Did anyone get to attend the LESSSI World Conference this past weekend. I thought it might be nice if people could post what they learned and enjoyed about the conference so that it could benefit everyone who visits the board.

Thanks for your help.

Kathy

This is the first time I have been to the conference. It was very informative. ANYONE who is a member of LSESSI should attend one of these conferences. It really is just like meeting your extended family. All were very friendly, and willing to share their stories. I especially liked the discussion board. It was 2 days full of useful information, with the added bonus of meeting new friends. I look forward to going again.

yeah it would be nice to attend the lsessi conference for those of us who belong but take into consideration that are alot of us who cannot afford to go! i am sure one can learn alot but if you cannot afford to go you stay at home!

i for one have never been able to make it to the conference but from what everyone has stated to me not only is it informative but also one has alot of fun and laughter which we all need. i know i have obtained alot of helpful information from lsessi. it would be nice if some day we all could make it. but it is way to far for me to travel but it is a wonderful org. i for one am proud to belong to!

The conference was really a good time. My wife and I came from Pa. It was really an eye openner for me. i was struck by lightning 18 years ago and i have never talked to anyone who had a simmilar experience. I could not believe all the people who have similar to down right exact symptoms to me. I thought all of this time that I was alone in all of this............boy was I wrong.
Dave C.

Yes I did attend the LSESSI conference and again this year I learned a few things but most important was I got to see my LSESSI family. I also didn't have to act like I don't hurt or that I wasn't brain dead, most of us have the same problems so we understand when we have to stand up or go to our room and lay down, even for a short time. We understand when we can't think of what we wanted to say or that we can't remember soneones name. We have a great time and laugh alot at ourselves because we all understand.

The conference helps me to remember that I am not crazy, like some doctors what me to think, that I do have real physical and emotional problems, caused by something real-electricity.

I would also like to say if you are a member and can not afford to go please let someone know at the home office we might be able to help.

I would also like for members to let the home office know if we should move the location somewhere else, maybe every 2 years or every year, so that people who can not travel very far could attend, this is the only way the home office knows your ideas and thoughts. Please remember if you want to suggest a town or city we need a motel or hotel who can hanle at least 500 people, a conference room, handicapp rooms, and something for kids to do. These are just a few of the special things we need from a city or hotel, but any suggests are welsome, please let us know, if you have any ideas about the conference any ideas at all please let the home office know we welcome any and all suggestions.

My wife and I attended for the first time, and I wish I had somehow managed to get there when this first happened. While I have been fortunate not to have any Dr.s tell me I'm crazy, they just did not understand the problems.I did find one Dr. who was somewhat familiar with electrical injurys, but was at a loss as to what to do about it. If any one is thinking about attending but can't afford it, I'm here to tell you you can't afford not to. Maybe we could make some videos available for those that can't. There were peaple there much worse off than I am who made a comeback, and you need to talk to these peaple.

P.S. God bless Steve and Joyce

i disagree , sure we all would like to go to the conference but yet what do you do feed your family or worry about paying for a conference, i know it would be imformative but there are lots of us who cannot afford it, the hotel fee, even though very reasonable or let alone the transportation!! i choose to try to feed my family!

I really wanted to go to the conference too. I have a family that also needs to be taken care of. I think the idea of tapes would be a great idea.

Responding to the last few comments, I have not been to a conference and I too have children. Going to the conference would have put a strain on finances which would effect the children and my husband. But what about the strain our injury has on them. The pain they see us in and the mood swings they have to put up with. I didn't go because we closed on our new house at the same time.

If we don't do anything to improve our condition, then the chances are that it won't improve. I think for our family's sake, we have to do all we can to learn and then act on that information.

If we go to the conference and learn something, then doesn't our family benifit from that too? I know deep down, my children would give up anything to have me back to the way I used to be.

It's not enough to just research things, we have to act on what we learn. There are things we can do to improve our symptoms, ease the pain, eat healthy and if nothing else, just get out and walk everyday. Work through the pain. Even if it is just 5 minutes a day. It still 5 minutes.

I have talked several times on this forum and privately to many of the people. People are LOOKING for answers and some are GETTING the answers.

I have looked and I have found some answers. Ya know what? I am improving. I am getting better. Not from any miracle treatment or drug. I am getting better because I changed the way I was eating and I am getting out and getting good exercise and I started at 5 minutes a day. Now I have energy all day. The pain is getting more managable too and my moods are getting a lot better.

To get better, ya gotta make the effort and that same thing goes for the conference too. If you want to get better, make the effort.

Kelly,

It is wonderful to hear that things are working for you. Thank you for sharing that perspective.

That is the real purpose of this board--supporting each other and sharing useful information.

Kathy

don't preach about making an effort to go to the conference SIMPLY some of us can't afford it!

Preach? I'm not preaching anything. It is my experiance and my comment, and I for one, am improving. That is what this forum is about. When we find something that works or helps, we should share it. There is more than just one person that reads this forum and maybe you didn't like what I said but that doesn't mean it wouldn't help someone else. If I help even one person in the world, I will be happy. And, if not, well atleast I made an effort.

Seems to "me" a lot of people go to doctor after doctor looking for answers or cures. Doctors can only do so much. They are just as human as we are.

I think the best thing any of us can do for our devastating injuries is except the fact the doctors are human and can only do so much. Then understand that if we really want to improve our lives (with or without injury) we need to take the responcibility and make ourselves well.

Attitude is so very important. We can whine and cry and complain about our injuries, or, we can do something about it. Like I said, get out side and walk, doesn't matter how slow or fast or how far, even if you need a cane or walker or wheel chair. We are only as crippled as we allow ourselves to be.

I have a hand full of pinched nerves and deteriorating spine and dislocated shoulder and rotator cuff tendonitis, bone cysts and my whole system is screwed up and nothing works right and I have pain that just makes me scream. I have nightmares and dizzy spells and my memory is bad. I get confused and forgetful and migranes. Just to name a few.

I fished all weekend and peddled a boat out on a lake all last weekend, now I am in the process of moving, painting and cleaning and tons of yard work. The more I do, the better I feel. The better I feel, the more I can do. I have even cut back on pain medication. I have had 7 days and counting in a row that have been wonderful. Do I hurt? Yes but it is getting better. I am careful to pace myself and take breaks to rest. My injury has not changed, just my attitude.

The Special Olympics are full of crippled or disabled or diseased people. Young and old alike, their attitude makes the difference.

P.S. It may cost money to go to the conference, but the last time I checked, a good healthy attitude is one thing in life that is still free.

Kelly

kelly,
thanks for those great comments, The very instant we feel defeated we are. I really needed to hear some of that, I feel the same way you do.
Am a patient of Dr.H's,just came through spinal
surgery,have a host of other conditions(some
permant, some temporary).
I was fortunate enough to go to the Conference,
will be there again next year. I think it is without a doubt the finest organization I have
ever been a part of.Congradulations to Steve & Joyce and family
We had such a great time this year, there was alot acclomplished . I think my favorite
time was at the auction.when a CD made by one of
the members Justin from England,bid for $100.00,
the same as a t-shirt made by one of the members
brought over $100.00.He wore that shirt all weekend lol.Knowing that the $$ was going to be
used by good people, to do good things made me feel very proud to be part of this fine group.
But to see hope glimmer in someones eye, when they have been drug down for so long makes it all worth wile. Knowing know they are on the right path to "recovery" and met a few friends along the way to share it with.
Ron T.
p.s. Hi Kathy

Hi Ron,

Glad you are doing well

Please keep in touch.

Kathy

I'M REALLY UPSET WITH THIS PERSON BEING SO NEGETATIVE ABOUT THE CONFERENCE AND BEING UNABLE TO AFFORD TO GO. I'M ONE OF THESE PEOPLE BUT I'D NEVER BE SO RUDE TO POST A MESSAGE AS YOU DID! THERE ARE A LOT OF RECOVERYING PATIENTS ON HERE THEY DON'T NEED YOUR UGLINESS ON HERE. MY HUSBAND AND I WANTED TO ATTEND THIS CONFERENCE SO BAD AND THE DOCTORS WOULD NOT EVEN LET ME LEAVE TOWN WITH HIM THATS HOW SICK AND HOW MUCH PAIN HE IS IN.OUR FAMILY IS BEING TORMENTED EVERYDAY AND I DON'T NEED YOU ON HERE!! AND I'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET MY HUSBAND ONLINE YET AND YOU KNOW I'M SO GLAD BECAUSE AT THIS POINT HE HAS BEEN HAVING PANIC ATTACKS, HE DOESN'T DO WELL WITH SOMEONE BEING MAD OR UPSET AND THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE!! MY HUSBAND WAS SHOCKED ON JAN-16 AND OUR LIVES HAVE CHANGED AND THERES NOT A DAY THAT ME OR ONE OF OUR CHILDREN DOES NOT CRY. I'M SORRY YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO GO BUT THATS NOT A REASON TO BE UGLY ON THIS BOARD WITH PEOPLE. YOU SHOULD LEARN TO LOVE AND APPRECIATED THESE PEOPLE ON HERE THEY HAVE HELPED ME SO MUCH AND BEFORE I FOUND THIS DISCUSSION BOARD I KNEW NOTHING ON THIS THING THAT IS DESTORYING THE MAN I LOVE!!!!!!SO BACK OFF A LITTLE BIT ON THIS OKAY. BELINDA

it is still a free country and discussion board

>>>>>>>>>>>

-- Kid's Proverbs --

If At First You Don't Succeed... Get New Batteries.
An Idle Mind Is... The Best Way To Relax.
Where There's Smoke, There is... Pollution.
Happy The Bride Who... Gets All The Presents!
A Penny Saved Is... Not Much.
If You Lie Down With The Dogs, You'll... Stink In The
Morning.
Better To Be Safe Than. .. Punch A 5th Grader.
It's Always Darkest Before... Daylight Savings Time.
Never Under Estimate The Power Of.. Termites.
You Can Lead A Horse To Water But.. How?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

hi: how about some laughter, i have not been at the boards for awhile, looks as though everyone could use some laughs, so i hope this helps!
barb

I think the saying ( it's a free country ) is abused and that's the reason this world is in such a mess! Some people doesn't understand the real meaning. It's just a way to cover up something that's not right in this country!!I hope you find yourself a new dicussion board soon!!

thank you barb, Your sweet, Belinda

I can certainly understand the frustration of not having enough money to go to the conference, feed your family, and even get proper medical help. I was reasonably financially secure when I had my missfortune. Watching my hard earned assets go down the drain was very depressing[and still is].But after hearing "anonymous's" complaints, it helps me to realise how much worse off I could be. I can't honestly say my additude would be any better, as much as I would like to think so, if I were in his shoes. I will say that any negative I focus on has the potential to completely over whelm me at times. I hope that "anonymous" can get some kind of counsling, moral support, or something. I myself can't support the level of negative thinking and bitterness I used to handle prior to being shocked. At the conference, the peaple that seemed to handle it all the best were the ones with the best additude, and they weren't nessarily the peaple with the least injurys.

hi doug,kelly, belinda and all: i also understand all the frustration of things, turmoils, adversity, trails and many many problems that go along when we or someone we know and love becomes injuried and yes it changes us and everyone we come in contact with, we also can choose our destinations in life, as to be happy, with the right attitude and help or choose to go thru life and blame everyone else! life is hard and when we get hurt it is harder but with loved ones and the friends and acquaintances we all make , like thru this board we can gain alot of insight not only to what is going on with ourselves ,to give us some understanding but also how it affects others and yes there are those worse than others but we all need the friendship and companionship via loved ones or who we meet thur email and so forth. one can gain alot from others but at the same token that person maybe does not realize that they also offer alot! we can gain strength from others, as for me i have meet alot of very caring people from this board who i keep in contact with and more still to meet! as for me someday i will make it to the conference but the timing has not been right for me but at the same token i have learned so much from joyce & steve, there hearts are full yet overwhelming with information and love to share. one can learn alot from them and others, so lets share our love and friendship for the better not the worse. we all have alot to offer via be just a quick note of hi or simply just knowing that we or all of us are here for each other. well i rambled on long enough. keep the faith, better yet SMILE.....it goes alot further than a frown, you know when you smile and someone sees it they smile and it goes on and on!

My Wife became pregnant about a year after my electrical accedent. She is now about 6 months. Is there any possibility our new born could be effected? I would like to hear from those who had healthy, normal babys too please!

"Preacher here" sorry it has taken me a while to get back on here. I just got my computer here to the new house. It's not even on the desk yet.

I just want to add; in addition to all the pain and damage I have (mentioned above) I have also suffered a lot of loss because of this injury. I lost my home which I had a lot of equity in and 2 of my children and cash amount well in the thousands. I inherrited it shortly after the injury happened. After 18 months, I just now have my daughter of 13 back and I still don't have my son who is 16. I haven't seen him since last summer.

I really know what loss is, but I choose to keep a good attitude.

Thanks you all for the wonderful response and support.

Kelly

kelly: i know somewhat you are going thru, when i got hurt 6 yrs ago, i lost everything i mean everything, i have my sons though. thank God for that! but i have not recovered from that either. how do you get back things , when you are not able to work anymore, even though they are material things, still i worked hard to get them and boom , gone! it really does an emotional thing on you! yeah we have to keep a good attitude but it does get tuff, alot of the times! we all have been thru alot, so important we support each other, no matter what it takes, hang in there kelly (preacher) he he! glad you got the computer going again. SMILE

Hi Barb,

It is so very hard to except to except the fact that we have lost so much. Our health, material things, family, money, self respect, friends to name a few.

The hardest thing to do is to keep a good attitude when all of this has happened. Attitude is one thing we do have control over though.

Our new house is simply beautiful. I just love it. One of the things that I really like about it is the fact that it is already landscaped. I am one who loves flowers. It is so hard to plant things anymore and someone has already done it for me. For the first time my children all have their own rooms. They are on cloud nine. We have 2.5 acres of trees, wild life and plenty of room. Last night, we all sat around a camp fire, just a few feet from our patio, and roasted hot dogs and made smores. I just want to cry, when I look at how happy my kids are.

I am not bragging, there is a point to all of this. My husband, Kevin, has made all of this come true for my kids and I. He loved this house long before he knew me. It is beautifully decorated. My mother passed away a few years ago and I inherited many of her nice things.

Kevin and I met 15 months ago over the internet and were married 6 months ago. Beautiful church wedding and now the house. He is not happy. I found a love that I never knew existed. I have spent 17 years of my life married before Kevin so I know what to expect. I have many happy memories with my previous husband and we are still good friends and even better now that we are 1500 miles apart. Kevin has never been married. We are the same age and we both come from the same religious back ground. He has always wanted a family. He is great with my kids and they just adore him. But, he is not happy.

Kevin has lived in the same peaceful town all of his life. He has a wonderful close family, a good job and still has his man hobbies (hunting, fishing ect.) even though he is now married. He has never been sick other than colds and the occaisional flu. He has never been injured other than a few bumps and bruises. And, he is not happy.

Sometimes, I think, we are the blessed ones to have had and then lost. I say this because we know what it is to have and to lose. We know what made us happy and what makes us sad. Some people, like Kevin, seem lost because they have not had the priviledge of learning this valuable lesson.

I find it strange that I am the one who has lost so much and lives with so much pain to be the one who feels sorry for Kevin who lives with no pain and no loss.

Kelly

if anyone was at the conference, could you please post some info or maybe yet pictures!

Going to my first conference (last year- this was my 2nd year) helped me in many ways.
1. It was the first person or people that I talked with that knew what I was going thru. The only people I had talked with was doctors no survivors,my accident was 6 years before my first conference.
2. Helped with medical conditions and tests that I should have.
3. Helped me to understand that I wasn't crazy that my health problems were real.
4. I also learned that I should procede with my Social Security Disability Case. I come home, got a lawyer and won my case.
5. I also knew after the conference I wanted a computer, to talk with my new family.
I know that several of you can not afford going to the conference, but this discussion board helps me, it sites like this that help me when I talk to other survivors, hear there problems and realize mine are not so bad.
I am still working on my attitude, losing my life style and on my hate of the person who caused my accident.
One thing that also helps me is to tell people about our group, this site and LSESSI INC. Telling people about my symptons and the symptons of other, lightning and electrical survivors, they say things like I didn't know that could happen or I thought lightning just killed people, if you lived you was alright. They also look at me and say I thought you was alright you like alright, they realize that we look O.K. but inside we have a lot of problems both physical and emotionally.
I know a lot of you can't afford to go to the conference but please feel free to e-mail, write or call any of us. We are here to help any and all who need help, you do not need to attend the conference for us to help you.
Also, Is anyone else getting tried of being called SPARKY?
Today is my birthday and I'm glad I'm here to celebrate it with my family.
This is one of my new outlooks on life. Yes I hurt and have problems but I'm here to talk with my family and friends, even if it is to complain, and that is getting better. I hope that everyone works on their adittude, it thats a lot of practice but it does help.

Lee, I enjoyed your Email, and I found a lot in common. I hate being called "sparky" for one. I also just had my birthday the 22nd with my family.
I would like to share a word or two on the "hate who did this to me thing". After my accedent, and all the joys that come with it, I became consummed with hatred and a desire for revenge against the person or persons who caused my accedent. They became the object of my all too frequent anger and frustrations, especially if there was no one else near by to scream and yell at. Eventually I discovered one of the peaple responsible was a person whom I had developed a close working relationship, and on more than one occasion had pulled me out of a bind. This person was one of the hardest working individuals the company had. That was at the root of the problem. He was called from place to place so fast to deal with emergency repairs that he was often working long hours, and bore the brunt any time something went wrong, which was all too frequent. He was a person like me, with a family and all. This wasn't the guy I wanted too hate. I had assumed all along it was one of the slackers that made everyone's job more difficult. I feel bad for this guy. He was the last person in that company that would have intentionally put someone in danger. I have forgiven him in my heart, and I am trying not to focus any more energy on hatred resentment, and other negative thoughts. It may be my right to be angry, but it dosn't help my situation, it only makes it worse. My advise would be to spend your energy wisely, as much as possible, on good things in your life. I know I would have a real problem if I had caused someone this much harm.

Thank You Doug for your answer to my e-mail. It is really hard to forgive people who hurt us but I know I should. The person who hurt me still doesn't think he did anything wrong, he is so stupid. No one can beleive he doesn't believe he was wrong-but he was. I am trying real hard to stop thinking about him, he's not worth my time or any ones. I do believe that someday he will have to face what he did to me, that helps my attitude.
When I get some of my pictures from the conference I will try to put them on here - remember I am just learning to use my computer.
KATHY If I can help in any way to save this discussion board let me know will be glad to help.
I hope everyone is having a good Memerial Day.

I found some saying that I try to keep on my mind and in my heart. Maybe they will help someone else.

1. Either you control your attitude or it controls you.

2. Sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

3.Our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

i believe in saying what is on your mind and also in your heart but as someone who has been going thru this for a long long time , this injury completely changes who we are, we are not the same person we once was and it is hard not only for us but are loved ones to understand and someone who is just now figuring out what has happened to there body is a big big adjustment, no we do not mean to be cruel, is that the same as trying to blame others for an injury? yes our background had some influence on who we became, that was then and even now it is a struggle to remember that when an injury has completely change ones life, it changes the neurons in the body and all the chemical releases, so it is very hard, yep we have our good days and bad ones and forgive us for the bad ones, when we are very irritable, moody, short tempered, in alot of pain we are trying to be responsbile but you know what we cannot do it alone.

There may be days
when you get up in the morning
and things aren't the way
you had hoped they would be.


That's when you have to
tell yourself that things will get better.
There are times when people
disappoint you and let you down.


But those are the times
when you must remind yourself
to trust your own judgments and opinions,
to keep your life focused on believing in yourself.


There will be challenges to face
and changes to make in your life,
and it is up to you to accept them.


Constantly keep yourself headed
in the right direction for you.
It may not be easy at times,
but in those times of struggle
you will find a stronger sense of who you are.


So when the days come that are filled
with frustration and unexpected responsibilities,
remember to believe in yourself
and all you want your life to be.

Because the challenges and changes
will only help you to find the goals
that you know are meant to come true for you.


Keep Believing in Yourself