did she have a stroke? is there rehab other than home pt?

[1charlie]

my 84 yr old mother in law seems to have suffered a stroke albeit a mild one. her doctor said she has and has ordered home pt, ot and speech. she cant complete a thought or sentence, she slurs. the dr ran a mri and carotid dopler, both are unremarkable. she sometimes gets very delusional and the dr says it may be sugar (she's a diabetic) or infection. when she went to er at the beginning they ran a cat scan and sent her home. is there a way or place to get her thoroughly evaluated? she cant live alone anymore and we dont want to send her to a nursing home. the speech therapist says he cant help but clearly she has problems. she cant remember how to use the phone, cant remember conversations for more than an hour. we just dont know what to do. the o/t people just seem useless and confuse her even more

[Linmag]

HI, I think you need to take a firm hand with the drs. and let them know in no uncertain terms you want this woman taken care of in proper and respectfull way, she is a human being and deserves better.... You have to be her voice YOU>>>>>
Lin

[vja]

Yes it sounds like she had a stroke, but I agree with the previous post that she needs to be further evaluated.  If she has no paralysis, you are luckey.   Physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy did not help my 87 year old mother at all...she is right side paralyzed and cannot speak at all.  We have her at home with caregivers.  Our choices were nursing home or home with care.  Don't try to do it on your own..it is to difficult/stressful..you will end up the one in the hospital.  Hope this helps. Vicki

[vja]

A lot of her symptoms could be from her diabetes also, or her medications, or a possible urinary tract infection, or the beginning of Alzheimers.  The Dr's need to check further to find out what is really going on...not just assume it's a stroke,even though the symptoms are similar.  Often Dr's can't tell the difference between a stroke and Alzheimers..sometimes the two coexist.

[1charlie]

thanks for your advice , it all sounds good, we have ruled out u.i. infection and her sugar is more stble now than it has been for years. i will have her meds re-evaluated and find out how to check/ diagnose Alzheimer's.. i'm just wondering if her dr is not quite up to the task even though he is internal med/ geriatrics? someone told me we should have her seen by a pmr doctor. i was also told that since she can walk well with her walker that in- patient therapy may not be approved> thanks again, 1charlie

[vja]

Possibly a Neurologist could help greatly with a diagnosis.  If she is walking with a walker, you are very luckey.  With her surgar in balance and medications OK, the neurologist might just try Aricept and see if that helps any.  Take care, I know it is hard. Vicki