Monday, March 21, 2011

Tattoo Me!

This Saturday was a big day for me. With all the doctors appointments out of the way and my six month mark of the stroke coming up, I wanted to get something to commemorate my experience. I've wanted to get a tattoo of the stroke ribbon for awhile now so a couple of weeks ago, I went to "East Side Ink" for a consultation with this dude, Needles and made an appointment. 

I was strangely calm walking into the tattoo parlor. I had slight bouts of excitement but for the most part was ok and not nervous.  In fact, I feel nervous just talking about it.  Talk about delayed response time, Eljon!
 
I decided to get "walk by faith" tattoo'd right next to the ribbon.  I had to keep telling myself to have faith that I would get better.  Health would improve.  I would forget this sometimes.  Like anyone, I got down every once in awhile but again, being reminded by friends and family that time heals made it better.  Inktime only took about 45 minutes. I'm still getting used to it being there!  It itches!  I'm really happy :) 

*The red on the paper towel is ink, not blood!

   

20 comments:

  1. love it ! you're so brave mon cherie

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  2. Your an inspiration! I had a stroke about three years ago and now I am looking for ideas of a tattoo after dealing with the symptoms that come with post stroke victims. It's though:) HOLD STRONG!! Much Luv- Meg

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  3. Hi Meg! So nice to meet you! Let me know what your tat looks like! Would love to blog it. Happy Almost Stroke Awareness Month :) (May)

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  4. My mom survived a stroke & I'm looking for a tattoo idea as well I'm glad you're doing better its such a scary feeling my mom will be home sometime next week

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    1. Hi! I hope your Mom is doing well. Happy New Year!

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  5. Congrats! I am a stroke survivor also and it's hard! I'm looking to get a tat also... You are one of my strengths... Thank you!

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  6. Hi fellow strokie! Good luck with your recovery. It's hard but it will get easier. :)

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  7. Hi I am a two time stroke survivor and after dealing with all the doc appointments and meds I am thinking of getting a survivor tattoo as well I love your!!

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  8. Hi Nicole! Twice! Wow, that's incredible. I love my tat! Good luck with getting yours. Would love to share your story if you feel comfortable. Please email me if you are interested. Be well! eljon.wardally@gmail.com

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    1. Sorry it took me so long to reply work has been crazy. I don't mind if you share my story. I will be going to get my tattoo done tomorrow. I am so excited!! I was looking at your ribbon again and I was wondering if it was all red or did you add some shading into it?

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    2. Hi Nicole! It's all red with some black shading. Have a wonderful experience tomorrow! Looking forward to hearing all about it :)

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  9. I too had a stroke some 13 years back, I had lost my speech and all movements on my right side, and it happened when I was only 41 years old. No reason for the stroke it just happened.
    I was a fitness instructor and I am still one. So it was all the more surprising that i had stroke.
    However, I worked hard, and listened to the Doctor who said that whatever, I was doing before my stroke i must get back to doing as much as possible, and my goal should be to get back to my normal self. He told me that it was in my hands to become the person I was.
    I had faith in his advice, and faith in myself.
    Relentlessly I conquered all my weaknesses, one by one, till i was able to do everything I was doing before I had the stroke. it took me 8 hard months to get back to normal, and from there has been no looking back. I started my fitness classes as soon as I recovered, and am still teaching it and doing lots of exercises for myself too. It is amazing, yet it is true.
    According to my doctor I have cured myself 98%, the 2% is known only to me, nobody can even believe that there was a time I could barely walk, talk or do anything on my own.

    Well, I want to know since you also had a stroke and after that you went and got yourself a tattoo, what medicines were you asked to stop just before getting your tattoo. Or did you get the tattoo done without stopping any of the medicines you were supposed to take on regular basis?
    I had stopped all medicines for stroke many years back. I am now only on Ecospirin Gold10mg, which is a combination of Atorvastatin 10 mg, and two medicines which are just asiprin each 75 g. Instead of taking separate medicines my doctor said it was better to take one medicine which has all three in the right combination. He has put me in Cholesterol medicine because mine went up high a few years back, due to the hormonal changes, mine had gone up a little and to keep me on the safe side for not getting another stroke in future.
    My question to you is I am planning to get a tattoo done , which would take about 3 hours, do you think it is alright if didn't stop this one medicine ad get it done, or should I stop it for just 1 day and after the tattoo is done start taking my medicine.
    Can you give me a reply soon, for I have an appointment with the tattoo studio for the 12th morning of this month?
    My email is: rama.ananth@gmail.com
    Thanks.
    WIsh you a very happy new year!
    Congratulations for getting back to health!

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  10. Stroke Survivor here....I was 40. Thanks for your inspirational story.

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  11. Hi Sharon! Thank you. I hope you're well. :)

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  12. Stroke survivor here as well!! I was 17 then, I am 18 now but forever will be a PEDS stroke patient.

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  13. Stroke survivor here as well!! I was 17 then, I am 18 now but forever will be a PEDS stroke patient.

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  14. Stroke survivor here as well!! I was 17 then, I am 18 now but forever will be a PEDS stroke patient.

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  15. Thank you for sharing your experience! I am a two time stroke survivor and I'm not even a year out yet but I look forward to the day when I can hopefully get a stroke survivor tattoo! I am still hoping for a full recovery since the stroke took ny periperal vision but we shall see I still have till March until my first year after it happened has passed.

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  16. I am a 5 time stroke survivor. Had my first stroke at age 44 I am now 48. I am wanting to get a survivor tattoo but not sure because of being on Plavix. Anyone have any suggestions

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