My mums had a stroke, what can I do to help?

[lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs]

my mums had an acute stroke on Wednesday. She wasn't taken to hospital till Thursday and they still hadn't started treatment this afternoon!
The doctors left on Friday without looking at her CT scan or setting up treatment so we are depending on oncall weekend staff. The nurses aren't very helpful and keep telling her off as she's getting confused and wandering into wrong wards. They have told us that if there's another stroke coming there's nothing they can do.

She's very confused and frustrated as she can't feel her left arm and hand, she can't see properly, has a headache, being sick and isn't following conversations well.

Someone suggested puzzles or knitting and I have sent in a little photo album.

Any info help or suggestions please

Sorry to hear this.

Can she speak? Is she getting frustrated because she cant articulate what she wants? What treatment is she on? i.e. anti coagulants/asprin etc?

can she eat? Is it that she is eating food she cant swallow well and therefore is bringing back up again?

The photo album is a good idea, but dont get upset if she fails to recognise some family members.

Her long term is ok, she remembers all of us, even my dogs name.
She should have started aspirin today but hadn't when I left at 4pm.
She's getting upset because she's confused and can't feel her left arm. She can talk. But sounds drunk.

dont push her too much just now,if the stroke was because of a blockage(most likely) not much treatment for it but she should be on blood thinners and probably high blood pressure meds.Must say the staff sound a bunch of charmers.Good she is walking around and given time things should get better though do not expect the woman you knew to be there entirely.

Thats good news.

On monday ask to see her consultant and ask what her management plan is.

Hope she improves x

Had a call 8am this morning. All been here since. She's had another massive stroke and a fit. :(
Sitting in a cafe with my sisters and little brother :(

Sorry Lisa, Thinking of you, misdee, sparkelygothkat & all your family.

I am thinking of you and your family. I know what effect a stoke can have on a person and the family. I wish you strength in these critical hours.

Thanks, just at loss if what to do. They said her brain is swelling too and she's got tubes in nose :(

Thinking of you all Lisa you have all had more than your share of hospitals I really hope things improve soon x

Sorry to hear about your mum lisa. In terms of therapy nothing is likely to happen now until tomorrow. From how she sounds she is likely to need input from physio occupational and speech therapy so making sure she gets this is important. They will then hopefully liaise with you and the family so you know what you can all do to help. Make sure they know you want to be involved and help, not all families do and so your support may not be assumed. Hope she improves quickly.

Sorry just looked back at this thread and realised I posted without reading your Sunday morning post. Thinking of you all.

I'm sorry, I've been where you are now and it's scary and sad. Please make a huge fuss about your mother's treatment - stick up for her, and yourselves. We had to do this, and we weren't hugely popular but it did make a difference.

Ask exactly what the treatment plan will be, you won't be able to pin them down for a prognosis, but get them to tell you what to expect. If they say they are going to do something make sure they do it - we had to push and push, and at one point I had a stand up row with the consultant who refused to discuss my mother's care with me because of "patient confidentiallity" - he wanted to discuss treatment with her whilst she was barely conscious and unable to speak - PRAT.

Even if your mum is unable to acknowledge you she will know you are there, you don't need to say anything much, just sit with her and reassure her.

My mother was unconscious for 3 days, they thought she was going to die (and told us so), but she proved them wrong, and after lots of rehab was able to go home and almost carry on as normal (not allowed to drive), and still is, although she is weakening now, some years on.

Thinking of you, and wishing you all well.

thinking of you,don't really know what else to say.

Thanks, met with doc today she's very nice and answered all our questions. She's been having fits because if the stroke and they said it's likely permanent. They have said there is sunstantical damage but now we want and see. She can't swallow properly so feeding her via tube.
She remembers us all and her personality is there shunning though but she tires easily and is confused and in pain :(

shes had to have an operation today, they found a blocked artery into the brain. Im sitting here waiting for news, trying to not panic and keep kids calm before ishould at them :(

Thinking of you and misdee today.

I hope you get some good news. I dont know if you saw my post on misdees thread, but my dads esophagus was paralyzed after he had a massive stroke nearly 10 years ago. He was fed through a tube to his tummy for 6 months until he was strong enough for an operation. My father is in a wheelchair (electric), lives on his own at home (after my mum was sectioned due to lewy body dementia) with help from a nurse morning and evening. He is of sound mind, he reads, uses the internet, watches tv, enjoys a good debate, and has recovered really well. It just takes time. He has the use of one hand, and some mobility in the other arm, but not his fingers. He is fit and well, but like I said, semi paralyzed.
The year he had his stroke was possibly the worst one ever, with months of recovery, treatments, Physiotherapy and amendments made to the house to make it disabled friendly. Recovery after a stroke can take a while, so be patient, and have courage.

Thinking of you all....hope the op goes as well as it can. I too know the effects of a stroke on a person and the family. It does take a lot of time but good progress can be made so patience & love are key. Wishing you these and much strength....as lilyliz said don't expect her to be the same person, she may be confused and get majorly frustrated, especially as her mind is sound but her body is not conforming. So sorry you're going through this.