A question about my mom..

[Loving_son]

Hi everybody! I

[janiem]

I am a stroke survivor, not caregiver. But I was a caregiver for my mother. I was extremely distressed, as it was all unexpected. The stress I felt because of the worry, and in trying to remain calm while I was with her was immense. For me, at least, your reaction seemed normal. It is very emotional to experience this and to feel we have no control. Your love for your mother is evident, and she is lucky to have you to support her now. But remember that it

[fking]

Loving Son,

Let me welcome you to the site and hope you log in often to get replies and answers about your mom.

 

I'm a survivor like your mom, so my experience similar is brain bleed on the right side. My left side is affected. I had a long hospital stay then home by wheel chair. I'm 2 years now and can do most things myself.

 

Her recovery, from what you say, seems very likely to be great as the doctor said. The thing is each stroke depends on how much of the brain area is lost. My damage was great and I laid on the floor over 5 hours before getting to a hospital.

 

If she's up walking in just 6 days with a little broken speech, I'd say she will be okay over time. Probably because of your fast action in getting her to the hospital, you saved her from massive damage. So just take care of her, follow doctor'a orders, some PT, OT, and maybe a little speech therapy. Then as others has said, take care of yourself and let her recover, don't make yourself sick with worry.

 

We are here for you 24/7, read around in the other Forums and get information to make you feel better about your mom' condition, keep us posted please, and thank you for becoming a proud member.

[Loving_son]

Thank you all for your nice answers.

 

I visited my mom this afternoon and she doing better than yesterday. She walk and talk without any bigger problems eccept when it comes to read and write.

 

She can

[bstockman]

Hi and welcome to the site. Sounds like your mom is making very good progress. Try to take care of yourself.. I know this is a ver frightening time, but you don't want to get ill on top of this. The specialist will be able to give you more information.

There are some great topics and support links in caregiver on the board. some topics on language disorders also.

 

Best Wishes to you both.

[Lee Kenaga]

 

 

I had my stroke last June 5th. It affected my right side and speech. It wasn't until the next morning that I

foolisly drove to the doctor's office to check if I was in a stroke mode. After he bawled me out for dri-

the car to his office, he confirmed I was having a stroke. He told me to go to emergency immediately,

but to let my wife drive me! My daughter Sue, her husband Dale and son Philip, visited me that evening in

the hospital. We joked around and I wasn't feeling that bad, except I had the same slurred speech that my

wife had noted the night before. But, boy, the next morning I couldn't speak and my writing arm (right) and

my right leg was out of action! They took me by ambulance to Heritage Hospital to start therapy. That

night after the evening meal, it was discovered that the food went down my windpipe instead of my stom-

ach and I became terribly ill with pneumonia and I had to be moved to intensive care and I was there for a

week before I ever started my therapy. I was taken to the operating room where they put a tube in my

stomach, and I was fed through this tube until 3 days before I came home. I had speech therapy as well

as occupational and physical therapy, the same therapy at home for two months, the same therpy except

for speech at a clinic. The rest of the time I'm doing exercises they prepared for me at home. My wife

Elsie purchased a bicycle-like contraption that I use. I can now walk with a cane, my speech is okay now

and I can carry light object in my right hand, make a fist, but I still can't write. I thank God for it could have

been a lot worse! I thank my dear wife constantly for without her to care for me hand and foot, I would be

stuck in a nusing home and that would be hell. She's a small thing and weighs just 110 pounds! I have a

walker (a pyramid cane that I use to get around as well as a wheel chair which I'm buying--$380. I bought

the pyramid cane--$99. The biggest enemy I face is depression on certain days. My life style has changed

drastically. I used to walk mile after mile and I was an avid gardener, took care of the lawn. Now, it's

all contracted out. I used to type about 70 words a minute; now, I'm stuck with writing this letter with just

my left hand. That's how much the stroke has set me back! If I had recognized that slurred speech was

one sign of a stroke and called 911, could things have been different? It's all left to speculation now.

[Phyllis4732]

Not necessarily. I wonder why it wasn't until the next morning that you had more problems. As for the swallowing, had you first been seen by a Dr. there before being permitted to eat? I had food on my fork in a dining room when a nurse rush over and said, don't eat, you haven't seen the Dr. (This was after being in ICU where I didn't get fed and a regular room where the food wasn't too appealing. You know, until you are there a day or so, they pick out your food) The meal was fried fish which I don't especially like, but I wanted anything..........I was told that a patient hadn't been check by the Dr. there in rehab and had a problem similar to yours. So you see, not all of your problems may hae happened because you delayed getting to the hospital. I get very upset when a person goes to the hospital and gets worse there. You've heard of people who walk in and ................

 

Of course, I believe in fate and what is going to heppen will (or won't).

 

Phyllis

[Helenrc]

Dear Loving son,

 

It is wonderful that your Mum does not seem to have physical disabilities after her stroke, and therapy for the speech problems, and time will help. My mum had a stroke over 10 years ago and I was very frightened, stressed and emotionally all over the place for quite a time. It will take you time to adjust too, so be kind to yourself and don't expect to be on top of things immediately. When my mum had the stroke she was in a coma for 2 weeks, so we were over the initial shock before she woke up, but she has major physical disabilities and only limited language, so it took us all some time to adjust. But you could be surprised like I was at how much inner strength you have when you need it. It sounds like your Mum could make a very good recovery - all the best and I hope you've managed to get a few good nights' sleep. If you can't get over the worry and anxiety seeing a doctor/counselor might be worthwhile - I saw a psychologist for a few weeks once we realised Mum would be left with major disabilities and it helped a lot.

 

good luck

from Helen

 

[Loving_son]

Mum Update!

 

Hello everybody! Thank you for the answers. I feel better know, still worried but better.

 

I visit my mum 1 to 2 times every day and she making progress.

 

One thing that hits me is that she

[bstockman]

Hi glad your mom is making progress, that you are feeling better also.

 

I also was 54 when stroke hit.. I figure it was a warning. I have had a couple tragedies in my life before this happened, those events made me look at life much differently and appreciate the small things, realize some things are just not so imporatant.. So your moms good attitude is important in her progress too.

 

Hope everything continues to improve ....

[Loving_son]

Mom update!

 

Hello everybody!

 

My mom is still on the stroke ward and complain about headache every morning. The nurses give her medicine to counteract that. This medicin seems to affect her being a little bit high.

 

Is it normal to have this strange headache 12 days after a cerebral haemorrhage? The x-ray shows that the bleeding has disappeared by itself.

 

She talks more than ever but have problems to get out the key words in here sentences.

 

The doctor tells us that shes ready to move to a rehability ward from monday.

[Kj mcmeekin]

Hi Loving Son and Welcome!

 

After reading your post, my first thought was "Thank God you responded and got your mother to the hospital."

 

I am caregiver to my husband and found that I went through many emotions after his stroke. Fear, anxiety, depression, anger - just to name a few. I had to work through each emotion. Its been almost 2 years now and occassionally I still go through one of them.

 

I'm happy to hear your mother is making good progress. Please remember to take care of yourself. Stay in Touch........

 

Kim :hiya: