By the time I got home I was totally exhausted, even though the walk was probably only about 1.5 miles. I feel giddy all the time when on my feet. It is impossible to explain my giddiness and exhaustion to others. After 4 years of this I have given up trying: one just has to make the best of things.
See https://sites.google.com/site/g3xbmqrp3/stroke .
Happy New Year Roger
ReplyDeleteFor some time after an MS event 10 years ago, I would get home from work and have to lie down before making dinner. At work, I realised that I was expending far more energy than colleagues when processing information and doing normal things like walking. It seemed that information was having to be rerouted around the damaged areas of the brain. Remapping within the brain is an amazing facility but adapting takes time.
From the outset I knew determination and patience were required.
Something I started doing early on was wordplay excercises. There is a bit more to it than that and it's not for everyone but this helped me a great deal.
Walking in a straight line, particularly when tired, was very hard, requiring a great deal of concentration. Where I previously found 10 to 20 miles walk quite enjoyable, much shorter walks, to the shops for example, could be exhausting. I didn't have many options though. Most people don't think much about walking; they just do it, maybe deciding to go faster or slower. The amount of additional computation that had to be done consciously, compared to before when it was almost automatic, must have been very significant.
In the meantime I found that some tasks other's struggle with seem easier for me. Rather than give in to perceived limitations, I accepted a new baseline from which any improvement is rewarding. I also came to appreciate certain aptitudes and skills which I can build on.
I wonder if, when doing something taxing, you would be able to sit down every 15 to 30 minutes and have a micro nap or allow your mind to clear for a few minutes? Over a period of weeks or months, extend the time between breaks.
I have noticed a fantastic improvement in your writing which is better than a lot of journalists manage these days. I might not agree with some of your comments though ;-p
You certainly take some great photographs and I would encourage you to continue doing so.
The web site is a great source of information and I find it very useful. Your experiments in VLF, WSPR and data modes have given me some thought about how I can enjoy the hobby within the limits of my very small garden.
Best wishes for 2018
Thank you for your encouragement and a Happy New Year to you too. I guess one problem is the improvements are so small that I cannot see them. Onwards and upwards and NEVER give in, HI.
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