Delirium after a stroke

[millertime78]

My Dad has been diagnosed with having delirium after a stroke. He is continuously restless and agitated, he is always pulling at the bedclothes or taking off his own clothes. Is there any treatment for delirium and is it reversible?

[Christie1808]

So sorry to hear about your mother and all the drama with your sisters.  
My father has recently had a stroke, and would agree, if he could express himself well enough, that yes, it is hell not being able to control your own life anymore, not being able to communicate like you used to, and not always understanding or comprehending things you once could.  
I have appreciated reading the posts on here, and wish there were more updates!  But I think that we can glean from what's here that it's important to keep trying, stay patient, and expect slow but gradual improvements.  
We're grateful for even the slightest improvements over here!

[Janinaz]

Just got through reading your posts and updates about your father.  My mother, age 83, suffered a stroke on Dec. 19, 2010.  She had brain surgery to remove a blood clot on the right side of her brain.  Her left side is affected.  It is so heart breaking to see my mother.  She had been living alone in her house, driving and very independent.  She was transferred to a nursing home where she receives some physical therapy.  She had her right knee replaced on Nov. 9, 2010 and I can't help but think this is all related, but she insisted on having the knee surgery.  Plus she has a heart pacemaker.  She has short term memory, however, she can talk and recall things from the past.  She cannot walk and has to be helped with everything including all the toilet issues.  I have 2 sisters and a brother.  We all live in different areas and I ended up having a major disagreement with my sisters about my mother's aftercare and chosing her nursing home.  I live in another state about 850 miles away.  I stayed there for about 3 weeks and flew home 2 weeks ago.  I talked to my mother twice on the phone since then and she was more or less out of it, but said that "this is hell".  It was so upsetting.  My older sister has power of attorney and she lives even further away.  The only one in the area is my younger sister and she is not responsible and was "suppose" to be helping my mother after her knee surgery (my mother was paying her), but she was NOT checking in with my mother.  To make a long story short, my older sister is not talking to me now because I told her that she dropped the ball when she agreed on this nursing home and then left the state BEFORE my mother was even released to the nursing home. I was appalled with the way they "dumped" my mother off there (another drama) with staples in her head and put her in a dirty room with only a bedspread on the bed.  No one even came into the room until I made a scene.  The older sister then flew back to see what was going on.  I begged her to talk to me about certain things about our mother's care, her house (may have to be sold as the doctor is doubtful she can live alone), but she would not.   I can only pray for my mother and her recovery.  I know that this was her worse nightmare come true.  I have not seen any posts from you on this site for over a year.  How is your father doing?  It was very insightful to read the history and progress of your father.  What an emotional roller coaster for everyone.      

[millertime78]

Hi All

A long overdue update. My Dad is being cared for at home still. He has a reasonably good quality of life. He never recovered his speech and has only maybe 50% cognitive ability. Most of the time he's in good form, he reads books and papers but we can't tell how much is going through. He has vera very short attention span and is very restless often walking randomly around the house. Physically he's in good shape. Communication is very tough but we can understand each other now.My mother is the primary carer and she's with him more or less 24 hrs a day. Its tough but we're getting on with it. He was never receptive to speech & language therapy so we really made no progress in this area. Its clear that the stroke wreeked major damage on his brain causing him to lose all memory,basic life skills and affecting his behaviour. However we persevere with him as we love him so much.

Thanks for reading this.

God Bless

[Sim1]

MULTIMEDIA SPEECH PATHOLOGY
1/14 Miami Shore Parade
MIAMI QUEENSLAND  4220
AUSTRALIA

Ph:           0407293579
Fax:         [phone]
Email:      ***@****
Website: www.mmsp.com.au

They have a great computer program for speech therapy - I used it with my Mum who had severe disphasia. It made learning fun - and its aimed at adults! Check out their website - they are well worth it!

[millertime78]

Hi All

Update - 9 months after stroke

Dad is physically 100% and has regained some mental capacity. He has some communication but its difficult and he still gets frustrated. He's starting to get out into the community again -attending church on Sunday and going for walks on the road. Speech therapy is difficult as his attention span is v short but sometimes we can make sense of what he's saying. Its still slow going but we're making progress. The best therapy is spending time with him, engaging him in activities he enjoys and can do and keeping a routine.

[mehraban]

Dear PamRam228,
I feel so hopeless today.I just read most of your posts and got some hope.I am so happy that your husband has improved so much, and I hope he will completely recover. I decided to ask you some questions and comment since I noticed you have good knowledge and very positive.
It is 2 weeks after my mom(61years old) Stroke and is still in hospital. She can talk, aware, able to swallow(not completely but getting better). Her left side has been paralyzed, not able to empty bladder yet, not able to sit yet. Today, her physiotherapist tried to bring her out her bed and sit on a chair, but it was a hell. I lost all my hope in a second. She is heavy and even with 3 people it was impossible to control her, I was afraid of arm or hip breaking. As soon as she improves to empty her bladder and gets rid of the urinary infection, we are going to take home. In my country, we don't have a rehab center, and I am not sure even what rehab center is and what people do in rehab center. We are trying to get some info, so we may able to do the same at home. Also, how long after stroke was your husband able to sit. I am wondering if your husband had the same problem in the beginning and how he improved. Also, we are not sure how we can help her to use a bathroom once she comes home, ...if you have any idea or suggestion please please help us out. Thanks in advance.