Carpmart Posted January 5, 2017 Share Posted January 5, 2017 Ditto from me.. obviously a major and life changing event, but you're here! I hope the prognosis is reasonable for you chap! Good luck with your recovery! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Garry Posted February 3, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted February 3, 2017 Abit of an update, I'm having physiotherapy most weeks and taking steps on parallel bars, and with a single crutch, so safe to say I'm pleased with that! arm/hand/finger control is slowly coming back too, I've been advised to get an electrical muscle stimulation machine, it activates muscles and encourages the brain to relarn movement, Hopefully finding out soon when I'll have an operation to get a metal plate in my head after my crainiotomy. Beanie hats are my best friend! after my hospital stay I'd lost 6 stone and 7 iches off my waidt lol. Not a great way to diet!Pic is me and the Mrs a fortnight ago, compare that to the pic on the other page! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Garry Posted April 25, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted April 25, 2017 (edited) Big update time! Well, like I mentioned before, to relieve the skull pressure where my bleed was, I was put into a coma,and had a crainiotomy performed. basically, they remove a section of skull. its got a 95% success rate,but leaves you with a dip in your head, and with no bone to protect your soft squishy brain, its not exactly safe if you decide the floor looks comfy for a fall. Solution? Titanium plate installation. I went off to Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham for a CT scan to measure up the hole for the plste....... Expecting it to be ready in summertime, imagine my shock to get a phone call saying its ready, 6 days later, and surgery slot was available the following Monday if I wanted it! Crazy! I accepted and prepared for the pre-op assessment, and met my new titanium plate. The weekend before surgery I had a special invitation to do commentary at Rockingham racetrack, I gladly took the chance and loved it, future career maybe? the view was incredible! Anyway, D-day came and it was time to go, QMC feels soulless at times.Yes me and the Mrs shed tears as I was prepped for surgery. I tried my best to put a brave face on, but anytime they go in your head is pretty risky. At least I can confirm I have a brain, my neurosurgeon said so! The op involved knocking me out, cutting me open, scraping the top layer of brain that had grown attached to my scalp underside, screwing the plate to my skull, then sewing me back up. roughly 2 hours all going to plan.. Apparently Iwoke in the recovery room and asked for the breathing tube to come out immediately the operation went well, and amazingly I felt zero pain at all! just felt like an elephant sat on my head where the swelling and stitches were! the plan wasto stay in QMC 4 days, so Ihad to get used to hospital food again, beauties like this toast for breakkie! Long story short, they discharged me afer 48hrs, when the bandages were allowed off I got the money shots The dried blood makes it look worse than it was, still no pain at all! The before/after really shows the improvement, he who procedure is called crainioplasty, now the swelling is down I can tap my head and feel the plate, but I cant feel it inside if you understand? I reckon its worked! now to relearn walking and getting back to RC! Edited April 25, 2017 by Garry 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stretch Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 Awesome update mate glad your on the mend and wish you well for the future. Rc well earnt I say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.AJ. Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 Getting there mate, it's been a long road for you and your family, but you made it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rover Man Posted April 25, 2017 Author Share Posted April 25, 2017 Great to see you doing so well buddy , keep it up. Also congrats on your engagement to Sarah, You found your soul mate there buddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 Really happy to see such good progress. Keep us up to date! Stay safe buddy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kpowell911 Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 Great progress Garry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
53HRA Posted April 25, 2017 Share Posted April 25, 2017 Well done Gaz, you did it! A true fighter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tamiyacowboy Posted April 26, 2017 Share Posted April 26, 2017 Heya big man . good to see you being strong and looking so well now to a true inspiration to others. so you got to swap the camera for a nice comfy seat and a microphone , i bet you felt out of depth for a while but enjoyed the hell out of being in the coms box , must say that view is pretty amazing you had there. its great to see you rebound back and also congrats on finding your soul mate to , all the best to you and upcoming mrs garry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Garry Posted July 6, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted July 6, 2017 Time for another update! Since I last checked in, I've had a couple of seizures, which my doctors are investigating, but not a huge cause for concern, whenever you have head trauma, they can occur. A bit scary for those around me at the time but I was blissfully unaware of what was happening until I woke up in hospital lol Hopefully answers soon but I've been seizure free a month now. onto better news..... I've figured out a way to carry on doing photography one handed! basically I've de-cased a remote shutter release and mounted it to a lens, meaning I can hold the camera, zoom and focus while snapping, one handed! Reasonably happy with the results from Rockingham the other week... And now I've been allowed by physios to use a stick to get around at home. Pretty good few weeks I think! 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.AJ. Posted July 6, 2017 Share Posted July 6, 2017 Great progress mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rover Man Posted July 6, 2017 Author Share Posted July 6, 2017 Well done buddy. you come such a long way. keep going Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz! Posted July 6, 2017 Share Posted July 6, 2017 Progress no matter how small is still moving forward. keep up the recovery mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tamiyacowboy Posted July 7, 2017 Share Posted July 7, 2017 way hey big man great news on the recovery you have come a long way , take your time and keep pluging away at things your a fighter and thats what counts. good news on the stick to , i bet they said at home only and in your mind you said " at home my arse , you mean where ever i can and when possible " the photos are stunning as usual buddy your little camera gizmo is doing wonders for you keep it all up and keep on snapping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Garry Posted August 15, 2017 Popular Post Share Posted August 15, 2017 (edited) Update! Well only a small one, but worth sharing, as you've possibly seen via Facebook, I'm back on my feet in a serious way, my balance with my foot brace on is spot on, so I'm firmly in the ''getting around independently'' stage now, working on my stamina before figuring out how to climb stairs safely lol. You never realise how complicated the process of walking is until you're brain damaged and need to relearn it. I'll never walk 100% as I did before, but thats alright, I'm still alive to talk about it! I'll be stalking to an occupational therapist soon about return to work, I've had nearly a year off so I'd like to return in some capacity. In an effort to wake up my hand, I have a hand splint now which is fantastic, like two airbags that sandwich my paw and finger in a supported stretch hopefully it'll teach my brain to fire neuroplasticity, where other bits of brain take over the controls thats damaged bits ere responsible for. Its how I've relearned walking. My next challenges are going to be getting up and down stairs safely, and then I'm going to have a go at driving again in a safe environment off road, I massively miss roadtrips and adventures! Keep fighting your battles, we all have the ability to beat the steepest odds! Edited August 15, 2017 by Garry 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 Anybody want a 2020 update? 🏁 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rover Man Posted June 12, 2020 Author Share Posted June 12, 2020 4 minutes ago, Garry said: Anybody want a 2020 update? 🏁 How do buddy hope alls going well for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex97 Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 It's good to see you with a controller in your hand 👍👍👍👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Garry Posted June 12, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted June 12, 2020 38 minutes ago, Rover Man said: How do buddy hope alls going well for you You know how much of opinionated sod I am, x100 now! So whats new with Gazzy? Read this thread to learn the history of how my life got flipped turned upside down. Before that day in 2016 I had been a mod and admin on here, during the boom time of the RC hobby. It wasn't an easy task to keep the unruly ruffians in line but the team at the time we assembled was close and friendships forged still last today. As time went on my career started to take off and this place a back seat. The hobby took a back seat. Then I had a stroke. Since the recovery period is well covered on here already, I'll skip the gloss and get down to brass tacks. I've been in a tough place mentally. Overnight I went from two awesome careers to not knowing where to turn. I had help from the Stroke Association, an amazing organisation who gave me counselling in learning that I have a ''new normal'' and no amount of pining for the past can bring it back.Honestly I think the first 18months of the aftermath I was in shock or grieving like I'd lost a loved one. Which I had in a way. I was still here but I wasn't me. I became withdrawn. I had panic attacks and had huge anxiety over people who properly knew the old me seeing me in a wheelchair when I had been vibrant and active before. I felt guilty for allowing stroke to happen. After having a parent work in mental health for 25+ years I knew I could see the signs of it in me, I needed help. In stepped the Stroke Association and guided me through a tough spot with gentle words of encouragement and sage advice to fixing my financial debt Id'd fallen into through being laid up in a hospital bed. Anyway I'm better now thanks to sacking off several toxic people and change of scenery, but most importantly rediscovering a particular hobby. The stroke left me with one functional right hand, one functional right leg and moderate brain damage. I take longer to process data. I wanted to figure out a way to improve those deficits. RC racing maybe? I gave it some thought and realised that the hobby might be the key. I can't drive with a regular radio so I tried a few ways of holding a standard controller in one palm, some better than others I admit. I realised retail item don't work for racing so I'd have to make my own radio, which I've done, I'm on mark 2 version now! I'm a poor racer compared to how I was pre-stroke but its helping me mentally get back on my feet racing at a local club with new friends and competitors. So thankyou for listening to my TEDTalk, I'll be hanging around on here some more from now, I've still got 20+ years of knowledge to bore everyone with 😁 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rover Man Posted June 12, 2020 Author Share Posted June 12, 2020 Its great to see you back buddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stretch Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 Great to hear your now in a slightly better place mate and it's really good that you've found your way back to the forum and RC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 1 hour ago, Alex97 said: It's good to see you with a controller in your hand 👍👍👍👍 I'll have to do a thread about that specific journey as its been long arduous but ultimately successful 👍🏼 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m4inbrain Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 1 hour ago, Garry said: The stroke left me with one functional right hand, one functional right leg and moderate brain damage. I take longer to process data. I wanted to figure out a way to improve those deficits. RC racing maybe? I gave it some thought and realised that the hobby might be the key. I can't drive with a regular radio so I tried a few ways of holding a standard controller in one palm, some better than others I admit. I realised retail item don't work for racing so I'd have to make my own radio, which I've done, I'm on mark 2 version now! I'm a poor racer compared to how I was pre-stroke but its helping me mentally get back on my feet racing at a local club with new friends and competitors. Have you looked at the DX5 rugged? The reason i'm asking, is that it comes out of the box with a "lever" on the wheel for one handed use. It's intended for people driving crawlers and trail runners i think, where there's periods of just walking next to your RC - but in general, it's intended for one handed use. Might be something to look into, maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garry Posted June 12, 2020 Share Posted June 12, 2020 2 minutes ago, m4inbrain said: Have you looked at the DX5 rugged? The reason i'm asking, is that it comes out of the box with a "lever" on the wheel for one handed use. It's intended for people driving crawlers and trail runners i think, where there's periods of just walking next to your RC - but in general, it's intended for one handed use. Might be something to look into, maybe? Those methods work great for situation where you can drive slowly, then pause, contemplate the next move reposition then go. For racing where you need to be able to catch a car mid-slide and carry on seamlessly, they aren't so great. I did experiment with a 3D printed version but it never felt natural enough to make control instinctive. I've made 2 different alternatives which proved faster on the clock but it was good to try something to rule it out. Good for the thought process too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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