Regaining alertness/consciousness after an acute ischemic stroke

[mamino]

My 75 year-old mother had an acute ischemic stroke a week ago today.  She had a frontal parietal infarct that damaged a third of her left hemisphere.  She hasn't really regained any level of alertness, though has shown marked improvement every day.  Yesterday was the first time she was able to really open her eyes and look at things, though she closes them again after a few seconds.  She can hear and move all her extremeties, though the movement is much more limited on her right side.

I'd like to know if there's any way to predict when or whether she'll regain an alertness level.  She also still has brain swelling -- is that directly related, and how long does it take for brain swelling to subside?

[Glasshalfwayfull]

My 76yr old mother experienced a hemorrhagic stroke last Sunday(13% are this type)and required emergency brain surgery.The Surgean did a miraculous job and saved my mother but said due to rarity of this type of stroke the outcomes vary quite a bit.Fortunately within 2 days she was able to move all 4 limbs( right side strongest).Today is the 5th day and she can open both eyes for short periods of time and have lots of facial movement (tongue and lips moves constantly). She even followed commands from the nurse today( a milestone).This site is the best way to share information with each other.

[rbg7]

Hi,  I am Dr Rahul from  Mumbai.  My mother had accident two months ago. Head injury but she recovered completely. But unfortunately again she got brain hemorrhage left side. So she got right side paralysis. Open eyes spontaneously but no recognition to us. Though I am doc, I am very emotional and never got experience.  How many days it takes to get cognition and other things to get normal?  As per your experience.. Pl guide. Thanks

[patthepub]

What about feeding her and giving her liquid? Should  I leave her to sleep until wakes up herself before feeding her ..she only wakes up when has coughing fits and even then doesnt open her eyes ?

[michniak]

you're lucky.  My 80yo Mom had a massive stroke in October, but never gained consciousness.... she passed 5 days later.  It's horrible to live with this loss.. I'm envious of those who's mother lived past 80 :(  My Mom should have lived to 100.

[norwal]

Such helpful responses regarding strokes. My mother suffered a severe stroke 4 years ago. She is 93 years-old now and lives in a very good Skilled Nursing Facility. It has been amazing to see the ups and downs of her condition over these past 4 years. Yesterday she turned to my husband, spoke to him by name, and asked where her daughter (me) was. The brain rests, then wakes up, then rests again. My mom will not have full-recovery. She is paralyzed on her right side and receives nourishment through a feeding tube. However, we respect the sanctity of her life. Either my husband or myself visit her M-F, after work. Even when she is unresponsive, we talk to her; we hold her hand; we brush her hair; we play music for her; we give her a scalp massage. There are many ways to show love to the elderly who may seem to "be unaware."

[Sojourner2dd]

Mamino - I'll have to follow your responses  here.  My Mother in Law has been basically out like a light for almost 6 weeks.  She has opened her eyes and looked around a couple of times - once staying awake for about an hour and once smirking at her daughter and saying "Good Morning" in her now slurring voice.  I keep praying for a complete healing - as only God can do - and have been hoping that the sleep is part of the process of recovery.  Thank you for your query - It takes a little of the concern away.

[spencerfamlyof5]

My Grandmother had went in for back surgery the middle of this month. She has since suffered a stroke. For the past week and half she has not been responsive. Her vitals are good and they have put a feeding tube in. My aunt and uncles have a meeting this week to determine what they should do. She is 83 years old. I don't know what to do. Will she eventually
wake up. I keep hearing from the nurses that her prognosis is not good. I am hoping that someone in this thread can help. They have also told us that she has 4 clots in her brain. They are putting her on Coumadin December 1st to take care of them.

[Aworrieddaughter]

My mom is 66 years old and had a stoke 38 days, she was in the hospital for 8 days and then into rehab... she has days where she is up, alert, and moving around in a wheel chair and then it is like she just goes to into this simi sleep mode and will not do anything...is this normal and will it ever get better because I want to beable to bring her home but I also want to do what is best for her...the rehab therpy said that they can not do anything else with her and they are closing her case..but I think that she has more in her.

[yuxipan]

My uncle, who is 52 years old had an ischemic stroke in the right side of his brain (resulting in left side body paralysis) on the 12th where he was rushed to the hospital and had anti-clotting drugs administered. They did not work, and he was monitored for any additional progressive strokes. On the 13th the doctors said that he MUST have surgery to remove the clot or else his life would be in grave danger.

His surgery went well, the doctors placed him in the ICU where he was given a feeding tube. The doctors said that the stroke was caused by his diabetes which was extremely high and still has been despite the drugs given. On the 2nd day after his surgery, the doctors inserted a throat tube because they were having trouble removing the phlegm which apparently is because of the left side body paralysis he is experiencing.

It is now the 4th day since his surgery, all of his family and friends are very worried and we have been taking turns waiting at the hospital 24/7. I visited him yesterday and spoke to him and squeezed his left hand, I was overjoyed when he squeezed back and his left eyeball showed some movement but he was not alert. I was overjoyed because I thought that he was showing some improvement but when my aunt went in he showed no response or movement. I am hoping and praying that this is because he fell back asleep, the yoyo progress is causing a lot of stress and anxiety amongst all our family and friends particularly my grandmother who bursts into tears the moment she thinks of this whole crazy situation. She is still in severe shock at the suddenness of everything.

If anyone feels their situation was/has been in the past similar, please share your thoughts. Is 4 days a long time to be unconscious after surgery? We are all worried sick. Thank you in advance!

[tojau]

How is your mom doing now. My mom had an ishemic left-sided stroke on Nov 20th, 2012. Two weeks after  she is still very sleepy. She has a feeding tube. Is it possible to request a G-tube or should we hope for her to recover her ability to swallow?

[rms46]

All of these comments regarding the need to sleep post a stroke and how the brian needs to heal are very reassuring. My 98 year old Mom had a left sided stroke and post hospital discharge, has been asleep 24/7 for a week. Thank heavens we had a feeding tube put in at the hospital while she still was alert somewhet.
I know we have to be patient and keep by her side to help her heal and for the people at the nursing home not to give up on her.
rm

[pattiu]

So is it normal seven days after a stroke to really not wake up? It makes me so nervous. Putting in a feeding tube today instead of the temporary one she has in her nose. Does anyone know about these feeding tubes?

[pattiu]

So is it normal seven days after a stroke to really not wake up? It makes me so nervous. Putting in a feeding tube today instead of the temporary one she has in her nose. Does anyone know about these feeding tubes?

[spongebobah]

Hi,
can you please updade me with what happened with your father after almost a year now? coz my mother just had the same problem and I would like to now what will happen latter.

Thanks for any help you can do.
Spongbobah

[jujubeans36]

hey, my dad is 55. he had a brain stem (i think) stroke on 7 december 2010. after the op the doc said he wasnt gonna make it at all. but miraculously he woke up within a week or so and even regained consciousness and could even hold our hands. he was then moved to the normal ward from icu. however, he contracted pneumonia, and at the normal ward it got worse. after staying there for bout a week or so the pneumonia was getting really bad, until there was once he couldnt breathe at all, and he burst the vessel in the same spot again, this time it was 10% bigger. that happened in january. so many things happened from jan-mid feb, like occasional fever etc, but now his physical condition seems to be under control. though he's opening his eyes more frequently now, but he doesnt seem to have regained his consciousness. his conscious level is 5-6 out of 15. though whenever i hover my hands over his eyes, he seems to be attempting to blink, but he seems to not be able to blink whenever i ask him to. he seems to have lost control of his body already.

im just wondering if anyone has a comment on this?:(

[Hopefuldaughter]

My dearest father,72, had a brain stem stroke a month ago, he was on ventilator for 3 weeks he can now breath on his own but he is still on feeding tube and can only open his eyes for a few seconds during the day also move his left hand and leg. Could any one help by telling me if my poor father in locked in syndrome? and how long it takes before my father regains alertness? Does he see or know us when he opens his eyes? I'm devastated, no therapy yet as he is not alert, I'm lost. God help us.

[shazahsan]

Hi mamino, My father seems to have the exact same symptoms as your mom after his stroke on 27th Oct. How is your mom doing now? Please let me know, We simply don't know what to expect it's been 10 days.

[shazahsan]

My father 63yrs old suffered a massive stroke during by pass surgery (2 grafts). After the surgery it took him 3 days to open his eyes. He does not respond to anything only opens his eyes occasionally and moves his left arm over his belly. They did a tracheostomy to help him breathe and is being fed through a rice tube through his nose. His heart, lungs, kidneys etc are doing fine. The CT scan shows his left hemisphere has multiple massive infarcts (no bleeding or hemorrhage) and his right hemisphere has a few infarcts. It's been 10 days and we see no improvement other than him yawning or moving his eye balls. Can someone tell us if they had a similar experience and how long it took to recover or if there is any hope for my father. What medications are administered for infarcts? We are living a nightmare any help would be much appreciated.

[victoriauk477]

My uncle who is 59 had a triple heart bypass this monday 20th Sept, during the procedure he suffered a stroke. They took him off sedation Tues 21st; it is now Fri 24th and he hasn't woken yet and has no movement. Does anyone know how long it can take until a stroke victim can regain consousness? as for the bypass it went well.

[overstressed328]

My mother had a stroke last August and the main problem I have is getting her to sleep.  There are days she goes without sleep.  We have been prescribed sleeping aids but the doctor says the sense in her brain to pick the medication up is damaged.  I am at my wits end because the less sleep she gets the more confused she is which takes a great toll on me seeing she lives with me.  When she's well rested she's a totally different person.  Any suggestions??

[LadyLynda0712]

My mom, 70, had a stroke 3 days ago. She is right-sided paralyzed and cannot say more than two words and that is difficult. Last night the neurologist said he was going to order another MRI for today as she is showing more of a decline than improvement.

We need a reality check. She lives alone, and we want to know the chances of her ever being able to do that again. My brother and I each live over 100 miles away from her. We do not mind paying her mortgage and bills but it will be a hardship. We will do so if there is a chance she will be independant again. We aren't getting straight answers from the doctor. "Maybe, maybe not" is all he can say as far as her getting better.

She is still in the hospital, her average blood pressures have been 224/112; she originally could move her right arm and leg, now she can't. They will be putting her in a facility by the end of the week.

Are we talking a few weeks of therapy, or pretty long-term? We don't know what to do with her house and dog. TIA for any help/advice/suggestions.  Lynda

[loveletter]

Hi yvette19, My moter also had a brain stem stroke, but it took her a lot longer to eat pureed food, but she still has to get some of her food through a tube feed. She is still paralized on her left side with very little movment with her left leg. It's been seven month now, and she will be coming home this Tuesday. We are going to continue with her therapy. I hear that ACUPUNCTURE does mericales on stroke patience. But, the SOONER the better. We are going to get that done as soon as she gets home. My mother went through all those things you spoke of, It's ok, that's what they go through but make sure she is not on any medication that is not necessary. We had to call my mother' s nerosergon, while at the nursing home, and told him my mom has been acting funny and trying to get out of the bed. He said for us to ask the doctor to order an eeg to get done, to see if her seizuer activities have stopped. So, we did and sure enough they had stopped. We noticed a significante difference in my mother's behavior once they winged her off those TWO seizure medication. She didn't know who we were all the time but now she does. You have to be very very very patient with her, because it can be a long road ahead. Everyone recovers in their own time (God's time). You are going to go through so many emotions. We did. I'm not going to lie, It's been hard, but you have to keep strong and stay possitive around her. My mother laughs and makes jokes now. BOY do I love her. I hope that helped you a little?

loveletter

[Yvette19]

My dad is 77, he had a brain stem stroke 9 days ago, he started to feed himself but only puree food and thickened liquids here at the convalescent home in rehab. his speech is slurred and his whole left side is weak and his vision is blurred he also complains of dizziness. We notice throughout the day we can understand him with slur, then there are times we just don't understand him. After his therapy he seems tired and will sleep. Why are there times we don't understand him and why is he tired and slurring more after therapy? Also he randomnly will talk about weird things why? almost dellusional but briefly. his third night in the hospital he went delusional and tried to get up and leave, he was trying to grab things that weren't there. We don't know why that happened either, Dr. didnt really give a reason why it happened. Anyone know? This is a Great site and helpful my prayers to all of you.

[shmelvin]

My Dad had a massive bleed stroke about five days ago.  He had been on Kumadin and was getting over pneumonia and I think, with all that coughing he caused some bleeding in his brain and cuz of the Kumadin it got out of hand for the last few days he has been having short verbal responses, but with excellent Syntax.  Yesterday he was not that responsive but when I got on the phone with him(He is in Florida, I am an actor doing a play in San Francisco and am going there this Sat night for three days) anyway, yesterday I sang and told him I'm in SF on  a pier looking at the water and he said, "San Francisco?  That's exciting."  and then I spoke for a while and when I stopped for a bit he said, "that's all you have to say?"  But today he is sleeping and they can't seem to wake him up but his vitals are good,  Reading these posts has been comforting when it comes to how much sleep people who have had a stroke, often need and/or have.  Love and prayers to all of you