Hello,
In early December, my husband experienced a mini-stroke (TIA). He was outside when it happened and he temporarily lost the use of his legs. He called an ambulance and spent over a week in hospital.
In hospital, tests showed he has atrial fibrillation and atherosclerosis as well as very high blood pressure. He was discharged, once his blood pressure stabilised a little, with quite a few medications to take.
I do not live with my husband, but I see him every day. I bought him a docket box because he was becoming confused by the amount of tablets he had to take. He has (mild) autism and some mental health difficulties. I have also been encouraging him to walk a little more, and perhaps join a group at the local leisure centre (there is a group for people who want to increase mobility).
However, he still only walks a few yards from his lodgings to the shops. I realise the group activities may be a little overwhelming for him, but he will not even take a short walk around the park with me.
One of the medications is a diuretic, and my husband is becoming really anxious about going to the toilet or having an accident. I have introduced him to some discreet incontinence pants, and advised him to see the GP about a medication review if things get too bad.
He was advised to eat a 'Mediterranean' diet. However, I think he interprets this as 'eat lots of tinned spaghetti'. We have shopped for a few healthier options, but he really does not like change, and he tends to go back to his old favourites.
I have been in touch with adult social care, but he does not meet their criteria for support (he is too capable). His mental health team seem to have gone off the radar (again). Yet, I am worried that unless he starts to get a bit more exercise and starts to eat a bit healthier, he is really putting his health at risk. However, I don't want to stress him too much, because that is equally as bad.
I apologise for the length of this message, but am I expecting too much too soon? How long should it take people to recover from TIAs?