Help! Anyone who has experience of the effects of a minor stroke?

[TillyMintSpy]

My mum (78) was taken into hospital last night, having had a "minor stroke."
She lives on her own, 200+ miles from me (and I am an only ) - I had called her and when it was clear she was completely incoherent, got a friend and her mum to go round and get help. I drove up very early this morning to find her dazed and confused in a hospital bed.

The staff in the hospital re being lovely, but can't give me much indication of how long it might take for her to recover sufficiently to come home. She seems physically fine, and seems to mostly understand what I say, but cannot find the words to explain herself properly.

Has anyone got any experience of this, please?

I am off back to the hospital now, but will be back to see if anyone has replied, so thanks in advance!

What a worry for you and I hope your mum gets better soon.

My dad had regular minor strokes and would be very confused, sleepy and sometimes emotional (he was scared) so we used to help him become comfortable and sit with him until he became 'himself' again.
He tended to have the TIAs in the morning and was more coherent by evening.
We had to ensure that he actually took his medication and ate or drank.

Hi

My mum had exactly the same but was staying with me- 200 miles from her own home. Hers was classed as a TIA rather than a full mini stroke. She was just very tired for weeks but not paralysed in anyway.

A couple of years later my dad had the same thing and his was mini stroke.

Dad was worse- he partly lost the use of one hand and he dribbled a bit when eating. However, it is now almost 3 years on and he is okay touch wood.
He lost the ability to write well for a few months- said he had problems writing out cheques etc- but he has tried hard to get better-we bought him crossword books etc and he still reads though doesn't manage his 6 books a week any more- but he is 83!
He still gropes for the right word at times but then so do many 83 yr olds. He was a very sharp, intelligent man, and some of that has faded a bit but not too much.

Everyone reacts differntly so it is hard or say how your mum will do. What you have to remember is that your mum will still understand more than she can say - so keep talking to her and encourage her to talk even if it sounds muddled or nonsense at times.

Does she have friends or family who will call onher and help out?

Some hospitals have specialist stroke nurses or advisors and they are marvellous for queries, information or for support and advice.

Tally - my mum - also 78 - had a TIA a few months ago. It sounds like it was a bit milder than your mum's though. She didnt have to be admitted to hospital but they did various tests to assess the causes and decide how to treat them. for my mum this has just been medication - I assume to thin the blood a little. They found a small blockage in her neck but said that it was so small the only required response was the medication - iirc in some cases they do a small op to remove blockages.

I don't mean to alarm you but the slightly scarey thing is that quite a few people go on to have more - see the Stroke Association website. And when they do occur - as I'm sure you realise - quick action is really important. If your mum is anything like my mum and worries about being a trouble to people - this is potentially a bit more scarey. I - slightly uncharacteristically - read the riot act to my mum a bit - and made her promise to tell me/call 999 etc if anything remotely similar happened again - you'll read all this stuff on the Stroke Association website. Knowing that my mum doesn't have access to the internet and wouldn't be off googling everything like me, I had to navigate a careful line between making her realise that it was serious - without alarming her too much. It really felt like a significant change in our relationship.

However - she is now absolutely fine - as most people are after a TIA - and I've stopped worrying too much. I hope you get reasonable news from the test results and that she's fine again soon.

btw - is she, by any chance, on medication for arthritis? my mum was taking a great drug that was making a huge difference to her knees, but has had to stop it because of the TIA. I worried a bit about the doctors being on the ball about what other problems and precriptions she was taking and it all being compatible - so, if you can, sit with her in her consultations armed with all the info, and ask lots of questions (while not trying to take charge/patronise....oh it's all so hard...much sympathy)

Thanks so much everybody

Harebelle I will have a look at that site, thanks!

Still waiting for a full diagnosis, but I think she may have had one/some of those TIA's - she was staying with me just a week ago and complained of feeling very tired for a few days before the visit and also one of the days she was with us. I put it down to old age, but it does sound like it could be that. I have just spent an hour or so calling friends, etc (mostly little old ladies!) and my uncle and aunt are planning to come up for a couple of days. She is fiercely independent (and talks alot!) and asked me to bring in paper and pens to practice writing! The stroke nurse is very nice and a speech therapist should be seeing her tomorrow.

HW, she isn't on anything at the moment as far as I know, though she has lots of her own little pills like vitamin tablets and water retention, etc

Anyone got any idea how long they might keep her in? GO, how long was your dad in? As she lives on her own, aunt seems to think it might be 2 or 3 weeks (but I'm not telling her that!)

I'm glad your mum has improved and that you are getting support.

Dad was initially in hospital for three weeks but mainly due to the fact that he had an infection (as well as the TIAs).
We cared for him at home and called the doctor out only if we felt that his response was poor after a few hours.