Saving my life
What can I say: having a TIA changes your life. In case you don't know it, a TIA is a mini-stroke. The doctor said I had one a few weeks ago. Another doctor said it could have been a migrane. Either way, it changes your life because no matter what, you've got to accept that it may have been a TIA and change the way you live your life. So now I'm revisiting my old goal to get fit.
The 50s is when everything changes. That's what I learned when I was in nursing school. In other words, until you reach your 50s you may walk around thinking that you're perfectly healthy. You could be two hundred pounds overweight and get away with it. But suddenly you hit 50 and the high blood pressure, the heart attacks, the strokes, well, it all comes looking for you because of the years of abuse you've put your body through. That's where I am. I've abused my body with sugar and other junk for 54 years. A slim child and young adult, I quickly gained weight in my mid-thirties and just couldn't take it off. So, now the TIA.
A TIA can lead to a full-blown stroke within 3 months. That's what the medical literature says and that's what my cousin says. He had a TIA and three months later a stroke.
But he's different from me. He didn't change his life style. He continued to eat junk and not exercise. But me... well, I've added a fresh food delivery program called Ediets and I exercise. I'm taking blood presure medication too--something I wasn't doing when the attack occured.
I'm a survivor who knows that I must change to do so. I'm watching my stress level too, avoiding things that make me worry, watching videos of Hawaii on television instead of the news cast. I'm taking time to smell the roses so, I won't be a statistic and end up with a stroke. And for the times when I feel weak, when that strawberry shortcake calls out to me--I remember how it felt for my entire left side to go numb. I remember the look in my father's eyes and the fear in my step-daughter's voice. And I say, it's not worth it and have an apple instead.
The 50s is when everything changes. That's what I learned when I was in nursing school. In other words, until you reach your 50s you may walk around thinking that you're perfectly healthy. You could be two hundred pounds overweight and get away with it. But suddenly you hit 50 and the high blood pressure, the heart attacks, the strokes, well, it all comes looking for you because of the years of abuse you've put your body through. That's where I am. I've abused my body with sugar and other junk for 54 years. A slim child and young adult, I quickly gained weight in my mid-thirties and just couldn't take it off. So, now the TIA.
A TIA can lead to a full-blown stroke within 3 months. That's what the medical literature says and that's what my cousin says. He had a TIA and three months later a stroke.
But he's different from me. He didn't change his life style. He continued to eat junk and not exercise. But me... well, I've added a fresh food delivery program called Ediets and I exercise. I'm taking blood presure medication too--something I wasn't doing when the attack occured.
I'm a survivor who knows that I must change to do so. I'm watching my stress level too, avoiding things that make me worry, watching videos of Hawaii on television instead of the news cast. I'm taking time to smell the roses so, I won't be a statistic and end up with a stroke. And for the times when I feel weak, when that strawberry shortcake calls out to me--I remember how it felt for my entire left side to go numb. I remember the look in my father's eyes and the fear in my step-daughter's voice. And I say, it's not worth it and have an apple instead.
Replies
I hear you, we go thru life thinking all is well, nothing will ever happen to us. Then something does, life changes. Well, I am glad you are doing well now, on your way to a better, healthier life. Too bad we have to go thru all this stuff, why can\'t we just be happy, without all the work.Take care, hugs , Deb
I hear you, we go thru life thinking all is well, nothing will ever happen to us. Then something does, life changes. Well, I am glad you are doing well now, on your way to a better, healthier life. Too bad we have to go thru all this stuff, why can\'t we just be happy, without all the work.Take care, hugs , Deb
Good for you! But have the cake now and then after you have balanced out. Life is to short not to have cake and enjoy it. Don\'t we know. Hugs, D
so proud of you....keep the stress down, I\'ve been trying to do the same, doesn\'t do any good for me to worry about something I can\'t control anyway so why bother...;-)...I\'m trying to watch what I eat, cutting down, never did eat a lot of cakes or pies so that\'s no problem. but enough about me....take it easy, be careful, don\'t overdo the exercising build up to it...hugs, Sandi
I love that you are making changes and taking this seriously. Sounds like it will be great for you, but I am sorry you are having to go through the trauma of a TIA.
I guess I am lucky that I relatively maintained my weight my entire life. I maybe 10-20 lbs over weight but I have been like that since the 80\'s. My exercise is in the form of walking. I don\'t drive. If I need something I walk. When taking the bus, I still have to walk were I am going. I try to eat relatively healthy and trying to eat more vegetables and fruit. I have cut out eating junk food and snacks all together. I eat my 3 meals a day with no snacks. Some days it is healthy meals and on occasion no so healthy meals. I allow myself the indulgence once in awhile for something that is not good for me. Its why diets fail because it doesn\'t allow you something bad once in awhile. I wish you all the best with eating healthier and exercising and no more TIA/strokes. An acquaintance of ours suffered 3 strokes. He is a thin man, smokes, drinks and I do not know his eating habits. He can\'t go back to work. My late-mom died from a stroke due to complications with pnemonia. All the best to you and stay healthy from Diane B.