Unbalanced

“The key to keeping your balance is knowing when you’ve lost it.” – Anonymous

Losing your balance isn’t graceful.

One minute you are walking confidently down the sidewalk, and the next you’re trying to avoid falling! And it seems like there’s always an audience. Sigh.

While I was in the hospital, the physical therapist got me out of bed and took me for a walk down the hallway to check my balance. I was wobbly, but who isn’t 24 hours after a stroke? 

He didn’t see anything that concerned him, and so the day after that, I was discharged and sent home. No PT required. That was very surprising to me.

At home, on my own, I noticed that my right leg wasn’t as strong as my left, which made sense because that was the side that was impacted by my stroke.  If I walked carefully, I was fine; I just had to watch where I was going, especially at intersections.

Three weeks after my stroke, I was downtown to pick up a book. I waited for the light and stepped carefully into the crosswalk. Then I was almost hit by a car. The driver apparently didn't see me, and barely tapped her brakes before speeding off. Fortunately, I have good reflexes. Being aware saved me a return trip to the hospital.

I learned that post-stroke, being Wonder Woman was no longer an option. A serious fall or hitting my head could result in a brain bleed because of the blood thinners I was now taking.

One thing I found that works for me is using a cart at the grocery store instead of juggling an armload of groceries.  But everyone is different.  

Chasing the oranges you dropped down an aisle in produce is overrated.

Here’s a site that offers some practical tips and tools: Regaining Balance After A Stroke

Yoga is another great way to work on balance, but check with your doctor first to make sure it’s right for you.

And if nothing else, slow down. You’ll get there.