Hi guys,Ive had to return from Ireland as my mother has had a stroke,she is 72 and I only know a little about this subject.
Is there anyone out there with any useful info about Stokes and the short or long term effects.I can never tell with our health service as they seem to use the term “we don’t reaally know” quite alot.Any info would be a help.
Many Thanks
Phil.
Sorry about your Mom’s stroke. Not really my field, but as the C&F chief Podiatrist, I wanted to offer at least something.
Some people have what is often called a “mini” stroke or TIA-- this is where a blood vessel in the brain becomes blocked and other nearby vessels soon take over for it. Usually caused by a plaque of arteriosclerosis in the carotid arteries breaking loose and lodging in the brain. Recovery is usually fast and complete, but you do need to find out WHERE the plaque came from and address that problem.
“Real” strokes are usually more damaging and with longer term results, depending on the severity and location. Many people make nearly complete recoveries, and treatment options are better than ever.
Pretty OT, but I know how it is to have a sick parent, and it does help to have friends to turn to.
Check out this link that I just found-- looks pretty informative.
http://www.strokesocal.org/facts/
Paul
Hi Phil,
I can’t offer much information, but I’m old enough to have been close to quite a few stroke victims. I can offer prayer. That activates the One Who does know and cares, and has all the resources and help in times of trouble.
Mack
A lot depends on the severity of the
stroke–they can range to relatively
minor to fatal. Also there can
be a series of small strokes, the
effects of which accumulate. These
people really may not know–a lot
may become more clear as the days go on.
In my experience physicians who work
with strokes often tell you the worst
case scenario. It’s a good idea to
see if you can stay in touch with
the situation and trust your gut
instincts about what is going on.
Nurses who work with such patients
are pretty realistic and good people
to talk to.
If it’s at all possible, she should
be in rehab soon.
If I may tell you a personal story,
my sister had a stroke at 28, due to an
aneurism. This was followed by
neurosurgery–ill advised–which
caused a brain spasm which did a lot
more damage. I was in India at the time,
and returned to urgent calls of alarm
from family, to find her like a rag
doll in a stroke ward.
There was no indication that she
could see us or hear us–this went on
for three very dark months. The neurologist
we consulted assured us that she would
never talk again, they had seen hundreds
of such cases, none of them had
ever talked again–until one day
she started talking again.
I am describing
what is probably a vastly worse case
than that of your mother. The point is: Keep thinking, and take good care of yourself!
You can be sure our thoughts are
with you. Jim
Phil,
Go to http://www.healthfinder.gov/
This is the US government’s gateway to what they consider reliable sources on public health information. Enter ‘stroke’ in the seach block on the first page and, it will return a huge number of sources of info on the subject.
Hope this helps.
Phil - With a cerebrovascular accident (CVA, stroke) so much depends on the nature of it - whether it was occlusive (blocked blood vessel in the brain) or hemorrhagic (bleed in the brain), what part was affected, which side of the brain is impaired, etc. I’ve seen some remarkable recoveries occur, and a lot depends on the attitude of the individual, as well as the severity of the stroke. If it’s not too painful, it could be helpful if you could relate how your mother is doing; I might be able to provide a bit more specific information.
I fully agree with what Mack related. I will add my prayers.
Jim
My thought and prayers too, Phil. Gm
Phil,
Put me in the no knowledge, but lots of love category. I hope that you and your family will find comfort as you start toward recovery.
Peace,
Erik
I went theough this with my mom, who had a very severe stroke and she ended up lasting 8 months in a vegetative coma. You do NOT want this for you or her.
One thing I can share is this…apparently after the stroke the brain scan shows many cells destroyed; some of them are actually destoyed by the stroke, but others are sort of “Knocked out” by the trauma and will come back when swelling goes down. My understanding is, they cannot tell at that point which cells will eventually come back and this is why it is hard for them to tell you what is going to happen for her.
My friend’s Mom recently had a pretty bad stroke. They said she would never walk again. Well, now she walks with only the aid of a walker…so you never know!
My thoughts are certainly with you. I kkow theuincertainty is awful to deal with.
Phil
My own mother is also 72 and ill at the moment. The irony of it (Apart from the fact that she is in hospital in the UK and I’m in Ireland - a switch around from your situation) is that I am a very senior (and published) nurse educationalist - as well as a whistle dealer!
I have never felt more helpless and frustrated, than I do at the moment. I feel that I should know something about her problems, but I don’t because I have literally spent 30 years working in a completely different specialism from that related to her illness.
My calls - and limited (I confess) personal visits - to the nurses and doctors who are caring for her only leave me feeling more frustrated and more sure that I know nothing about her problems and my attempts to research the topics (and believe me, I know how to research nursing subjects) do nothing to help me feel that I am getting anywhere.
What has helped most is believing that she is in good hands at the hospital - and complaining when I felt she wasn’t - and doing what I can to make sure that I am maining my own personal relationship with her.
I doubt that this helps you - but I thought you might like to know that you’re not alone in this particularly difficult type of situation.
All the best,
Steve Power
[ This Message was edited by: StevePower on 2001-10-27 12:10 ]
WOW ,Im knocked out by your responses.
I can’t tell you how much this meens,I don’t feel so alone with it now.
Ive just got back from the ward and they say that it is a blood clot type which has effected the right side of the brain so the left arm and we think leg as well as the face have been hit.She is resonably coherent but the morpheen just makes her very sleepy.
She has pain in her lower back and thigh but my osteopath friend says that this is due to her being on her back for so long,so we,ve tried to adjust her posture with pillows.
On a scale of 1-10 this is a 5,so I think there is hope that maybe she can make some kind of recovery.
I’ll check out where they think the clop came from if this will help.
Thankyou all so much for your concern and well wishing,it is very much needed at this time and I must say that I feel honoured to be part of such a caring network.
All the best
Phil.
PS,I look forward to anymore info.
Sounds promising. Plenty of people her age
can make a reasonable recovery from that
sort of condition. Do take good care
of yourself; please stay in touch.
Don’t know what you’ve been told by the medical folks at your end; in any stroke, especially those that affect the left side of the body, there is the possibility that the person winds up somewhat ignoring the affected side of the body. When you visit, try to sit or stand on her left side, drawing attention to that side. If she is able to move or use her left arm at all, please encourage her to do so. With a stroke affecting the left side, there’s also the possibility that some aspects of cognitive functioning may be impaired, and this can include difficulty in figuring out how to put on clothing.
The aim in rehabilitation will be to encourage as much physical and cognitive recovery as possible (which can occur over a fairly prolonged period of time,) and to provide “gadgets” or tools which will help to compensate for any remaining difficulties. These tools may include a wheelchair, walker, knife for use with one hand only, etc. This is a little ahead of things right now; the chief thing for you right now is to be there and make sure that she gets the best physical care, including the prevention of stiff limbs (contractures) if she can’t move them herself, and making sure that she doesn’t get bedsores. The latter may involve using pillows / cushions for easing the pressure, as well as making sure that she is turned frequently. (This should be standard practice, but I know very nothing of the facility your mother is in.) If the left arm isn’t moving or has very little strength, it’s also important to support the arm and not pull on it, as it’s possible to pull the arm partially or fully out of socket.
In addition to what Lizzie says above about certain traumatized (but not destroyed) areas of the brain recovering, the brain also seems to have the capacity to “reroute” the control of the affected areas to undamaged brain areas. Time will tell a lot, and your presence and encouragement will mean a lot to your mother.
Surround yourself with friends at your end for encouragement, love and support; the love expressed here is tremendous, but face-to-face contact is even more vital.
Dear Phil,
I just want to send all my love and hope your way. I’ll play you and your mom an air on my new and beautiful Kerry-Pro low D .
In prayer,
Chris
Phil,
Very sorry to hear about your mother.
I have extensive personal experience with this type of situation - I’ll spare you the details of my experience, but here’s what’s important to know:
The first 6 months after a major stroke are the most critical. If the victim suffers paralysis and/or cognitive damage, she will make the most improvement in the first 6 months, after that you’re likely to see little improvement.
The most important thing for most stroke victims is to get agresssive physical therapy as soon as possible after the stroke. If a person works VERY hard in the first six months after the stroke, there is a good chance that much improvement will be realized. Paralysis can be (largely) overcome and mental facility can be greatly improved. Delaying therapy can be highly detrimental and is to be avoided at all costs.
Good luck and best wishes for your mother’s recovery.
Loren
Hi guys,thanks a million for your support it really has been helpful.I feel now that I have you all at my back and will put all this useful info to good use.
I’ll keep you posted on progress.
At the end of the day ,we are all in His hands.
Phil.