Fifty Plus (50+) - My wife had a stroke

I was setting my bike up for some touring and getting ready to buy a BOB. Well it seems like my life aways has something going on, some bad, some good. My wife and I were riding around the neighborhood and she stopped and started falling to her left. I said what's wrong are you alright, she said I'm a little tired, and headed for the house. I said, I'm going to knock out a few more miles and I'll see you at home. I got home and took a shower and jumped on the forum. She came in and started to say somthing and I couldn't understand a word. Then it dawned on me, she's having a stroke. Two years ago she had a stint put in her brain and we have to watch that pretty close with her actions. Anyhow she's home again and she has to go through all kinds of therapy for a while and I have to stay near the house. The reason I didn't write anything sooner, I was hoping for the best, not to be. I take my hat off to you guys that can take off anytime you feel like it, and go touring. There're probably never be a perfect time to go, so just do it when you can get some spare time, before you look back and say, I wish I done that. I'm pretty happy with all the things we've done, and I know we'll be doing a lot more, but I don't think I'll be going very far for a while. I'm in a pretty nice area for riding and the doctor said, she should start off easy and everything will be fine. When we got outside, she said let's go home and go out for a short ride. I said, I think we'll wait until you quit falling over and get this thing healed up. So anyhow,I vented and I'm glad to be part of a forum so I can talk to someone. Have fun and ride safe, George

I hate to hear things like this, George. Give my best wishes for a speedy recovery to your wife.

Sorry, man. Hoping for the best!

Hang in there, George, and keep us up to date. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Really sorry to hear about the wife. She is very lucky to have someone so supportive as yourself.

You and your wife are in my prayers George. Hope you are both out riding and enjoying life together real soon.

Mike

Vent any time, for as long as you want, George. When you post here, you're among friends and even more importantly, people who know (or have a good idea) of whatever stuff you have to go through. So keep venting, George. Our thoughts will be with you and your wife.

Thanks for the get wells, but my wife and I were just talking about some of the things she was trying to say. She said that I should wait to get another bike and I said, that you said to get one, go figure. The sixth day and everything is working out pretty good, thanks again, George

Oh man, that's not the kind of news we want to read around here.
My sister is recovering from 2 strokes she had in March. It's not a lot of fun but she's no quitter.

Your wife is lucky to have you there.
Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery. Keep fighting

May your wife heal well, and soon.

George, you are supporting your partner in a strong way - hang in there, brother, and keep us posted. While your touring plans have been a big part of your thoughts on all your rides around Katy, just hope for the best with your wife, know our prayers are with you and figure you'll get the opportunity when the time is right.

Besides, that B17 must not be broken in completely yet and every good tourer knows ya saddle gotta be right.

You da' man, George, you da' man...

It's a good thing that you recognized it. Stay close to home & keep an eye on her.

Glad to hear that things are going well so far.

Please keep posting, George.....Now that we know, we surly want to keep knowing. Our thoughts and prayers are with both of you.

Best thoughts for your wife (and for you, George). You're now a cyclist even if your mileage will be down for a while. You can't escape that-- or us. You and your wife sound like a lovely couple. Stay with us.

God Bless your wife and you both George, you are a strong man. I hope she does well, do please keep us posted.

Sorry to hear that news, George. As others have said, she is lucky to have you there with her. Have patience and listen to the doctors.

You are lucky to have her. SHE suggested going for a short ride as you got home from the hospital? What a class act. When she heals back up it may be a tandem tour or maybe a three wheeler for her. I'll bet that she needs to know that she is not limiting you and to reaffirm that she too will be back. anyway my prayers are with you both. Tell her that it is not so different than when someone take a header, and you'll be there with her. We'll be here for you.

Thanks again everybody, I'm more worried than she is. She wants to go riding, and I'm saying just wait another week when you start the therapy. I guess it's good she feels that way, but it's worrying the hell out of me, if she falls, man!

Thanks for sharing. I am afraid we will all have experiences like that unless we drop dead first.

I, of course, wish you the best and wish you strength.

Sorry to hear about your wife. But she seems to be a fighter (wanting to go back out for a ride) and thats great. Hope all is well soon and I'll be praying for you both.

Hang in there George. Best to you wife.

Your wife sounds like a pistol George. I should know cause I married one too. Good thoughts going your way. Our prayers and thoughts to your and your wife. May she get well soon and be on the bike, safe and sound.

My thoughts are with you and your wife.

Speedy recovery to your wife.

Your wife sounds like a pistol George. I should know cause I married one too. Good thoughts going your way. Our prayers and thoughts to your and your wife. May she get well soon and be on the bike, safe and sound.

What he said x 2.

The Pistol

remember,this, too, shall pass...

George, My thoughts and prayers go out to the two of you. I hope your wife heals quickly and that the two of you can keep on cycling.

God Bless you!

- it's a good thing you were there...

- hoping for the best, and a fast recovery...

Praying for a speedy recovery. I think most of us have been in your shoes in one way or another, and your thoughts are among understanding friends here.

Keep letting us know, and do not hesitate to share the good news that is coming and any roadblocks along the way.

My best to your wife.

Holding you and your wife in the Light.

Thanks again everybody, I'm more worried than she is. She wants to go riding, and I'm saying just wait another week when you start the therapy. I guess it's good she feels that way, but it's worrying the hell out of me, if she falls, man!

Maybe you should try a tandem? That way you could keep track of each other reasonably well...:D

Maybe you should try a tandem? That way you could keep track of each other reasonably well...:D


Guess what I just found out? Where she has to go for therapy, is about 2 miles from George Bush park, where I do 80% of my riding. So I can get some therapy as well. Ha Ha, George

Things have a way of working out don't they?

My thoughts and prayers go out to your wife & you. What a blessing that you recognized the stroke symptoms so quickly. Don't know if a 3 wheeler is in your budget but it could get your wife back out sooner. A normal, uneventful life is so precious. We hardly ever appreciate those things until something happens to remind us.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery for her.

Pass on my best wishes to your wife George, and prayers for a speedy recovery. This kind of thing makes the typical forum stuff seem so trivial. God Bless

wow, george
ask your SO to be very careful with this.
a sudden black out is not uncommon and can lead to additional serious stuff.
here's hopin she and you are able to 'manage' it well for the coming years.

God bless both of you..

Praying for you both!

Here's another wish for a speedy recovery and many more miles for each of you!

Guess what I just found out? Where she has to go for therapy, is about 2 miles from George Bush park, where I do 80% of my riding. So I can get some therapy as well. Ha Ha, George

George,

Make SURE that you do your ride in the park while she gets her therapy. It will be good for both of you if you take care of yourself.

Just tell yourself, "This is good for BOTH of us!" and don't forget it. Your wife knows this!

Best Wishes,

foehn

Events like this put things in perspective. It's not the ride that is important, but who you ride through life with . . . you and your wife will be in my prayers.

George,

Sorry to read about your wife's stroke. Speaking from personal experience, (two strokes in 2004), recovery takes a while but does happen. After going thru outpatient physical therapy and generally feeling better, I decided to get back into bike riding. I pulled out the old Dawes and took it over to the bike path parking lot. Swung a leg over and shoved off, only to discover that I no longer had the one brain cell it takes to ride a bike. The handlebars were rapidly moving left to right, and over I went. Luckily, no one saw me! Several more attempts and I gave up on that bike and bought a more stable mountain bike.... relearned riding... and have been fine since. So, make sure your wife confirms she still can ride when she first gets back on a bike.

I also played the banjo prior to my strokes ( which messed with my entire right side - arm/leg/hand). Unfortunately from my wife's perspective, that "ability" came back as well with a LOT of practice.

I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers.

Pete

There are a lot of us on the forums who are thinking about you, George, and your wife. Be sure to enjoy each day together, and keep everyone in an "up" mode. Bicycling is great exercise, but I agree with the others concerning either the trike or a tandum. That way, you would be right there, together, enjoying the moments. Take a look here:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=295221

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=293419

John

She's talking and wanting to ride -- so that's a hopeful sign! Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Vent any time, for as long as you want, George. When you post here, you're among friends and even more importantly, people who know (or have a good idea) of whatever stuff you have to go through. So keep venting, George. Our thoughts will be with you and your wife.


+ another on this George. Glad to hear that the quack thinks a full recovery is there with a bit of time.

Both of you keep the therapy up and I wish you both well.

I'm so sorry to hear that. You and your wife are in my prayers...I hope that she has a speedy recovery.

My friend sent this to me and encouraged me to post it and spread the word. I agree. If everyone can remember something this simple, we could save some folks.

STROKE IDENTIFICATION:

During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00pm, Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.

It only takes a minute to read this...

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps, STR . Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S * Ask the individual to SMILE.

T * Ask the person to TALK to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE(Coherently) (i.e. It is sunny out today)

R * Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out their

tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other

that is also an indication of a stroke. If he or she has trouble with

ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911 immediately!! And describe the

symptoms to the dispatcher.

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to

10 people; you can bet that at least one life will be saved.

Thanks again everybody and I think everything is going to be fine. She wants to ride so bad, she walked up to the club last night and used the stationary bike. I guess she did alright, but didn't like it. We went to see another doctor yesterday and he said that it looked pretty good to pull through this, with some therapy. Glad to hear that, and thanks again folks.

Sorry to hear about your wife. It sounds like you've both got the right attitude to bring you both through this, and I hope you're out there riding together soon.

My bride has M.S. and can only manage one or two rides each year. Those few rides ar quite precious to us both..so I can well imagine how you miss your rides together. But we're lucky George, our wives are still with us.

You're both in my thoughts and prayers.