Hi, my name is manji57!

manji57

greetings I had a severe stroke in 2017. It came out the blue. When i got to A&E because i was struggling to walk and slurring. I was treated 15 hours later .In Stroke ward for 2 months. I was discharged and because i was seperated from wife i was living on my own.
Was attended to by stroke team I was told i would never walk again. They made plans to convert my house bath hoists , stair lifts etc. At the time i was reasonably well off. I had a big argument with boss of stroke team said i didnt want their help and worked with a superb neurophysio his modes of therapy werent approved by hospital stroke team but I didn’t care. Although he was a private service I had to go and be interviewed. He took me on and I went to see him for a long time. Now I’m relatively mobile and still live on my own ( or should I say with cat) I still do the specialist exercises he taught me. 2025 was a decent year for me but this year I’ve had a set of incidents that reminded me how vulnerable I am.

I don’t know if this is too long and not too boring.

manji57

I should have proof read that I can’t see a way of editing it. The bit I missed was “because I had trouble walking and slurring the consultant decided I was drunk. Ironically I was teetotal “

Bluebell21

Hi @manji57 welcome to the Community. I hope you enjoy your time on the forum. Any questions just ask.

Thank you for telling us something about yourself. I am sorry you have had some incidents this year with your health. Have you ever had a needs assessment to see what help you might be able to get? You sound very independent but sometimes we all need a bit of help.

Your post is just fine and not too long or boring.

It is disappointing that the consultant decided you were drunk and you had to wait so long for treatment for your stroke.

I also have a cat they are great companions.

You are not able to edit your posts until you have 50 points at the moment you have 2 points.

Have a look around and join in when you are ready.

Take care.

Bluebell21

https://www.gov.uk/apply-needs-assessment-social-services

Rosie_Scope

Welcome to the community @manji57, and thanks for sharing your story with us. Sorry that your treatment was delayed in that way, that must have been incredibly frustrating. Did you ever complain about how you were treated?

I'm glad to hear that your recovery went okay and that you're mostly feeling able to get around. Bluebell's link might be something to explore if you're feeling vulnerable at home.

Enjoy your time on the community. We've got lots of nice members so I hope they'll help you feel welcome ☺️

manji57

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1145879#Comment_1145879

frustrated with the consultant would be an understatement TBH. As I mentioned at the time I had disposable income contacted our family solicitor and we put a formal complaint in. It was dismissed don’t forget it was soon after leaving hospital and I wasn’t thinking straight. The dismissal reasons were nuts. One of them was I didn’t explain myself properly. Bearing I couldn’t talk was ridiculous.
I’ve learnt so much since then. I should have contacted a specialist health lawyer. I’ve had pretty effective psychotherapy it takes a lot to get me angry but thinking about the consultant does get me going.
Moving on I think I’ve got so used to battling through I only realised I do struggle. Earlier on in the year my toilet was blocked and was over flowing my home emergency covered the event but I still had to wade through it and clean it up how the hell I didn’t slip up is beyond me.
Then recently I’m in kitchen late at night half asleep and got myself a glass of water ( unbreakable glass 🙄) it slid straight out of my hand and it was like it exploded . I’m stood there in bare feet the whole floor covered in bits of glass . In then realised I had to walk over the glass which I did .
can’t remember but I damaged my knee. Amazingly it got better but it took a long time. The knee , then the toilet and then the glass , I’m thinking this is crazy. Seriously I’ve avoided applying for benefits either through niavity or false pride. I’m getting Pension/ Pension Credit and the lower version of PIP but that’s my only income.

I’m sure there are plenty worse off than me but I’ve saved the authorities a fortune by not having house alterations or an army of carers and financing my therapy but enough.
I probably sound like a moany *** I’m positive like today I have some physical days but then what I call a day off. Watched some TV the window to the left of me looks out onto the unkempt garden but that’s attracts some wildlife it gets some some and the cat decided it was going to curl up next to me although if I dare to pick up iPad he knocks it out of my hand.
yes Bluebells link needs some investigation.
I have to say I’ve dabbled with other forums some of which are patronising or negative but I’ve got a good feel for this one.
I’ve got a lot of questions, safe indoor slippers , compression socks, sewing hacks ( yes when I were lad I had my own pad I found sewing invaluable) I’ve started again but it’s not quite as easy as before, prescription sunglasses, clothes and I’ve got lots of stroke recovery hacks.

manji57

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1145828#Comment_1145828

thanks Bluebell my council site has got an infuriating interactive questionarre for example I sometimes have trouble standing up from toilet. It directs me to suitable grab rails and the like and then to companies that will fit them for a considerable price and also it asks questions like do you feel dizzy if you stand up. I put “sometimes” thier solution ? Contact your relevant medical advisor🤬

My council is so bad couple of years ago they spent millions paying some AI Consultants to revamp the website and all it services. Due to my previous work I’m very techie ( thank goodness) the new website is littered with incorrect information , broken links and of course what I call smokescreen help pages ( they look good but don’t actually help you ) I even know why they do the hep pages that way . You have to complete them, even if they don’t help you the system shows succesful completion which goes on the council stats as a positive score. They can then say * our new system succesfully helped 18,000 vulnerable people* even if it didn’t .
I love new technology if used properly and disabled people have access to it it can 100% make our lives easier. I’m not trying to be clever I’ve had quite a few years to look into it but with the right kit and a bit of training I could go for a reasonable short walk in complete safety. Trouble is the people that take on and finance the tech consultants havnt got a clue whether the tech companies are suitable or not.

Back to me I guess there must be a way of insisting someone comes round and does a physical assessment of my home. I don’t need much still don’t need a stairlift but there’s a few things that would make me safer.

manji57

noooooo I’ve found the link to get a needs assessment . It takes me back to that irritating questinarre thing. “ are you in danger of a fall? “ yes “ avoid trip hazards like electrical leads or spilt water .😫🙄😫🤬😤

manji57

I should have stopped I thought I’d try the getting out and about. *click this link for all the new bus services provided by the council ( with helpful cartoon picture of bus in case I’m in any doubt) There’s a very nice new bus stop close to my house . They’ve got nice new buses, the drivers have been trained to assist disabled onto the bus and how to be patient with us. On a good day for me it’s potentially within walking distance for me………………….except the pathways round here havnt been serviced for about 4 or 5 years and are actually dangerous for even able bodied people. I started politely complaining to my councillor . I eventually got a reply that a member of the team responsible for repairs had investigated as far as they were concerned the paths were fine. Which isn’t true lots of the older residents won’t use it but they won’t complain because they can’t get through to put complaint in or “what’s the point they don’t take any notice. Which to be fair is correct.