mum23

Great to hear that it's all going so well for you, Steve!

Normal

Just catching up with the news here - yes VERY loud applause for you and your medical team, Steve! I had no idea that your radical surgery would have the effect it does on diabetes and high BP. They are doing amazing things in the medical field. My best wishes for continued excellent recovery and a new, lighter and less depressing life!

clorophilla

Laud ovation! great, great news steve!

Renee355

Wonderful news, Steve!! I'm so happy for you.

pollyesther

I am behind as usual on reading, but I think it's a great thread.
Congrats to Steve in your health success! It is encouraging to read=)
Best wishes to Renee as well.
My apologies if I have seemed too religious at times, I have never believed myself to be "holyer than thou" about anyone, I have a good sense of reality when it comes to my own faults.
I have a deep affection for scripture, not religion.
You-know-who was persecuted by the "holyer than thou" religous folks of his time btw.
just saying...
Thank you for sharing the doldrums and creating a thread for people who don't feel comfortable with religion to share their experiences. I hope I didn't offend anyone, it has never been my intention*tiptoes out of the room*

bluemoon

Happy Birthday Pollyesther!! I hope it is a wonderful year for you.

pollyesther

Thank you Bluemoon=) I am overwhelmed by all the kindness that people have shown me in this loving community on thinkdraw.

stevedover1965

Happy Birthday Pollyesther, we need to hear more from you, everyone is allowed to express themselves in their own way using the beliefs and ideas that make them happy, we have no pre-conceived opinions just ideas that make sense to the individual. Love is the universal theme for all regardless of how that is expressed. This community is full of love and respect for people and I feel proud to be a part of it.

pollyesther

Thank you so much Steve=)
Ever since I can remember, I have been behind. I appreciate all the acceptance which I haven't found very many other places.
The acceptance I feel here allows me to feel like maybe some may be interested in some of my background.
My brain is lacking in many ways... I am a strange person and have always thought differently and so much slower than most. As a child I had petit mal seizures (absence seizures) which left me "out-of-the-loop" in social situations, I was quiet and paralyzed in regard to participation in school. I don't even know how I passed except for doing well on standardized tests, despite my lack of common sense. They discovered the seizures when I was in 3rd grade and had walked into walls, and poles and was a little too "spacey". The teacher suggested a doc visit, they did a strange test(an EEG i believe) and confirmed the seizures. I was put on meds and became somewhat schizophrenic for a while. My mom took me off the meds & the doc said I would grow out of it. I remember very few bits and pieces of my childhood. I have a constant feeling of starting over or having to re-learn things. My memory is based on recognition mostly, and the foundation of knowledge common to most, I lack. I have a fear of groups in general-- I can hold a slow conversation on-on-one, but have real trouble when it comes to dealing with group conversations in real time... though I may try to keep up, I am always behind.
Thinkdraw has been a wonderful experience for me. Much love and respect to all.

mdawrcn

Well Pollyesther, regardless of your challenges, one area in which you obviously excel is your art. Thank you for sharing with us, and thanks to all of the TD community for its unwaivering support. I have to say it has definitely had a positive effect on my life.

sheftali52

Pollyesther--you have done wonderful things here on TD, and I think it's great of you to share your innermost thoughts. This is indeed a warm and comfortable community, and I like the forums almost as much as the art! I wish you all the best and hope you'll continue to express yourself through your wonderful pics.

Login

Pollyesther, take a look at your first drawings here (dejected, escape, cher? are excellent examples) ... you very quickly learnt to use the pixels to create good pictures. You're articulate and entertaining ... please stay just as you are.

bluemoon

I agree with Login.

stevedover1965

I must learn not too count my chickens before they hatch. It's true I have recovered very well from surgery. My diabetes is in remission. But my life wouldn't be the roller coaster it is without the occasional hiccup. So to add injury to insult during surgery my femoral nerve was damaged somehow. The compressed or pinched nerve is extremely painful likened to shingles but without the blisters. Actually managed to call a doctor out to see me at home a rare occurence. Hopefully the prescribed medications will help me cope with the pain and get me back on track. It occurs to me I must sound like some kind of hypochondriac with all these medical problems. But I guess it's like catching a bus you hang around waiting for one for ages, then three turn up all at once.

Login

You have my sympathy, steve. Take heart though ... I had surgery for a brain-stem tumour in 1999. Several nerves were damaged ... most repaired quite naturally, except the optic nerve. I've had trouble with the sight in one eye ever since ... until last month when I had a couple of weeks of short sharp pains in my eye. The nerve was in the process of repairing itself and my sight has suddenly improved to the extent that the damaged eye is now better than the OK one. I'm not suggesting that your damaged femoral nerve will take 12 years to mend ... but that nerves can repair on their own. Great news about the diabetes remission. Good luck and continued progress.

mdawrcn

Great story Login. Very interesting what the body can do. Glad you healed. Hope you do too Steve.

stevedover1965

My steri-strips fell off 3 weeks to the day after surgery and my surgery incisions have healed up nicely, barely scratches, damn these pesky nerves that keep messing with me, could be neuropathy from my years of diabetes, anyway those things take so long to heal, all in all not doing badly, if I eat something wrong my body is quick to point out the error of my ways and the offending item is often dispelled very quickly. Lesson learned. (sorry about the graphic).

pollyesther

Login, Thank you for sharing about your eye, it is really amazing!

Steve, I hope your nerve heals quickly along with everything else, that maybe the pain is a sign of healing. Thank you for sharing your struggles and success.
All the best to you.

stevedover1965

I should thank all of you, sharing my experiences lessens the load (if you know what I mean) also because this community, although fairly tight consists of people that are essentially strangers it seems to make it easier to share difficult situations and problems, along with the artwork this site is ideal therapy...lol should be available on the NHS or the American equivalent in healthcare insurance. Not only is Think Draw very enjoyable it is also beneficial to your physical and mental health, Rachel and family do you know the immense service your website is providing? Never stop, this is necessary to me and to thousands of others. Thank-you. Stephen Martin aka stevedover1965

marius

Hi Steve, I've been reading along and just wanted to let you know you've been getting good thoughts and wishes from my neck of the woods too.

Life sure has some challenges and I always find it healing when people share theirs. Not sure why this is but reminds me of something I read. The author (whoever is was) said that our talents and skills can separate us because we vary so greatly in those areas, but our frailties bring us together because we are the same in those areas.

I've had my share of doldrum days (and haha, maybe even a few years of that). Polly - I was a strange kid too, lots and lots of sensory issues and still have them. Do not attend huge events, noise-lighting-loud music and sometimes ANY music makes the brain misfire or something - most unpleasant, and the list goes on. Login, so happy to hear your nerve issues cleared up. I fell asleep in one of those hard plastic baby pools one summer and woke up with half of my skull feeling numb, well, the skin around it. The doctor said it was nerve damage and might stay that way. It did for about six months. Very odd sensations!

And Steve, my grandma had Bell's palsy so I know about that. Very painful.
Anyway, hands clapping for the success of your surgery and for you having the courage to reach out during trying times. It takes courage to do that and you know, courage is contagious ... in the best of ways!

I may not comment much but I do care and have enjoyed reading this thread. Would suspect many, many others do too. Keep healing, and may your recovery be complete, and your joys in life abundant! : )