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General health

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Original poster

Advice on Strokes and recovery please.

21 replies

mommy6 · 06/11/2008 09:45

Friends Dh had a stroke sunday morning.He was moved to the stroke ward yesterday afteroon.It was a bad stroke leaving him with just movement in the one arm.He has no speach or other movements.But he did manage to say Home yesterday and he seems to understand what is being said to him.
Anybody know how much improvement we are likely to see.I know it will depend on lots of things but just need to know there will be some improvement.

OP posts:

scattyspice · 06/11/2008 13:05

Sorry mommy, only just seen this. I work on a stroke unit.

His symptoms now may not be permenant as when the stroke happens (either a bleed or blood clot to a blood vessel in the brain), the surrounding area of brain goes into 'shock' (just like when you break a bone, the limb swells up and needs to be immobilised for 6 wks). This lasts about 6 wks, by 6wks time you will be able to see what long term damage may have been done. He should continue to recover until about 12 wks poststroke (and then more slowly).

Good luck.

Original poster

mommy6 · 06/11/2008 16:31

Thank you scattyspice for your reply.
Since posting i have spoke to my friend,Her Dh also has MS.His MS consultant has been to see him today and said its not a stroke.
He is being moved to a different hospital tonight.The consultant is unsure what the problem is and is sending him for a MRI scan asap.

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scattyspice · 07/11/2008 10:43

Oh dear mommy, that is more difficult to predict . Hope things work out well.

Original poster

mommy6 · 07/11/2008 12:36

Friends Dh (P) was moved last night.He has had a MRI and this is clear.Friend (K) said it feels like P is slowly slipping away.
I hope they get better news today.

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frostyfingers · 07/11/2008 15:44

Try not to despair. My mother had a major stroke last July (she's 70), and wasn't expected to survive. She was in hosp for 3 months, then stroke rehab and then stayed with my sister and I for a while. She went back to live at home in January this (alone, my dad died 25 years ago) with initially a live in carer, then daily help and now weekly help. (My sis and I aren't happy about this, but it's what she wants so we go with it!). She lost her speech completely for about 2 weeks, was completely paralysed down her right hand side. Now she manages pretty well - looks after herself completely, although she can't drive yet. She has just had a driving assessment though and been told that with some lessons on using an automatic and having an adapted car she will be able to which is fantastic news. So, although things are grim at the moment, it doesn't mean they always will be. It's a long and rocky road, exhausting, depressing and frightening and the person you get back is not the same, but it's better than them not being there at all. Of course, everyone is affected differently, but please tell your friend that things should improve, just be patient. Best wishes to them and you.

Original poster

mommy6 · 08/11/2008 09:48

frostyfingers i'm glad to read your mom has got alot better,and hope she carries on getting better.
Afew hours after P was moved, it was found that he had a blood clot deep in his brain.He had a long op yesterday afternoon.He is now back in ICU on a venalator.The consultant didn't really want to put him on a venalator but said P was too ill not too.They are not sure how much he will improve,only time will tell.All we can do is wait.P is only 46 he should have lots of years ahead of him.

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Original poster

mommy6 · 09/11/2008 11:43

There still isn't any change,apart from P is now off the venalator.He hasn't shown any signs of movement and hasn't spoke.
I have tried to phone K this morning but got no answer so have text her.I am worried that something happened because i haven't heard from her.We have been keeping in contact so this is abit worrying.

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aDad · 09/11/2008 12:58

Sorry to hear all this. A subject close to home for me as my dad has had 2 major ones down the years. Must be very traumatic for your friend mommy6.

It's such a tough time and there's no way of predicting outcomes or level of improvement unfortunately is there - brain injuries can be so subtle. It's one of those terrible 'one day at a time' situations and things become clearer, but usually only very slowly.

Fingers crossed for your friend's DH.

Original poster

mommy6 · 09/11/2008 13:15

Thank you aDad.
Still no news yet today.I'm hoping its no news is good news.But we usally speak or text about 10am so i'm getting more worried has the day goes by.I just hope K's dad is with her so she isn't on her own.

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Original poster

mommy6 · 16/11/2008 13:21

It has been 2 weeks today since P was taken ill.On wednesday it was decided to do a tracheotomy,because he has a very bad chest infection.He has been put on a ward now but there is no improvement.It has been decided that if his heart stops they will not try to restart it.It doesn't look good and it sounds like the consultants not very hopeful.P has been on IV AB's for nearly 2 weeks and his chest it not clearing.He still hasn't got any movement or speech.

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LurkerOfTheUniverse · 16/11/2008 14:28

just saw this and was about to post something about strokes then read your last post
so sorry, 46 is no age really

aDad · 17/11/2008 12:07

Just caught up on this. That sounds really rough mommy6. Wishing your friend and her family strength, and some good news against the odds...

Original poster

mommy6 · 19/11/2008 14:32

Thanks aDad.
Still no good news.P is now having long periods without taking a breath.His chest infection is worse and still no movement.He slept all the time K was there yesterday.

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scattyspice · 19/11/2008 16:57

So sorry to read this mommy6. It doesn't sound good .

Original poster

mommy6 · 22/11/2008 18:20

There still isn't any improvement in fact i think P is worse.He now has a temp and consultant wants to put a peg in to feed him.
I feel so so sad for P and his lovely wife and ds.I just wish there would be some improvement,it's been 3 weeks tomorrow.

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Original poster

mommy6 · 09/02/2009 10:29

Just a update.
P came home for the day on saturday,for the first time.He spent all day in his own home for the first time since november.It was really nice for him but abit upsetting when he had to go back.His speech is slowly improving and he has some movement in his arms.He can't walk but i don't think anybody is really that worried about that.He gets very cross and upset but he is slowly coming to terms with everything.
I just hope now the the home visits happen more often.And soon he might be home.

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frostyfingers · 09/02/2009 11:38

That's brilliant news - 3 months ago it wouldn't have seemed possible. Progress is so slow but it does happen. Is he having antidepressants at all, my mother did and does (she tried stopping them with disastrous results), it may be worth checking. Try the Stroke Association if you haven't already, they are helpful. Is he in a rehab unit? Ours were brilliant and took my mum home for a home check and gave her/us a list of what could be done to make the environment safer. It's exhausting for everyone, but there is obviously hope.

Original poster

mommy6 · 09/02/2009 12:00

He was moved to rehab last monday.They are doing a home check this wednesday and someone is meeting them at rehab with a mobility car to try.Thing are starting to happen at long last.
He is on antidepressants which are helping.
Hope your mom is still doing well.

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frostyfingers · 09/02/2009 12:19

Sounds like all is well under control. My mum is ok, she has good days and bad but is determined to stay in a wildly unsuitable house miles from any where, but has had a few lessons driving an adapted car which has given her some encouragement. The problem she has is motivation - if it can be put off, it will be. Quite often I ring and she's in bed because she can't be bothered to do anything else, which is a bit of a concern for us, and if we suggest going out, coming to stay she's very negative about it. She has some good friends who come and visit, and occasionally will go out to social things, but prefers not to. I think the going out emphasises what her problems are, and it's easier not to confront them, which I do understand, but it's a bit of a self perpetuating problem. It is a constant worry to my sister and I, and sometimes it's hard to remember how bad it was, and there are many days when I would do anything to have her back how she was - I feel like I'm the parent know, and having lost my dad at 15 do find it really hard sometimes - but on the whole life isn't so bad.

Original poster

mommy6 · 09/02/2009 15:55

frostyfingers sorry its took so long to reply.
It does sound like you have alot to worry about.My friends are lucky in some ways,in that they already live in a disabled bungalow.So at least they haven't got that to worry about.We also live close and k's family(mom and brother) are really good with babysitting.But i know there have been times when k had had enough,and didn't what to go and visit.In the first few weeks lots of friends were visiting and helping but thats dropped off abit now.But i still make sure i text on a morning and phone on a night,and visit when i can.If the only thing i can do is be there for them both to moan to,then thats what i will do.
I do hope you have somebody you can talk to,because i know it can be hard sometimes.
Thanks for sharing your experiance with me.Back in november when you first told me about your mom,i didn't think P would make it this far.We know he might not walk again but we can deal with that.
Sorry i have gone on abit,and thanks again.

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frostyfingers · 10/02/2009 08:19

Mommy, it's a long hard road, and it's scary how many people travel it. Did you see in the paper yesterday that 10,000 people under 55, 1000 of them under 30 will have a stroke this year. It seems like an illness that nobody knows about, I certainly hadn't given it a thought, and the more publicity it gets the better. Fingers crossed that your friend can find a way round his difficulties - it must be hard not to look back all the time and wish it hadn't happened, but even though it's a cliche we have to look forward and at what we have got, not what is no longer there. Best of luck to all of you, and I think we'll all feel better for a bit of spring sunshine when ever it bothers to turn up!

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