not here for some time

[dairy mom]

sorry to see that this board is pretty much gone.  I spent quite a few years posting here and felt some what like I knew several friends here.

The past year has been quite challenging and frustrating.  Started August 2015 with attacks of vertigo.  Struggled all winter long with things just not being right with me.  Culminated in late May 2016 when they finally discovered a tumor in my skull.  Fortunately non cancerous and it was successfully removed.  My brain is back to normal but unfortunately my motor skills are not following suit.  I am still off balance all the time and exceedingly uncoordinated.

Do absolutely no work on the farm any more.  In fact all my babies are gone.  No calf is on this place for more than 96 hours at the longest,  I spend all my time attempting to take care of my house which is not easy when you always feel as if you are about to fall over.  Will be starting some more physical therapy tomorrow.  Hope it helps and they keep telling me to give it more time, that everything indicates I will make a full recovery, but I am worried.  Husband does not like having a needy wife

[Jessie_Scott_SF]

Dairy mom,

It sounds like you've had a rough year, but I'm glad to hear the tumor was removed successfully. 

If you're looking for more engagment with women in agriculture, I'd recommend checking out our group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SFwia/. This is a good sounding board for all issues in agriculture.

Best,

Jessie

[chore girl]

Sorry to hear of your health problems and hope that you have a complete recovery.  I know what it is like to try to get things done with balance problems, but mine come from being so darned stiff from arthritis.  I miss this board, too.  I think most of the ladies are on the facebook page, but i don't know their real names, so am not sure.  But, it is a fun and interesting page to check out.  

[manureseller]

Hey Dairy Mom!  Glad to hear you are doing better on the tumor end.  Everything else will come along eventually.  Prayers for a continued recovery!

[dairy mom]

Still struggling.  Seemed to be going well for a couple of months then fell apart.  

Have a frozen shoulder.  Kind of fell and caught myself in the hallway and then stupidly in my weakened state kind of just stopped using that arm so guess it quit working.  Therapy is helping a lot and pretty much have full range of motion again but still some discomfort.

have equilibrium problems.  Started I think when I began moving my head more as I slept as I healed.  Every time I would move in bed my neck would make popping noises, so I think again I was afraid to move my head.  

Told my primary physician and the surgeon about my neck but no one thought it was significant. So now they say my vestibular balance is broken and I am doing more therapy to learn to cope with that.  It cannot actually be fixed just coped with.

basically I am not impressed with medical care in our part of the country although I will say for the most part the physical therapists have been good.

so I still have work ahead of me.  I hope it goes well and quickly because I would like to be able to get involved in a meaningful way to try and safeguard our country from this new administration. Am very worried.  Our youngest gets out of the Marines in March.  Hope he can stay out and our unpredictable at the least and kindest way of describing him new President doesn't get us and or the world into some kind of confrontation that would take my son back to active duty.

[chore girl]

I hope all goes well with your therapy and you can be more active.  Sending thanks to your son for his service.

[theresapev810784]

I completely understand where you are coming from. I am a retired Navy Nurse Practitioner now Ranch owner and I sustained two traumatic brain injuries during a deployment to the Middle East/Afghanistan. I have suffered from vertigo for some time now, 6 years. I'm going to pass on to you some therapies that have significantly helped me. 

Horses - riding a horse takes enormous amounts of balance and the horse-human bond is amazing for healing. I strongly encourage you to find someone willing to assist you with equine therapy, specifically for your balance. 

Surfing - another huge therapy that encourages the body's vestibular center to reset and heal. The ocean is an amazing tool. If you're not able to get into any type of surf therapy, try stand up paddle board therapy for balance. This can be done at a lake or in a pool. Even sitting in a kayak in a pool will help with this type of vestibular therapy. Work your way up to paddling end to end and finally rolling a kayak over completely and resurfacing. It's very hard at first, no one is a pro at it except the pros. Slow and easy. 

Finally,

Walking - Take a popscicle stick and tape a small picture to the end of it. Hold the stick straight out in front of you, face the picture. Focus on the picture and walk. Make sure you always have your partner or a friend help you do any of these therapies. Walk forward at a normal pace and hold the picture in front of you, then raise the picture up a few inches slowly and lower a few inches slowly, while continuing to walk forward. Do this for 15 minutes every day, then try moving the stick side to side a few inches while walking towards it. Finally try moving only your head up and down then side to side while walking forward and keeping your eyes on the picture straight in front of you. 

I still get dizzy from time to time, but my life is so much better. Good luck my friend.