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Stroke location and prognonsis
Hi,
I'm new here, so please bear with me. My grandmother, who is 84 years old suffered a stroke last weekend (3/17/2007). It seemed to have happened in here sleep, as she woke up with no 'feeling' or ability to move any part of the right side of her body. She also could not speak, only utter, for lack of a better word, 'breathy moans'. Of course we called an ambulance and she was taken to the nearest hospital. Upon arrival, her family doctor was called and a CAT scan was performed; problem was, nothing would show up, the scan was normal. The ER Doc said that sometimes happens, and that the stroke and it's location would show up in a couple of days > Mind you, that was last Saturday. Since then, she was admitted into the hospital, and an MRI is scheduled to take place this coming Monday (3/26/2007). Over the course of this last week, she has regained some of her ability to talk, it sounds like she knows all the words, but too much effort is required to say them, for example, instead of "give me the water" she says "give water". She can still read, and we are unsure of her short term memory right now, but she recognizes everyone so I suspect her long term memory is intact. She also has a catheter in place because of the paralysis of the right side, she can not walk to the bathroom. Just yesterday, she began complaining of severe pain on the side of her body affected by the stroke (she still cannot move that side either) and she still has slurred speech and is only able to eat pureed food and no liquids. Her neurologist suspects that the stroke occurred between the pons and thalamus. The doctor won't say too much right now, so I was wondering if anyone had ever seen a stroke like this, or experienced it and lived to tell. If so, is there, like, an estimate for her prognosis? -Thanks.
I'm new here, so please bear with me. My grandmother, who is 84 years old suffered a stroke last weekend (3/17/2007). It seemed to have happened in here sleep, as she woke up with no 'feeling' or ability to move any part of the right side of her body. She also could not speak, only utter, for lack of a better word, 'breathy moans'. Of course we called an ambulance and she was taken to the nearest hospital. Upon arrival, her family doctor was called and a CAT scan was performed; problem was, nothing would show up, the scan was normal. The ER Doc said that sometimes happens, and that the stroke and it's location would show up in a couple of days > Mind you, that was last Saturday. Since then, she was admitted into the hospital, and an MRI is scheduled to take place this coming Monday (3/26/2007). Over the course of this last week, she has regained some of her ability to talk, it sounds like she knows all the words, but too much effort is required to say them, for example, instead of "give me the water" she says "give water". She can still read, and we are unsure of her short term memory right now, but she recognizes everyone so I suspect her long term memory is intact. She also has a catheter in place because of the paralysis of the right side, she can not walk to the bathroom. Just yesterday, she began complaining of severe pain on the side of her body affected by the stroke (she still cannot move that side either) and she still has slurred speech and is only able to eat pureed food and no liquids. Her neurologist suspects that the stroke occurred between the pons and thalamus. The doctor won't say too much right now, so I was wondering if anyone had ever seen a stroke like this, or experienced it and lived to tell. If so, is there, like, an estimate for her prognosis? -Thanks.
Well, grandma's back home. She's on Coumadin (that's a good thing, I hope). She can talk quite a bit better (the best description is what Dick Clark would sound like if he had a VERY soft woman's voice after his stroke - no insult intended). She has full sensation in her right side, but the arm and leg just won't move, except for her ability to somehow use her right hip (and only the hip) to "throw" the right leg from side to side. We just can't seem to figure this strange fact out.
There has been no cognitive impairment (thank God!), although she does seem to sleep a lot (almost to the point of sleeping all the time). This occurs whether she is laying in her bed, or sitting in a chair... It makes no difference. I'm wondering what you guys' thoughts might be on this sleeping thing... Should I let her sleep all she wants, or should I try to keep her awake (within reason)?
Also, this one's for all the caregivers out there... Is there any way to encourage movement recovery in the side effected by the stroke, or is it just a matter of giving her time to recover?
This post wasn't just an attempt to fire more questions out at you guys, you helped me with words of encouragement to my last post, and I wanted to give you an update on how grandma was doing.
It doesn't matter to me what religion you are associated with, or if you are a religious person at all, but I just want to ask for prayers or 'good thoughts' from all of you, if that is okay.
I'll check back to talk to you again when I can.
Sincerely
-SRenaud
There has been no cognitive impairment (thank God!), although she does seem to sleep a lot (almost to the point of sleeping all the time). This occurs whether she is laying in her bed, or sitting in a chair... It makes no difference. I'm wondering what you guys' thoughts might be on this sleeping thing... Should I let her sleep all she wants, or should I try to keep her awake (within reason)?
Also, this one's for all the caregivers out there... Is there any way to encourage movement recovery in the side effected by the stroke, or is it just a matter of giving her time to recover?
This post wasn't just an attempt to fire more questions out at you guys, you helped me with words of encouragement to my last post, and I wanted to give you an update on how grandma was doing.
It doesn't matter to me what religion you are associated with, or if you are a religious person at all, but I just want to ask for prayers or 'good thoughts' from all of you, if that is okay.
I'll check back to talk to you again when I can.
Sincerely
-SRenaud
You are very luckey your grandmother can speak a little and read. My mother had a ischemic stroke at 87 and was right side paralyzed and cannot speak. It has been 4 years and she is about the same. We take care of her at home with caregivers. She can walk a little with a quad cane and a lot of assistance. She does not have much short term memory, but still recognizes family. She cannot read, nor write even though we have tried speech therapy several times and are still trying. It is a rough road, but it sounds like your gransmother is ahead of the game. Don't give up hope, keep trying and let her do all she can for herself. It sounds like she is getting good medical care.
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