.g. you with being told that you will come out of the op with a chest infection, me with being told that I could end up leaving the hospital in a wheel chair,

Take care,

Siobhan

[lisa85 in reply to Matt2584]

I did the same Matt2584 my doctors told my family I would NEVER walk or talk again and 3months after the crash I walked (rather wobbly) from the hospital such a great achievement but also my stubborn side coming through.

And now ten and 1/2 years on people can't stop me, walking, talking, doing what I want, not what they think I should be doing, lol.

The point of this message is, the doctors only know about what a BI could do to a person, they don't no that person or what they are capable of with a BI or without.

Hope this makes sense?

Lisa85 xxx

[Matt2584 in reply to lisa85]

Hi Lisa,

Yes it makes perfect sense. The docs don't realy know a great amount reall when it comes to BI. They KnoW a massive amount about the body, there life work is about the body, but that is just it, we are not just A BODY. We are not husks. We are people we all handle things differently and in our own ways.

I know a person from my local Headway who was told by her docs that she would never walk or talk again. She proved them wrong.

STICK THAT IN YER HORN AND TOOT IT :).

[lloydyuk in reply to amateurwriter]

See what determination and a great mindset can achieve.

I chose never to be defined by my BI it's just a part of my history and makes me umm me

[lisa85 in reply to lloydyuk]

Same here, my BI happened and me and all my family and friends had to deal with it then, y it Mae me the person I am today, but so did my family, friends and headway.

I've always said the doctors and nurses save me, but family, friends and headway helped me see the person I am now and process into the lady (I'll put that lightly) that I am today.

Lisa85 xxx

[Prettythings1]

Hi

Well I eventually peeled myself out of bed!

Got up and took the dog for a walk

steuggled as my leg wasnt doing what I told it too this morning!

Xxxx

Exciting stuff xx

[lloydyuk in reply to Prettythings1]

That's great your dog needs to be walked remember

[Prettythings1 in reply to lloydyuk]

she walked me (is more lukly) x

[razyheath43]

you see you are all amazing!

[randomphantoms]

Yesterday I managed to drive 70miles on the motorway before the hubby had to take over on the way to a steam and vintage vehicle fairfair and when we got there I managed to spend 21/2 hours walking on uneven ground before I needed to get out of there.

Feel knackered but have great sense of achievement so the headache can go take a hike I had fun.

Lovenhugs

Xoxo

[lloydyuk in reply to randomphantoms]

That's brilliant I've managed about the same distance driving I think.

Couple weeks ago I drove from old Bristol town to Weston of the super mare variety for Sunday lunch at my friends then back again!! Woop

[Broken_Doll]

Hi Lloydy,

I reckon my recent bus-train-bus, bus-train-bus shenanigans could be relavent! I attended two days (back to back) appointments which required said travel. I was absolutely hanging by the end of it, falling over.. Bumping into people & incoherent at times but I lived to tell the tale!

Another event springs to mind. My brother got married two weeks ago & I'm ashamed to admit that I was dreading it! The noise, the people... All of it! I am very pleased with myself, as with the help of my trusty ear plugs, I was able to stay until 8pm (5 hours). YEYYYY! My brother was so chuffed!

Emma x

[lloydyuk in reply to Broken_Doll]

Well I'd say they are great achievements hope you rested afterwards!? Working out what limits I have is so hard especially the stopping at about 80% of it!!

Keep going like that and I don't think you'll be a broken doll for long! X

[Broken_Doll in reply to lloydyuk]

Hey Lloydy,

I had no choice but to rest LOL! My body (and mind) completely burnt out! But what doesn't kill us, makes us stronger! Right?!

I have a feeling that this Broken_Doll is being fixed thanks to my amazing support network

Emma x

[lloydyuk in reply to Broken_Doll]

Oh yes such a true saying never quit anything especially on yourself. I really have learned you can't be anything for anyone else until you know yourself and are in the best place possible never give all of yourself away!! Be kind and care it's easy, the rewards are unrivalled and it's free!!

Not as you need my thoughts but I'm so impressed.

Your a female me! Or I'm a male you! Whatever lol

X

[Gaia_rising in reply to lloydyuk]

YES! This is what I love so much about this site, the fact that we CAN celebrate getting our socks on the right feet. (Yes, you can put your socks on the wrong feet, especially, if, like mine, they have cartoon characters, or stupid slogans on them.)

It's the 'Plane Crash Scenario' Emma, and Lloydy, too many of us expend too much energy making sure everyone else's seat-tray is folded away, and life-jacket is fastened properly, then, when the plane does go down, we're shark-bait, because we took care of others before ourselves.

Emma, you've made an amazing, terrifying step forward and away, I salute you. Lloydy, your optimism in the face of adversity inspires me.

I'm always going to be a tenacious ratbag, but now, I'll make sure MY life-jacket is fastened, before attending to others. I'll always be a wounded healer, it's in my nature, but I can't help if I'm shark-bait. First time in nearly 40 years, it's me-first, but it has to be, or there won't be a me.

[lloydyuk in reply to Gaia_rising]

Love it welcome to club positive!!

A spiritual friend of mine always used to tell me the first karmic law is self first without being selfish!!

I totally get it now.