I forgot most of what I knew for my job and cannot concentrate or remember diddly. So, I just concentrate more on my hobbies now. It takes a lot longer to accomplish anything, but I don't give up trying. I am making progress in the hobby area, but the memory is still bad. In the meantime I'm trying to develop new interests, reading and looking at things with new eyes thanks to the stroke. It's hard at first, but you CAN do it. P.

Im very sorry to hear that,I have lost everything that I use to do! I don't know what to do with my life now. D

I still have most of my memory left except I have trouble with my short term memory and no use of my left side! I use to be a certified Auto, Motorcycle, outboard motor, mechanic you name it and the last few years a S.S welder and that requires the use of my left hand and to be able to walk. My hobbies were building and flying model airplanes so that leaves me stranded, I have no wife anymore for that push. I just dont know what to do with my life! I have had two strokes in the past three years, so you see it hasn't gave me to much to look forward to. D

I was a musician on my time away from work. I could play the piano and organ a little, the violin and guitar a lot and could sing well. Since my stroke, I cant do any of those things. I hear tunes in my head, but cant reproduce them and since I cant move my right arm, I cant play instruments. Oh well. Im not complaining, Im just telling you how it is. As with most, my life has changed a lot. G

I was in a number of choirs over the years. I also had a good speaking voice which I havent had since the stroke. I couldnt speak at all for months, then with good speech therapy, I was gradually able to speak and control the volume, but I can't sing anymore --- not even Happy Birthday. My speaking voice is affected. I don't know what else to write. G

I had two (strokes). I also have a chronic leukemia that keeps me sick most of each fall & winter, leaving me only spring and summer to get things done. The thing is, Im not giving up. I realize I wont be here forever and I look at it as still having time to accomplish some things before my time is up. I could sit around feeling sorry for myself, or take the time available to do stuff. I choose the latter. P

All of us miss the old life. You might as well make a new life for yourself. Build on what you CAN do (and like). You might like to see movies on tape or read about cars and motors or get hooked on soap operas on TV. If you see a doctor, you might consider an anti-depressant (I take Prozac). They help a lot. I spend a lot of time on the computer and when Im not reading or sending mail, I play games on the computer. Plan every day for approximately how much time you will spend on each thing --- that way you will have something to look forward to. G

Guess I can put my 2 cents in here too, I used to make pots! A potter---now my coordination will not let me do that, and to control my strength against the clay is next to impossible. My tremors have limited me.Once in a while I can still cross stitch, getting the needle into those little holes at first was a challenge, but now I just wait until I am having a good day/few tremors/ and go for it. I have gotten a few needle end pricks in my fingers, have to take out some stitches and do them over again, but at least I am busy, and my family and friends enjoy receiving the completed cross stitched items. If one gets a case of the cants, they wont. The important thing is to seek help with the attitude, an adjustment may be necessary!!! S

I had a right hemisphere stroke when I was 23. That was 14 years ago. Wow! Time really does fly! I went from a diagnosis of probable death to never walk again to well shes doing pretty good. I have left side hemiparesis, severe migraines, and possibly temporal lobe epilepsy (no definitive diagnosis yet on that one). I know I have been really lucky and am able to do a lot of little things a lot of the time. I am a writer and part-time college professor and researcher in animal behavior. I do some scientific illustration work and some really bad watercolors and drawing. I play old-time and Irish and renaissance music with my husband. Right now I'm really keen on volunteering with the university natural history museum. I'm writing some web pages on biodiversity--but I'm pretty new at that kind of work. (Gosh, am I a geek or what?) Oh yah, I have 3 little teeny dogs (my kids).V