Changing Collections

Prior to the stroke, I used to collect shoes.  I had almost 100 pair, most of them heels of various heights, from kitten heels to stilettos to platforms and on and on.  It was a beautiful collection.  It still is, of course.

See?

But, it's not very practical to totter around on platform stilettos when you can't adequately control your left leg.  I still have the collection.  Someday, I'll get back there.  But just not now.

One thing I DO need that I didn't before is compression stockings.  The stroke I had was an embolic stroke, caused by a blood clot (CT Scans show no stenosis and an ECHO and two unremarkable EKGs show a level of heart health nobody anticipated), and along with a blood thinner, compression stockings will help me prevent another clot while I am not as active as I was.

This all makes sense--I have always clotted and healed well.  Remarkably well.  Especially given that I'm diabetic and one of the key symptoms is poor ability to heal.  It's a shame that such an asset can also be a liability.

At any rate, I'm known for the shoes.  They had become part of who I was.  If that can't be part of who I am right now, and the hose are, then I need fancy hose.




The first two--the skulls and the cherries--were gifted to me by some generous friends.  I have another pair--it's lime green with flowers--that I also got from one of those friends, but I don't have a picture.  I'll have to do another post and show you the four I don't have pictures of here.

So, they're not fancy heels.  They're not sexy.  But, they make wearing these things for the rest of my life more bearable and even maybe enjoyable.  And if they're going to better my chances at a stroke-free lifespan?  Done.

It's just another part of post-stroke normal.  It's not the same, but it's not bad, either.