Mother

    
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Posted by CCF Neuro MD on September 13, 1997 at 22:44:27:

In Reply to: Mother posted by Tracy Betke on September 08, 1997 at 22:15:59:

: I am looking for any information to help my mother.  On 1/5/97 my mother had a level five subachnoid bleed.  She was in a coma for 15 days.  She had been trached and had a g-tube during the 6 months she had been in subaccute care.  Presently she is in a subacute/long term care facility.  She is now free from any trache's or any g-tubes.  She is now eating while being assisted in every function.  She is very alert and answers consistently to yes and no questions.  She can speek some but very little. She is doing well in phyisical therapy.  My mother did have a craniotomy with a temporary shunt in late April.  From what I understand she has frontal - bilateral damage.  My mother is only 48 years old and generally in good health except for some gastro problems.  She had complained of severre migraines and seziures for the past 10 years.  But the nero team in our area never found a problem.  What I am asking is, it has been 8 months and she has shown slow progress but has never taken any steps backward.  We are  
  now to the point where she is ready for intense physical therapy.  Now being as logical as I can be I feel that she has not plateaued and has a lot more to accomplish.  Could someone help me PLEASE !!!!!  I need to know that everything I have done for my mother has been enough or if I could do something more.  I have all of her information and would like to possible speak to someone or conult someone in.  I know that there is damage and is inreversable, but I hope and pray something more can be done.  I Love my mother so very much and I need to know that I am doing all I can.  I would like for her to come home someday and to be able to communicate better with her.  Is the Clevend Clinic able to help me ??  I'm so very sorry if this is not a typical question to ask and is lenghtly.  I am hoping anyone or anything can help my mother.
  Thank you,
  Tracy Betke
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Hello, Tracy,
  Apparently your mother has gone through a lot and now it seems that she is on her way of recovery.  The degree to which the patients can finally achieve as far as regaining the overall function varies significantly from person to person, depending on the size and region of the brain that was damaged.  In general, the critical phase is the first week or two, affected mainly by constriction of the involved vessels in the brain.  The next several weeks to months are mainly dependent on the development of complications and the recovery of GI and respiratory systems.  It seems that your mother finally cruised through these phases.   Now it has been over half a year for her.  Most people would have reached their maximal rate of recovery.  However, it is not unheard of that someone regained significant functions long time after central nervous system damage.  It is encouraging to know that she is going to have intensive physical therapy.  I am almost certain that she will make some progress.  From our experience and from scientific evidence, the patients with strong family support do well, although this is limited by the original insult to the brain.  
  As far as obtaining further help from our department, we would like to see her at the outpatient department if traveling to Cleveland is not too much of trouble for her.  Our stroke center is one of the top centers in the nation in acute stroke management and acute rehab.  Please call tool free [phone] ext. 45559 to make an appointment at your convenience.  Good luck.
This information is provided for general medical educational purpose only.  Please consult your physician for the diagnostic and treatment options of your specific condition.