Chapter 13 - Physician as patient

Summary

This chapter explores how the author's stroke survival and recovery resulted in rapid and remarkable advances in physical activities, like recovery of ambulation, bed and chair transfers, and balance, that were ahead of his fellow stroke survivors recoveries because his prestoke strength and discipline were so well developed relative to theirs. While in the regimen of training, when he missed one training run in the annual meeting city he had, for the first time in many years, a night with poorly consolidated sleep. Stroke, cardiovascular and rehabilitation specialists need thorough and careful continuing medical education efforts about the importance of sleep and sleep disorders in the health and the recovery of all patients. An experience that prompts his emphasis on continuity of care for acute and rehab stroke and cardiovascular patients occurred when his complaints to rehab staff of lower extremity discomfort and difficulties with efforts of breathing were ignored.