The Steel Guitar Forum

Hey Howard, sorry to hear about the mini-stroke, but, am glad that you are doing OK. Here's a little joke to make you laugh. Last night I was taking a shower and had a stroke. It felt so good that I had 20 more of them! Take care My Friend, Ray.

Howard, here's hoping that you recover thoroughly and quickly.

Strokes can be truly terrible. You (and all of us) need to do whatever we can to prevent them.

Howard - hope you recover quickly and completely. Take care of yourself and try to play, as best you can. But I agree that it's a good idea to step back a bit and survey the situation before just jumping back into everything. Definitely try to figure out how to prevent another stroke.

I think every musician should read about or view the DVD on Pat Martino's aneurysm story, as Rick mentioned earlier. The man is amazing at a lot of levels.

Howard
I'm sorry to hear about your stroke. I can understand how the effects of the stroke on your playing would be unnerving. By all means, though, continue to play. The stroke may have damaged some of the brains "circuitry". If some of that circuitry has an effect on your steel playing you need to continue to play in order for the brain either to repair that ciruitry or to rewire itself around the damage. Continuing to play forces the brain to find new pathways around the damage. It's the brain that controls it all that's a "use it or lose it" animal.

Howard-I am sorry that you had the mini stroke.
I have been reading all the posts and you are getting a lot of Great advice from fellow members of this great Steel Guitar Forum. I can not add any more.
But, mini strokes are sometimes good for warnings to get real healthy. Definitely keep playing your guitar every day, just dont push the gigs too much for now. I have visited you Website and listened to your songs on it and you sound very fine to me. Keep up with your playing and keep the faith...al.:)

Howard Tate wrote:I turned down a gig for this weekend, just want to stay home. I played a bit this morning and while I felt awkward it wasn't too bad. I'm just going to take it easy for a while, and try to start some healthier habits including exercise and diet.

Howard, your own take on it sounds best.
Enough rest, some exercise, working the steel when it feels comfortable.

As for me, I don't know if I could even tell if a stroke would affect my playing....

HOward, sure hope you are doing better now. Just give it time my friend and you wil lbe back to above normal. Need you playing for a long time to come, my friend. Will send up special prayers for a VIP.
Bill Stafford

Howard sure hope you get better soon man. Miss getting to see you and hear your good talent. I will be praying for you. Jim

My wife had several strokes. She continued to recover from them for up to a year or more. Most of the recovery was the first three months, but her symptoms did continue to improve after that.

Definitely keep playing, the brain will find other nerve route connections if you keep moving, thats the way it works.
Definitely low cholesterol diet and a little exercise, Im no expert but my neighbor had an "average" stroke a year ago he's had physiotherapy twice a week and he's almost back to normal now....he said just another couple of months for the finishing touches and he will be back to his grumpy old self again.

I had a stroke about 3 years ago. I always wanted to play a pedal steel but driving a big rig I always seemed to run out of extension cord before I got around the block. After the stroke I made up my mind to buy one and learn to play it. Well I bought one, but still it still sounds like cats fighting.But I'm having a great time trying. I never played any kind of music before but I'm not giving up so don't you either. You'll come around to your old self again{or close}. I still stutter a little and have some balance issues on uneven ground but I still look forward to playing my Sho-Bud D10 every nite . Buck up' It'll get better , jungle {Thank Dell for spell check}

I believe that us guys over 50 should be taking an aspirin a day to keep the blood thin. I take vitamins, but I read an article that also recommended not waiting until you've had a stroke to take an aspirin a day.

Joe

Howard, so sorry to hear this news. Stay the course. I pray you are feeling better very soon and have a full return to NORMAL. Keep playing.

tp

There has been such a response to this thread that I'm almost embarrassed to say that I feel almost no effects of the stroke. Just some numbness and tingling in my right hand and arm, and I seem to be more forgetful and easily confused. Because I've had two small heart attacks I have been on a daily aspirin regimen for several years. I wonder if that's why I'm doing so well? When it first happened it was pretty scary, but I'm sure I'm OK now. I thank you all so much for the advice and encouragement. I'm still playing at home, and sometimes forget what key I'm in, and I'm even slower than before. I don't really want to play any more club jobs. I'm so blessed to belong to this forum.

Howard this happened to me about 2 months ago I was in the hospital for 7 days when i came home i was not cooordinated to well could not use hands and feet together was very down could not play my 6 string either felt like giving up kept trying for acouple of weeks it came back im not one of the greats but i love to play dont let it get you down keep playing it will come back but take good care of yourself not to do any further damage oh yeah i had four strokes by the grace of god im still here mike

Howard,hate to hear of your health problem,DO NOT quit playing it will come back by the grace of God,you know my wreck was REAL bad but i kept the fire alive,hang in there friend and neighbor,we are only 50 miles apart maybe i'll see ya soon..hang in
Charlie...........

I HAD A STROKE ABOUT 6 YRS AGO .I LOST ALL MY MEMERY I STILL TAKE MEDICATION NOW I AM ALTIMER .SO I AM FALLOWING APART HAHA. I AM LEARNING TO PLAY MY STEELGUITAR AGAINE. I HAVE A LOTS HEAD ACKES . WELL THE GOOD V.A. HAS HELPED ME .