My dad has had a stroke - any good advice?

[niceglasses]

My lovely Dad, a very young 71, has had a stroke. Possibly a mini one followed by a larger one. We are so shocked. He is coming round, speech getting better in fits and starts. I know acting quickly is key. Anyone have an tips/advice to help or even just experience?

T in advance.

lots of experience, unfortunatly.

how long ago was the stroke?

Yesterday around 5pm. Got to hospital straight away, lots of waiting around, but admitted to stroke unit about 9pm. My mum gone in today so no news yet. I can't get in today but will tomorrow hopefully.

Speech coming and going. Weakness down left side.

that was quick treatment. what have they started him on?

dh was very confused, and weakness down his right side.

When I left they hadn't given anything - just an anti-emitic for nausea. He was supposed to be having a CT scan today but have heard nothing just yet. I did think they maybe should have given him something.

CT scan is about right, hopefully that will be done, i dont think they can give til lthey confirm its a clot or bleed. not sure though.

Sorry to hear that niceglasses

Thanks LVofCake and Mama. Poor old dad.

My dad had one earlier this year at 78, and sadly hasn't made progress. If your dad is having speech coming back already then this is a VERY good sign - they look for speech and swallowing returning as signs of progress. We couldn't get physio or speech therapy for my dad until he had shown some signs of progress, so it doesn't look as if he will get any now.

It's very frustrating as the mind is still working but it can't get the body to do what it wants, and you just have to sit there being completey incapable.

Salt assessment of communication essential (I am a salt) I would pay to go private if non forthcoming on NHS.
Salts can also do dysphagia (swallowing) assessment.

Mine had a SALT on NHS but she wasn't much use, sadly.

Oh dear.Why i wonder?

dh has seen SALT at harefield.

so sorry to hear this niceglasses, it really isnt plesent to witness happen to anyone. its very upsetting, and knocked me for a while when peter had his last one.

Well, I am going by my mum's report as I wasn't here at the time, but it doesn't sound as if she was really bothered about helping him make much progress. he could just be a difficult case, though. He can only really make vowel sounds and i think if anything his speech has got worse in the 6 months since the stroke.

Hmmm
What a lot of peole don't understand is that communication is so much more than 'just' getting a person to speak.A full assessment will help uncover if there are comprehensio problems (ie are they not understanding what others are sying) and which modalities (out of the four,listening hearing,speaking, writing) are intact and which impaired and making appropriate adjustments.

Speaking of which...back to the day job!

Sorry to hear that. Ask for a referral to a specialist neurological rehabilitation team, through the GP or neurologist. A good team will have physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, nurses, occupatsychologists, and specialist doctors. You may have to push for this.I work in one but in some areas access is difficult. Watch out for problems other than with communication, like with memory or concentration. A good speech therapist can help develop a system for the family to communicate and measure progress. Also watch out for signs of depression, such as loss of interest in things, loss of appetite, irritability. Communication problems can mask depression. Some low mood normal though, its a traumatic thing to experience, especially when you can't easily communicate your feelings and worries. Again a good therapist or GP can assess for depression, which can occur even months later, even if things are improving in other ways. Keeping active pysically and mentally and helping person to still feel useful and needed is important.

Sorry, meant to type occupational therapists but pop-up got in the way!