Oh Shit!...MIL had mini strokes. Is this the beginning of the End?

[ingles2]

My lovely MIL is 84.
I've just had one of those awful phone calls to say that in the last 36 hours she's had 3 mini strokes and her speech is very impared.
What does this mean? Is it the beginning of the end or could it be a blip. She has various things wrong, diabetes, she needs new knees, but nothing major iykwim and I've always hoped believed she go on forever.

Sorry to hear this. I've no useful info or anything but I hope you get some answers from MN or your mil's health care people soon.

Thanks Simply... I'm sitting here worried sick now

So sorry for you. I dont know anything about strokes but a bump for you.

Thanks NAB
Anyone know anything about strokes?

My MIL had 2 strokes and a heart attack within 6 months 15 years ago, apart from slight weakness in her left hand side she is otherwise fine now, and actually recently took up horseriding after stopping when she had the strokes.

Just want you to know it might just be a wake up call rather than anything major.

HTH

Really?
How old was she?
I guess it's her age I'm really worried about. I mean it's going to happen sometime soonish I guess.. I'm gutted at the thought
She is a very strong determined woman though so for her sake I would want it to be really quick. She would hate to become really incapacitated.
I've never seen/heard her cry in all these years..

is she in hospital?

My MIL had a stroke about three years ago & has had a couple of mini strokes since. (She's 82 btw) After the first her speech was very impaired, but it has recovered a lot since, and the last mini stroke only had a temporary effect.

She does have quite a lot of communication difficulties - mainly because she has problems thinking of the right word - for example she was trying to say I wish I had a stronger personality & instead came out with 'stronger cup of tea' - and I remember once she slightly stunned DH by telling him her neighbour had 'callgirls' round instead of callers.
The hospital said she needed to practice talking, and we shouldn't try to finish her sentences for her.
She also finds music helpful - I'm not sure if that was her own idea or if someone suggested it, but she sings a lot & finds she can remember the words to songs she used to sing years ago - she is sure this helps her with her speech.

This site has a lot of information.

Sorry to hear about your mil Imgles.

I have a bit of experience of strokes as my mum had a major stroke about 6 years ago and has had several mini strokes since. With the mini strokes she recovered all her faculties again very quickly - so hopefully it will be the same for your mil. The one thing is that there is an increased risk that a major stroke might occur after a mini stroke so it is important that she sees a dr { if she hasn't already}. My mum is now very casual about hers now and won't get checked over when she's had one which is not sensible given her history.

I think there is definitely a good chance that your mil will be fine - I wish her all the best.

MIL was quite a bit younger TBH, but they were serious strokes all the same, she was totally paralysed for days (poss weeks, not sure as Dh doesn't like to talk about it, he was only a teenager)

Thanks so much Rustybear and Winetime...
She's been in hospital but has just gone home. She lives in one of those old people care communities with wardens, emergency buttons, nurses on site so is in as good a place.
That has made me feel much less worried. I'll go over in the morning and see if I can talk to the warden.

My gran-in-law had quite a big mini stroke a couple of years ago. She's almost completely recovered, apart from a slight weakness in one side and a bit of problems chewing, but still lives in her own home and discusses politics and the Apprentice with us. She's 97 now...

If she's been in hospital she's probably had a Ct scan of brain, an ECG (heart recording) and some blood tests. If they think they're definitely ministrokes she should be on aspirin, a statin (cholesterol-lowering tablet) and possibly a handful of other tablets depending on her blood pressure level and blood results. She should have been checked for diabetes. It is likely that she will need to be seen for review at the stroke clinic

If she is struggling at home she would benefit from assessment by physiotherapist - for mobility- and occupational therapist for equipment to make life easier

SALT (speech and language therapy) may also help. Some hospitals have community stroke teams who can provide all this. Other areas have 'intermediate care' teams. All of these basically provide extra support at times of crisis.

Stroke association is excellent but don't scare yourself witless reading about worst case scenarios. You may have a stroke association counsellor or adviser locally

Lots of people have strokes but once they're on preventative meds (aspirin, statin,etc) their chances of recurrence are reduced.

I hope she feels better soon

Wow thanks for all that nappy bag. She's definitely taking aspirin, thats the only thing my FIL was sure about bless him.