BBC2 tonight 9pm - Andrew Marr - 'MY BRAIN & ME'

[cat3]

A reminder for anyone interested ; it might be worth a look tonight (Tues). xx

[spartan300]

hello cat

it will be 4am here will try to watch later but do not want to upset my routine it has taken me longer to adjust this time, I am taking life at a very slow pace, my seeds are staring to grow, tomatoes cucumbers pumpkins and squash + salad gardening is so relaxing and productive too + the weather here helps

lots of love

john xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[cat3 in reply to spartan300]

Oh...........back in Paradise are you John ! I'm jealous, but it won't be too long now before I'm out in the sunshine again tending my plants ; have a lovely day.

Cat xx

[RogerCMerriman]

Cheers I shall watch, probably later as I like 24hrs in A&E which is on the same time!

[cat3 in reply to RogerCMerriman]

Well actually, Roger, I'll be watching on BBCi as I'm following the serial on BBC 1 at 9pm. It's so easy these days to catch up on programmes so I don't bother recording stuff any more. x

[RogerCMerriman in reply to cat3]

I normally do, but I enjoy reading and occasionally interacting with StGeorges twitter feed as I watch 24hrs in A&E

[BaronC]

I'll try to remember....

Thanks

A x

[cat3 in reply to BaronC]

OK m'love ! E xxx

[StrawberryCream]

Hi Cat.

Do you know if this a repeat of the one that was screened before or is it a follow on one?

xx

[cat3 in reply to StrawberryCream]

I think it's an update Caroline ; it mentions his stroke of 4 years ago in the Radio Times.

Hope you're doing ok. Just off to my sis-in-law's for lunch, then to take her shopping as she doesn't drive.

Love Cat x

[StrawberryCream in reply to cat3]

Thanks Cat. Will watch tonight if I remember or on catch up if I forget! It's school holiday week so a more demanding week for me! My son is going to Laser Tag this afternoon with Young Carers so I will have a few hours to myself to recharge myself a little! Enjoy your lunch and hope the shopping trip is ok. x

[moo196]

Thanks for the reminder x

[cat3 in reply to moo196]

You're welcome Kathy ! xx

[steve55 in reply to cat3]

hi cat i watched it, and while it followed him trying to improve movement in his hand and leg ( he admitted he couldnt concentrate for too long ) there was no probing regarding his mental health.

[cat3 in reply to steve55]

Yes Steve, when you consider how short-term memory loss/poor word recall/speech impediment would have ruined his career I suppose he's thankful to be still so high-functioning.

I get the impression though, that if there's any life left anywhere in that left arm he'll make use of it ; a very determined man !

[steve55 in reply to cat3]

i agree cat, however, please watch the ending again, because, yes while he appears to have more mobility in that arm, his attention appears more to strengthening the leg.

your views please.

[cat3 in reply to steve55]

Yea, it's the whole left side isn't it ; my point was really that whatever his impairments, he won't ever give up trying to get back the maximum mobility possible.

------------Maybe if anyone bothered to document our post-injury progress we too might come across as stoical and determined !

[steve55 in reply to cat3]

my stroke was caused by my heavy smoking and drinkinking, but id spent 3years dropping from 19 to 141/2st solid ( that muscle not head, although some would say theres no difference ha ha ha ) still carry drinking and smoking heavily but watching my diet.

im numb down my left side, have use of my hand, ican walk although my leg feels really numb and heavy at times.

this particular meeting we had a chap come to our meeting,dragging his leg and no use of his arm.

we got talking and he told me about the fact that he was the sporty type and when i told him i went to the gym just to lose weight because id been coming up for fifty and had neglected my fitness for years he said he wished he had my mobility and i told him he was welcome to it along with the mental health issues that came with it.

we never saw that gentleman again cat, my word were not meant to be harsh, but a warning, that he would be taking the good and the bad.

[cat3 in reply to steve55]

It's a lot to do with demeanour Steve. People presume you're fine if you present yourself as a survivor by always putting your 'Best foot forward' and keeping a smile ready.

But I'm just as guilty of it myself & often envy others who seem so have better ability than me ; it's not surprising we often get it wrong when we can't possibly know how much another person is struggling. And there'd be no way of measuring something so subjective anyway.

[steve55 in reply to cat3]

disability isnt always visible x

[Kirk5w7]

Oh no, it clashes like Roger says so it will be catch up for me too.

I'm afraid I can be a bit cynical about people in the public eye sharing their journey with us, because I don't think of them having anywhere near a life like you or I.

He had no trouble returning to work did he? I'm sure there were many concessions made for him, ones that are not made for you or I.

And it's a very well paid job to boot. No living on benefits or attending medicals for him, I bet.

Sorry I don't wish to belittle his illness, it must have been just as devastating for him to lose his "normal" life, but you get my drift.

I will watch it but later on catchup.

Love Janet x

[cat3 in reply to Kirk5w7]

No I agree Janet ; 'celebrity' people do seem to have better access to treatment. But I'm just interested to see whether there's any mention of new technology or other developments in brain injury treatment that we haven't heard about..

Hope you're ok. Off out for the day now (with sis-in-law) but I'll message you later or tomorrow. Love Eileen xx

[barny1]

Well, that was interesting! I think it may make some people a little envious of people like Andrew Marr who are able to pay for their own private therapies as part of their rehab after brain injuries, but you can't blame him the NHS doesn't provide the sort of intense rehab that you need to make any significant progress whatever your deficits.

It's sad but most people won't get the type of therapy that you saw in this programme and I wish they'd made that clear, but I suppose it was only about his journey. It's good that celebrities like this publicise their lives following brain injury because that's what generates awareness and influences decision-makers, not the plight of Joe Public.

Andrew is likeable and eloquent and people are more likely to listen and that's what counts. I didn't agree with his opinion that self-pity is "nauseous" that seemed a bit arrogant and I don't believe for one moment that he hasn't indulged in it at some point as many do. It's good to see there are many treatments on the horizon for strokes and possibly other forms of brain injuries and I agree with him that you shouldn't ever quit trying to improve.

[cat3 in reply to barny1]

Seeing his 'unofficial' side shows him to be a humorous and fairly humble character who appreciates that the majority of stroke sufferers do not have access to the specialised treatment he received.

However, he seems to have concluded that, for him at least, it hasn't improved his mobility or any other aspect of his life one iota.

So the message was what we already suspected ; that there's plenty of promising research happening behind the scenes and, although it might put us on the cusp of breakthrough treatment, we shouldn't hold our breath !

[RogerCMerriman in reply to cat3]

I'd agree, he seemed a driven guy, and didn't seem to have blind faith, i.e. try something if it works great, if not so be it.

I recently went back to St Georges and got hopelessly lost in the maze and bumped into my ward as you where, and like Andrew Marr it triggered odd emotions, most odd.

[cat3 in reply to RogerCMerriman]

Yes it's an almost surreal feeling isn't it.

I went back to the very bed 6 months later, when my ex-husband also had (weirdly) a SAH same as me. But on the way along the corridor I asked a nurse where ICU was and she said 'Oh My God it's Eileen !!'

So I was an instant celebrity and taken to the nurse's quarters to meet up with my lovely nurses from my own time in ICU and they were so welcoming, but also shocked at the turn of events for us as a family.

My son made me stand beside the (empty) bed where I'd lain for weeks and nothing looked remotely familiar, not even those nurses I'd spent so much time with.

I do like Andrew Marr ; he has a hidden humour which is so appealing and which I'm sure helped him through his darker moments. x

[barny1 in reply to cat3]

It was good that they brought in a few other people so that folks can see every BI has a unique effect, but all I'm saying is it would've been better if they'd made it clear that the therapy we saw him doing including during the trial using the electrical stimulation isnt standard therapy the vast majority of people can expect to have unless they pay for it themselves.

I'm not sure, I think they said he was moving his arm better than before and after having the drug in Florida he was moving his foot better, so maybe it pays to go privately if you have to and can.

[cat3 in reply to barny1]

I do respect him for making comments every so often about the treatments not being available to most people and admitting how fortunate he'd been, rather then just taking it all for granted.

But the main interest for me was seeing what treatments have actually been developed for brain injury and what might just start to filter through to the NHS one day.................if we still have an NHS !

[Kirk5w7 in reply to barny1]

This is a very arrogant man, what you see is what he portrays for his public image.

Janet

[angelite]

Oh Cat, just seen this - many thanks, I'm going to watch it on I player now ! : ) x

[cat3 in reply to angelite]

Hello lovely. Yes it's worth watching if only to see Andrew Marr's determination & stiff upper lip ! I know he's had special treatment but I'm not sure it's left him any better off than any of us here.

You're a bit quiet recently Angela ; hope all's as well as possible. Cat xx

[angelite in reply to cat3]

Hi Cat, programme was excellent : ) Yes, I'm not as active on here theses days - been v. busy indoors altering things around to suit my condition. Will PM you x

[cat3 in reply to angelite]

OK m'dear ! xx

[razyheath43]

we both watched it and thought it was a great programme,yes he has money,but did say that he was lucky to be able to acess the treatment. He is ambassador for Headway Cambridge now i bealive. A good thing!

[cat3 in reply to razyheath43]

I really like Andrew Marr, and the fact he made several references to his privileged position and that most people aren't so lucky, earns even more of my respect..............a great ambassador for Headway !

But for all his extra treatments, he still hasn't progressed much further than many of us here ; it seems there's still a plateau state until there's better funding for medical science to get its latest developments 'out there'.

Hope you're both doing well Razy. Love Cat xx

[razyheath43]

I agree,we are ok Hubby has his second brain op on friday. NO steroids this time!

[cat3 in reply to razyheath43]

Of course Razy............ so quite a tense time for you both. Even when the prognosis is good it's still a fraught period isn't it !

But I remember how 'cherished' I felt when undergoing radiotherapy, so I'm hoping Michael will find that part of the treatment equally reassuring.

I'll be thinking of you both and awaiting a really positive report on proceedings. Lots of love and good wishes,

Cat xxx

[razyheath43]

AAWW Thanks Cat. I will update as soon as we are home,my laptop doesnot like being moved! No really it plays up!

[cat3 in reply to razyheath43]

Mine too Razy ; probably a signal issue ! Take care m'ove.................. xxx

[razyheath43]

LOL yeah that and its old and cranky! kind of like a person

[cat3 in reply to razyheath43]

xx