any experience of strokes ?

shegar

HELLO TO YOU AND SO SORRY THAT YOUR AS HUSBAND AS STROKED AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE. MY HUSBAND HAD A STROKE AT 49 YRS OLD 16 MONTHS AGO, LIKE YOUR POOR HIUSBAND HE ALSO NEVER SMOKED DRANK VERY LITTLE AND WORKED 12 HRS A DAY ALL HIS LIFE , AND NEVER EVER SIGNED ON THE DOLE.

BUT ONE SUNNY AFTERNOON HE FELL ON HIS SKIS WHEN HE WAS OUT WATER SKIING, HE DI D NEARLY DROWN BECAUSE HAD IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR HIS FRIEND IN THE BOAT PULLING HIM OUT OF THE WATER THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN IT.

HIS FRIEND THOUGHT HE HAD FELL OFF THE SKIS AND INTO THE WATER AND BROKE HIS ARM COS IT WASNT MOVING. I GOT A CALL TO SAY GARY HAS BROKEN HIS ARM AND THEY WILL TAKE HIM TO HOSPITAL, NEXT I KNEW WAS A PARAMEDIC PHONED ME TO SAY GARY HAD AHAD A RIGHT SIDE STROKE AND THEY WERE TAKING HIM TO HOSPITAL.

I MET THE AMBULANCE UP THE HOSPITAL AND THEY HAD TAKEN HIM FOR A CT SCAN, IT CONFIRMED A MASSIVE STROKE , HE WAS THEN TRANSFERED TO HEAD INJURY HOSPITAL, THERE HE HAD A 5 HOUR OPERATION AND WAS PUT ON LIFE VENTILATOR WHERE HE LAID FOR 5 WEEKS TOUCH AND GO, THE HOSPITAL WAS 178 MILE ROUND TRIP FOR ME.

TO CUT A VERY LONG STORY SHORT IN FACT 10 MONTHS AFTER THE STROKE HE WAS ALLOWED HOME, HE WAS SEVERELY PARAYLSED DOWN LEFT SIDE HIS VISION WAS EXTREMELY BAD ONLY COULD SEE 15 PER CENT.REGISTERED BLIND.

5 MONTHS AGO THE EYE SURGEON OPERATED ON HIS EYES TO REMOVE BLOOD AND GEL AND HAVE RESTORED 5O PER SENT EYE SIGHT SO THAT WAS A EXCELLENT OP FOR HIMHE CRIED WHEN HE OPENED HIS EYES AND COULD SEE ME FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 11 MONTHS.

HE HAS HAD EXTENSIVE PHYSIO FOR THE LAST 14 MONTHS NOW HE CAN WALK A FEW MTS WITH A QUAD STICK AND LEG CALIPER, WHEELCHAIR BESIDE HIM. SO ALSO THATS A GOOD IMPROVEMENT.

HIS POOR LEFT ARM IS NON FUNCTIONAL HAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF MOVEMENT IN HIS THUMB SO FINGERS CROSSED THAT MAY GET A SMALL BIT BETTER. WHEN GARY HAD HIS FIRST LIFE SAVING OP THEY HAD TO REMOVE 5 INCH ROUND PIECE OF SKULL SO THEY COULD GET TO HIS BRAIN, SO OCTOBER LAST YEAR THEY DONE A CRANIOPLASTY OP, WHICH MEANS THEY HAVE PUT IN A TITANIUM PLATE SO HE NO LONGER HAVE A HUGE DENT IN HIS HEAD, SAFETY REASON PLUS PEOPLE DONT STARE AT HIM SO MUCH.1!!!

HE NOW SUFFERS TONIC CLONIC SEIZURES AND HE IS ON MEDS FOR THAT THATS COS OF THE BRAIN INJURY.HE HAS BEEN TOLD THAT HE WILL NEVER WORK AGAIN OR DRIVE, THAT DID UPSET HIM TO START WITH BUT HES ALIVE WHICH IS THE MAIN THING. WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH TOGETHER WITH HIS STROKE BUT
HE HIS ALIVE AND SO VERY DETERMINED TO GET AS MUCH LIFE BACK AS POSSIBLE, I HAVE TO CARE FOR HIM 24/7 BUT HE IS DOING VERY WELL .

IT IS VERY UPSETTING FOR THE FAMILY TO SEE YOUR HUSBAND LIKE THAT BUT IM SURE AS A FAMILY YOU WILL ALL PULL TOGETHER AND GIVE HIM ALL THE SUPPORT HE DESERVES, IM NOT WELL AT ALL BUT HE WOULD DO THE SAME FOR ME IF IT WERE ME . WE APPLIED FOR A DFG.( DISABLEd FACILITY GRANT) IT TOOK MONTHS FOR IT TO GET SORTED BUT WE NOW HAVE A LOVELY ROOM FOR HIM TO BATHE IN , HE AS A SPECIAL SHOWER CHAIR AND A WAY HE GOES .

YOU WILL BE APPOINTED A OT WHO WILL HELP YOU ALOT, THAT WILL TAKE AWAY A LOT OF THE WORRY FROM YOU, WHATEVER HELP YOU GET OFFERED TAKE IT, YOU WILL FIND ONCE THE AUTHORITIES GET INVOLVED THERE WILL BE HELP AND ADVISE FOR YOU THROUGH OUT HIS RECOVERY AT DIFFERENT TIMES.THEY WILL ALSO TELL YOU AND HELP YOU CLAIM BENEFITS FOR WHICH YOU ARE ENTITLED TO.I WISH YOUR HUSBAND A GOOD RECOVERY, REMEMBER ALL STROKES ARE DIFFERENT AND AFFECT PEOPLE IN DIFFERENT WAYS. PLEASE KEEP US INFORMED OF HOW THINGS GO. TAKE CARE.

lolababy

My mother in law had a stroke that left her with poor eyesight and weakness on one side. It was difficult for her but she has improved. The stroke association was a big help.

The association offers a one off payment of two hundred pounds to help with heating ect.;
Stroke Helpline: 0845 3033 100 (calls charged at local rate) open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

~daisy~_2

thx so much for all your stories guys - today has been a very postive day
started his physio rehab and did brillaintly - so well that they had him out of bed and sat in a chair for about 40 mins and he read a bit of the paper
he then had a small bit of lunch and some drinks and had a great sleep
he also had a speech and language assessment and an OH assessment who did reassure me they dont just kick them out before being ready
she also explained how stroke re hab and is currently very well funded by the government so every measure can and will be addressed
hubby then had a few visitors and had a good dinner and drinks bit more of a snooze then did some more exercises which he did brilliantly
doc explained he was very positive as hubs movement in hand was unusually coming back from the fingers up and not from shoulder down which is more normal
we under no illusion that this is just the beginning and will prolly be 1 step forward and 2 back but today been a great start


and i havent cried once !!! xx

Savvy_Sue

I feel tired just reading about his (and your!) day! So be ready for him to be worn out tomorrow. It's very easy to overdo things without realising it.

~daisy~ wrote: »

and i havent cried once !!! xx

Aw, have a hug, even if it makes you cry again.

Strapped

~daisy~ wrote: »

as it says really ....

yesterday morning at home my lovely fit healthy young husband had a fairly severe stroke
luckily he was found quickily and was able to have the thrombolysis (sp) drugs within the magic 3 hour window and stopped the stroke from worsening
it was in an area of the brain that intended to leave him blind and paralyzed

my hub is just 44 very very fit - resting HR around 50 healthy weight good diet doesnt smoke no high BP moderate drinker - we have no idea why this happened

he has right side paralysis - no movement at all in arm and just the odd wiggle of toes a droopy face and very poor and slurred speech

we have 2 children - 14 and 12 - eldest is struggling big time - with how he looks how he sounds everything
son is being much more positive

im scared for the future - recovery - or not
work driving personality frustration walking activites everything just dont know what to think

has anyone else been in this situation and what was the outcome ?

TIA

Hi Daisy, first I'm really sorry to hear about your husband. Second - don't panic (which you don't seem to be). My mum works in stroke/brain injury rehab, and I have seen some seemingly miraculous recoveries. Also my BIL had a very severe stroke at a similar age, a few years ago, same side. He was in a coma for several weeks, and we were initially told that he would almost certainly die, then (when he woke up) that the future was bleak to say the least - but now, he is back living independently in his own home.

Your hubby has his age and previous fitness on his side. Great news also about the movement. Recovery does take time though, sorry if that's not what you want to hear right now. (Generally, doctors say that stroke sufferers can continue to recover up to 2 years). Do contact the Stroke Association - you will get lots of help and support through them.

Very positive that they are talking about / starting rehab already - is he on a dedicated rehab ward? Don't be afraid to push for this. Make sure that they are keeping the "bad" arm moving - my BIL had some not-very-attentive care at the beginning (due to the fact everyone had written him off) so his arm is now "siezed", which could have been avoided.

~daisy~_2

no they are very aggressive where re hab is concerned - dr has an idea of what my hub - cliff - was able fopr previously and he intends for his team to push push push
yesterday just 24 hours after and after a horrendous night - the nurse came to wash and dress him in his own t shirt and pants and cliff lay there but she handed him the flannel and said hey you do what you can and ill do what you cant - made him brush his own teeth left handed and everything
my son is predicting a bad day tomorrow after such a good one today and if it is - so be it
luckily think he may have slight reprieve over weekend as pyhsios dont work weekends but will be ready to face it head on again on monday !!

yes hes on a dedicated stroke unit with what appears initally to be a great team effort with everyone working as one unit for the best outcome

tonight hes been moved out of the acute room and 1 to 1 nursing - think he stayed in there a bit longer than normal cos he got out of bed - watching for bleeds bought on by this after the thrombolysis treatment and in case he ''forgot'' again
know he was watched like a hawk last night!!

tomorrows a new day

editted to add - we even managed a few laughs today while we attempted to play I-spy - his main problem i think even at this early stage will be finding words and remembering what things and ppl are called as he had some problems with this even before
he got upset during speech assessment when asked our childrens names - knew eldest right off but couldnt get 2nd so she left it when she saw but as an aside when she was leaving said '' what did you say your sons name was ?'' and he replied correctly instantly .....

mum2one

reply in sec - just got to put on charge

Sorry, didn't want to run without wishing you all the best wishes.

My mum had a mini stroke last yr, she was at the top of the stairs, my dd who was 6 1/2 at time, witnessed it all, and helped and called the ambulance. My mum has lost a lotof her mobility, and is under OT, and everything.

I would suggest asking at the hospital or ur gp surgery if there is a support group, not just for you but your sons, its going to be a shock and everyone reacts differently.

The OT dept will do everything they can for you, and also their arrange for any equipment that you need.

Just treat every day as a new day, it may seem cruel, ur husband will be frustrated, and feel he's being made to do more than he feels he can do, but he will get all the care he needs.

Please try and look after your self as well. xx

Strapped

~daisy~ wrote: »

no they are very aggressive where re hab is concerned - he has an idea of what my hub - cliff - was able fopr previously and he intends for his team to push push push
yesterday just 24 hours after and after a horrendous night - the nurse came to wash and dress him in his own t shirt and pants and cliff lay there but she handed him the flannel and said hey you do what you can and ill do what you cant - made him brush his own teeth left handed and everything
my son is predicting a bad day tomorrow after such a good one today and if it is - so be it
luckily think he may have slight reprieve over weekend as pyhsios dont work weekends ready to face it head on again on monday !!

yes hes on a dedicated stroke unit with what appears initally to be a great team effort with everyone working as one unit for the best outcome

tonight hes been moved out of the acute room and 1 to 1 nursing

tomorrows a new day

Good, that sounds like he is getting good care. And yes, they will be cruel to be kind, making people try to do things for themselves - and it will no doubt be incredibly frustrating for your husband at times - but hey, if he starts swearing then that's all good language recovery.

~daisy~_2

another really positive day for cliff - hes started getting bored thats a good sign !!
he has spent most of the day awake and also alot of time up in a chair - also ate his lunch in a chair at a proper table

only slight downside - phoned this morning at 7am to check his night and said ok ill be in about 9ish - as i have been every day - only to be told well im not really allowed as hes not acute anymore
i did gently say well hes expecting me im coming and i was told ok just for a short while
anyway once i arrived no one said anything - and im guessing it was another shift than the phone call nurse
so a nurse comes in to get cliff washed and dressed and asked if i wanted to either help or do it - so i said no thats fine cliff and i will do it so was useful i was there !! but also feel i need to get used to doing stuff for him while i have them in the background but if im not allowed in apart from normal visiting hours this will be hard
then tonight i came back at approx half five with children to be told we couldnt come in as it was dinner time - said no one had said that before but reply from stroppy mare was well he doesnt need feeding so you cant come in !!
we had to sit on the car for an hour not happy

its going to be very difficult for children to see him for anytime with us now having to adhere to regular visiting hours also i dont think hes going to get the stimulation he needs to help his word finding and memory stuff when hes sat on his own
totaly understand about physios and drs routines and stuff but cliff is so much younger than most of the other patients....

wil have to speak to ward manager on mon and see i guess !! this is where i wish we were using his private health care and the 24/7 access

Savvy_Sue

Visiting hours can be very difficult, and you can understand why they need to put some restrictions in sometimes, but it is also EXTREMELY frustrating to turn up and only then be told "no, you can't come in now" - why not put on the ward door what the restrictions are, ie not "Visiting 2-8 pm" but "Visiting 2-5.30pm and 6.30-8pm"!

Mind you you may find that the evening meal is a bit of a moveable feast, anything from 5.30 onwards.

And yes, they're glad enough of your help when patients can't feed themselves, generally!

You might want to remember that there will be a PALS service within the hospital, if you're finding the visiting with the boys difficult then contacting them might be helpful if the ward manager isn't.