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post stroke headaches

My father is 76 yrs old and had suffered from stroke almost a year ago.  He's been recovering since then and was gaining some weight and still under Therapy.  He seldom have headaches.  What should we do in case he have headaches? What are the medicines he should take?
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Avatar universal
And if you look at the next posting about the 59 year old mother who had a stroke, it reads, "She now has shunt, peg for feeding into the stomach, urine bag and tractotomy to breath via her neck."  Do you see what I mean with my comment above?
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Avatar universal
The food hasn't tasted good to me either, but over 5 years later, I feel that food tastes better.  There are very small improvements that I have noticed every year.  So your father could do better as time goes on.

If that is the only disability that your father has from his stroke is that he doesn't walk easily is a true gift.  There is so much more that I have suffered from with my stroke.  I was in my mid-50s, so that goes to show you how age isn't everything.  And I think that I am very fortunate for not suffering from the other terrible things that people suffer from after a stroke, such as needing a feeding tube, major personality changes, paralysis, not able to speak.  I was told that I nearly would have suffered permanent paralysis and not speaking had I not had a very good circulatory system and been the age that I was.  I am truly glad to hear about your father's terrific recovery.
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Avatar universal
Thank you. I have put him on a low salt diet because he is also suffering from gout.  This gout made his legs and knees weaker that even on therapy he cannot walk properly.  My father is a 5 foot 7" man and has gained his weight easily.  He has good appetite even though the food does not taste well according to him. We just ask him to drink lots of water.  He can walk very slowly with cane and with help when his gout is not attacking.  He has no other disabilities aside from the stroke and his gout.
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Avatar universal
Sorry, I just saw your posting.  There are pain killers that your father could take to treat his very few headaches if they are bad ones.  I'm wondering why you have your father on low salt diet?  That was not recommended to me when I had a major stroke. But maybe I had a different kind of stroke.  I lost so much weight that my doctor said to eat ice cream sundaes every day to help my weight.  Does your father weigh enough?  Sorry that your father is not walking yet.  That may be something that he will have to live with.  There are far worse things that happen from a stroke.  Does he have other major disabilities?  Let me know.  
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Avatar universal
Thank you very much for the advice. I will bring it up to the doctor on his appointment.  He only experience those headaches a few times after his stroke. We are just watching his diet on a low salt and low fat foods. I also want to know the recovery time for a stroke patient. He suffered stroked last November 2012 and its been almost a year, with medicines and therapy he is not walking yet? Does recovery coincide with how old he is?
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Avatar universal
I think the good doctor above must have missed that your father seldom had headaches. Then you just need to ask his doctor for what medication that he should when he does get a headache.  The Topiramate, amitriptyline and nortriptylene are meant for people who have many headaches and are given one of these meds as a daily preventative migraine medication which your father should not consider.  Good luck to you.
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563773 tn?1374246539
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,
It is quite common for people to experience headaches after a stroke caused by a bleed (haemorrhagic stroke). Secondly it can be due to migraine headaches as well. However in a stroke patient it is important to rule out any bleeding which may be causing headaches. Hence get an evaluation done from his neurologist.
Specific treatment includes drugs as topiramate, amitriptyline, or nortriptyline.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.





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