“A Stroke Survivors Q & A – Episode No 4”

Greetings, Thrill Seekers, and Fellow Time Travellers I’ve been heartened by the response that I've had from previous editions of Q & A. It’s also pleasing these questions give you an insight into what I topics have been raised during my lectures/my blogs over almost seven years.

Today’s episode covers a wide range of topics which I hope you will find interesting, Subjects covered include my rehab philosophy, what my life would have been like without the stroke, and the involvement of families in rehab and more

So, are you ready Mr Music. Lights. Camera…….

You have mentioned during your lecture “your rehab philosophy”: Could you outline what it is?

It was a quite simple philosophy and is “As a Stroke Survivor if my motivation and desire to recover does not mirror the skill and professionalism of the physio staff who are helping me then I was wasting mine and their time”.

Also, each day I went to the gym at Bankstown Hospital for in-patient rehab, I strove to learn something new every day/ To do an exercise better than the day before and if asked by my physio to do 50 reps, I would say ‘Why not 60 reps’?

It worked because after 16 weeks I walked out on my discharge day.

What would your life be like had you not had the Stroke in 2016?

This was a question put to me recently by my daughter and it caused me to ponder what in fact my existence would be like minus the Stroke. Frankly it was not a subject that I had considered but as I was asked the question the images conjured by that very question was rather worrying.

I'm convinced that my life would be dominated by health problems which would arise because of my sedentary lifestyle/smoking/diet and a lack of any form of exercise

It is not a subject that I like to dwell on, and I would rather concentrate on life and lifestyle that I'm leaving now. She understood my response I hope you dear reader also.

Can you tell me about your “special place” that you often go to?

This question came from a reader of my blog, in which he told me about his special place, where he practised Pilates.

My special place is a bench in a park on Lambert Ave, Panania. On my afternoon walk I will go and sit by myself on this bench for about 45 minutes.

It's where I isolate myself to a certain extent from the business of the day; the noise of suburbia and just focus, on what's going on in my head.

Be it a task or some of the many strokes’ projects/a blog or poem that are swirling around in that creative morass I sometimes call my brain.

Sometimes I will play a mental game called “What If” on various events- near and far.

It is that little break that we take where we can be with ourselves. I highly recommend it is very therapeutic and then at the end of it I get up I go back into the world that I live in

Why should I involve the family of my Stroke Survivor?

This question was asked by a student when I was talking about the clinician building and establishing rapport with the stroke survivor

A stroke survivor’s family is/will have to go through a period of change as a result of the stroke impacts. They can be your eyes and ears when you are not around and provide valuable feedback on your survivor’s progress.

if you think it's appropriate, they should be involved along with the survivor themselves in the development of a Rehab Plan so that they are aware of what survivor is about to undertake- to put it colloquially “they have some skin in the game”

They can provide motivation to the stroke survivor when they go home from hospital

In many instances they [the family] play a very key role in the ultimate rehabilitation of a stroke survivor. You should recognise their importance and involve them in the rehabilitation process from the very beginning.

What makes a Good Stroke Clinician?

I was lucky the interaction with stroke clinicians in Bankstown hospital was. exceptionally good. What made them good?

Well for a start they were always there on time ready with my rehab every morning with a smile and a” Good Morning”. We spent 5 minutes gossiping about football or some other topic which was all good and help build the rapport.

Then when we got into the rehab schedule itself, they were professional, they adhered to the plan that we had agreed on.

They ensured that I did all my exercises, stroke repetitions in accordance with my rehab plan; they continually gave me feedback and encouragement; and the end of the day both parties went our separate ways knowing that we were achieved that day’s targets,

You mentioned a Mentor- It will help you- How? Even a Stroke Buddy.

I mentioned this in a blog, and I had several questions about mentors, my response was as follows-

A mentor is a person who can support, advise, and guide you. It someone whom you already know, a family friend or work colleague.

Then again it someone whom you think could help you, but you don’t have a relationship with - then if you think this person could be a good mentor - Simply approach them,

In these situations, they will [if they need to\} take the time to get to know you and the challenges you're facing and then use their understanding and personal experience to help you improve.

This relationship is additional to a manager or boss and benefits from a more personal and confidential structure. Mentors have the potential to become lifelong friends, or the relationship might only last until you've achieved a goal, there's no one size fits all.

During my career I have had 3 mentors, one a family member \{my grandfather] and the other 2 were business acquaintance-a managing director and the other the chairman of a multinational corporation.

Each one helped me in separate ways.

I have had the pleasure of mentoring some people- all ages, ranging from young people who have just entered the workforce up to very senior executives currently completing the MBA [Masters in Business Administration].

The Survivor equivalent of a Mentor? Yes -It is called a Stroke Buddy!

That’s right, if you can get a stroke friend, someone whom you can talk to about your episode, your rehab. Even do your rehab together! It will help you- could be a friend, a mate, does not have to be a stroke survivor!

Try it-It worked for me!

You talk a lot about Lived Experience-Why is it so important to you.?

Again, another question following my blog on Lived Experience the perfect trifecta. Anyone who has attended my lectures or read my blogs should be aware of the role that Lived Experience plays in stroke research

Any stroke research undertaken with an absence of Lived Experience is in my opinion runs the risk of being a theoretical talkfest.

I may be naïve with this statement but the longer I work with clinicians and researchers the stronger my passion for the involvement of Lived Experience.

For me there are no better examples of this philosophy in action than Doctor Simone Dorsch from the Australian Catholic University, North Sydney, a Director of StrokeEd, a clinical collaboration and Professor Coralie English, University of Newcastle [Australia\}, a leading stroke researcher.

I have had the pleasure of working with these outstanding people- in fact it was a chance invitation from Simone in Bankstown hospital to address her physio students at the ACU in 2016 which was my introduction into Lived Experience- the rest as the adage goes is history!

Yes, Lived Experience is important always was and always will be

Remember Lived Experience is the swirl of extra virgin olive oil over the verdant lettuce and my home-grown tomatoes

Until we meet for our next episode --Keep moving towards Enlightenment-for that is where the answers do abide.

Brian A Beh

Brian A Beh, Stroke Survivor

Lifelong Member of the Hopalong Cassidy Fan Club

Poet, Philosopher and Child of the Cosmos

Winner "Improving Life After Stroke" Category

Stroke Foundation of Australia 2021 National Awards