Desperate situation after stroke, please help

[mehraban]

My mom ( 61 years old )had a stroke 8 days ago. She is still in ICU and suffering from her sad situation. The stroke affected on her left arm and leg. Fortunately, she is completely aware of everything . However the most painful part is the swallowing problem. She is still get food through the nose tubs, so her mouth and tongue are very dry. Her extremely dry mouth and not able to drink is driving her nuts and not sure what to do to help her. Her doctors don’t tell us how many days more she has to suffer this way. She is NOT  really able tolerate this condition, so she has just started to say some not logical sentences.So, I am wondering if being in ICU and under all stress and pressure make her crazy or any other side affects on top of the others. Thanks in advance.

[mle134]

My brotherinlaw is recovering from a very severe stroke which pretty much shut down the left side of his body.  He spent a couple of weeks in ICU, then a few weeks in a stroke care section of the hospital, then 4 months in a skilled nursing facility (SNF).  He was 67 when the stroke occured.  He is now home, and my sister is his primary caregiver - a fulltime job at this time.

He is now able to walk across the house, and go up and down stairs.  Some of his cognitive abilities that were affected have returned.  He also complains of pain - the therapists state that this can be "phantom pain" or it could be something called "central pain" that is from damage from the stroke.  You can just touch his left food and he says it feels like someone is standing on his foot.

I had an elderly aunt who experienced something her doctor called "ICU Neurosis" when she was several days on a ventilator and a couple of weeks in ICU...she thought she was back working at a job she held in the 1930's instead of the ICU and actually called the sheriff because she felt she was being held at the job against her will.  After getting back in more familiar surroundings this disassociation stopped.  Strangely enough it did not seem medication related, which was my first thought because drugs sometimes work differently with elderly people.

I beleive for the dry mouth there is also something like "artificial tears"  - a sort of artifical saliva - that can be used, but I think Lois382's idea about the sponge swabs works just as well..

Hope your mom has continued improvement.

[mehraban]

Thanks Lois for the information.
I am wondering how long they kept your mother in ICU. Do you know what reasons were for keeping her in ICU. Is she getting better in rehab? Dose she has a lot of pain? My mother complains of intolerable pain.
I hope your mother gets speedy recovery.

[Lois382]

My mother (76) had a stroke 2 1/2 weeks ago with left side paralysis and swallowing problems.  She is now in acute rehab. We fortunately didn't have to go through a feeding tube, but she still can't swallow properly.

What we did for my mother while in the hospital  and complaining of dry mouth and wanting water, was they had these sponges on a stick (look like green lollipops).  We'd dunk them in ice cold water, wring them out against the side of the cup, and wipe down her lips, mouth,  and teeth.   After a day or so she could do this herself with her good hand if we prepared and handed it to her.

Not exactly water but better than nothing for a dry mouth.  Ask the hospital pcts or nurse, they should have these sponges on a stick.

I hope your mother gets well soon.  She is very young and will hopefully fight her way through rehab.  Have patience with her and be aware her brain is doing a lot of work already repairing the damage from the stroke.