Stroke survival

[nikki81]

What is the process after a stroke? My mom had a bleed in the brain and took the clot out. The second surgery they removed a bone and part of her skull. She is only 50 years old and I am terrified. Since the original stroke it has been  a week and one day and I am concerned.  They say she is not responding to any kind of communication and I may be seeing her move as a result of spasms or reflexes. What should I do? What to expect next? How long does it take for them to see a reaction of comprehension?

[PamRam228]

Nikki, I do believe the surgery you're talking about is a craniotomy.  The neurosurgeon takes part of the skull out and stores it elsewhere in the body (like the hip) until the swelling in the brain goes down.  It is then placed back where it belongs.  The only thing you can do is keep talking to your mom.  She may be able to hear you.  If your mother had a stroke or burst aneurysm the healing process can take months or years.  No one knows how long it will take for her to be able to comprehend.  It's up to her brain..after all her brain has had a major insult (the bleed).  Just ask questions, but don't expect too many definite answers as the docs really don't know what's going to happen or how long it will take for your mom to get better.  What side of the brain was the bleed?  How did it happen?  How long did it take her to get to the hospital?  Please let us know her progress and I'll be praying for your mom.

[nikki81]

She had it on the right side where they said the motor skills are located. The bleed occurred because of her blood vessels breaking in her head. They removed a clot and put a drainage in her head the first surgery. The second surgery they removed the bone and part of the skull. Today they put a trake in her throat and a feeding tube in her stomach. She went to the hospital 15 minutes after it occurred.(Immediately) She knew who I was when I arrived to the hospital and has not spoken since. She moves her right arm but the nurses can't command her to do it when they ask. How long did it take your relative to speak? Did they move your relative to a facility after it occurred?

[PamRam228]

Nikki, my husband was hit on the right side of his brain which controls the left side, so he has very mild hemiparesis on that side.  He never lost his ability to speak but was in ICU for three weeks.  10 days of those weeks he was on a respirator to do his breathing for him and wasn't able to talk because of that.  He couldn't move his left side...only his fingers on his left hand.  It took about 4 weeks for him to regain movement on that side and now he does just fine, although he has pain in his left arm.  He spent another 3 weeks in the neuroscience department and another 3 weeks in rehab.  I've been told (and also have read) that people who suffer a bleed in the brain have better recovery than people that have a clot, if they survive it.. although, chances of dying after the bleed are higher.  So, if it was a bleed that she had she may come out of this with very little deficits.  My husband also had to have blood drained off his head.  He always did recognize people that came to see him.  He does have mild short term memory and sometimes gets a little confused about where he's at but it's only when he wakes up.  It only lasts a few seconds and it happens about once every couple of weeks.  He's still healing and doing great.  I wish the best for your mom.  You'll see improvements as the days and weeks pass.  It may seem hopeless now, but, honestly, you have a lot to look forward to as far as her progress.

[nikki81]

Did they put your husband in a Long Term Acute Facility? Did he need a trake? Today is he able to walk? They are sending my mom to a Acute Facility. My mom had a bleed that turned into a clot. She moves with her right hand and has tried to talk with the trake in her throat. When she wants to watch tv she points to the television.Its hard on me my mom is only 50 and I have a brother in college.

[PamRam228]

Nikki, my husband was in an inpatient rehab center for 3 weeks.  It would have been 4 weeks but he didn't like it there so  I took him out a week early.  He then went to outpatient rehab 3 days a week, for two months.  He never had to have a trach, though.  He is able to walk.  It was about 8 weeks after the stroke that he could walk and that was with a walker.  My husbands stroke was in July 2007 and today he walks without assistance except if we're going to the mall where he has to walk a long distance.  He'll get tired easily on long walks.  He has made a miraculous recovery considering the type of bleed he had.  My husbands left side was partially paralyzed but now he moves it just fine, although it's not as strong as before.  Your mom is so young I'm just sure she'll be alright.  Don't lose hope and ask a lot of questions.  If you need to talk one on one I'll be glad to email you my number.

[PamRam228]

Nikki, my husband was in an inpatient rehab center for 3 weeks.  It would have been 4 weeks but he didn't like it there so  I took him out a week early.  He then went to outpatient rehab 3 days a week, for two months.  He never had to have a trach, though.  He is able to walk.  It was about 8 weeks after the stroke that he could walk and that was with a walker.  My husbands stroke was in July 2007 and today he walks without assistance except if we're going to the mall where he has to walk a long distance.  He'll get tired easily on long walks.  He has made a miraculous recovery considering the type of bleed he had.  My husbands left side was partially paralyzed but now he moves it just fine, although it's not as strong as before.  Your mom is so young I'm just sure she'll be alright.  Don't lose hope and ask a lot of questions.  If you need to talk one on one I'll be glad to email you my number.