Stroke help

[DixieTreats]

My friend's mother had a stroke a while ago and although she has improved, she is still struggling a lot with multiple symptoms. And the fact that she is struggling is making her depressed. The family are desperate to help her obviously, but cannot find any sort of stroke 'specialist' - even privately. My thoughts are that the stroke effects are multiple and therefore going to require help from multiple disciplines - there won't be one person who can deal with the lot. Does anyone have any experience of strokes and how to cope with the resultant health problems? This poor lady is in despair

TIA

You can search for private physiotherapists with neurology as a specialism local to you on the CSP website or try the physiofirst website. or try yell.com

of course her GP should be able to refer her for help too.

some areas have 'stroke clinics' and her GP would refer.
But they need to decide what the problems are: mobility= physio, speech= speech therapists....
GP ought to do the donkey work- have they asked?

One of my friends is an occupational therapist (not currently working though) but she specialised in elderly people including stroke patients, it might be worth googling the professional body of occupational therapists. Or if speech is a main problem, speech and language therapists. If you find a good OT they might be able to recommend a good SALT, or vice versa.

WHen my Dad had his stroke earlier this year he was assessed by OT, speech threapy and physio before leaving hospital and given outpatient support by the speech therapist (he didn't need the others), definitely worth going back to the GP and asking for referrals.

What about the Stroke ASsociation?

Thanks for the replies.

She wants to achieve basically not feeling permanently unwell. She has no energy, gastro problems, dry mouth, constantly tired. I think they're at their wits end

Sadly Dixie, some strokes result in damage that won't go.
Dry mouth could be a result of paralysis or damage to her salivary glands, and many people who have stokes are left with problems connected with swallowing due to nerve and muscle damage.
Depending on the severity of the stroke, tiredness can persist for months or for ever- strokes damage the brain and full recovery is not always possible.

The Stroke Association would be a good start- or her GP for advice?

I'm really surprised that she can 'to find a stroke specialist as most hospitals have dedicated stroke units - with doctors, physios, nurses, OTs and speech and language therapists working together.

I agree the stroke association might be a good port of call.

Where do they live ?