oneandonlyalone
12-24-2006, 06:26 PM
My husband is 75 and very healthy normally, although he had a heart attack 3 years ago and was fitted with a stent. Then he had high blood pressure.
I didn't know the reason, or even thought it was significant before he had a stroke, but for several month he'd had spells where he'd lost his balance. I now know this was caused by a heart arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, and it led to him having a stroke.
I came home from work on the 13th and found him laying on the floor. He'd been there all day and I could see that he'd had a stroke. He was taken to hospital, too late of course for any clot-busting drugs, and wasn't even given a CT scan for over 48 hours. In that time even the asprin he was taking for his heart was stopped. After the scan the doctor told me he'd had a massive stroke caused by a clot.
It's affected his right side, although he never lost the use of his arm or leg completely as far as I know. Of course he's been in hospital since then, first on a medical assessment ward, then the cardiac unit until his heart rate had been brought to a slower speed. Now he's in the stroke unit, although in the UK there aren't enough staff, there's a shortage of equipment, and everyone has to wait their turn for medical treatment if they don't have health insurance, and not many do.
I am feeling very alone and frightened. I don't know if I will ever get my husband back. He still has an NG tube, because he's not drinking enough, He's never drunk as much as he should, but I think the thickener put in all his drinks to help him swallow puts him off drinking more.
Some days he can say a few words, but unless he is swearing or telling me to go.. do something, I don't know what, he speaks very quietly and can't find words. He's tried writing but trhat doesn't make sense either.
He has a catheter, it took the hospital 3 days to realise he wasn't able to empty his bladder, although I knew when he was still in the ER.
I know that everyone is different, and I know that it takes a long time to recover from a stroke, and many never do reach a point where they can live independently.
But does anyone have any personal experiences of somebody who had a similar stroke in the left hemisphere of the brain, affecting the right side and causing weakness but not paralysis, that may have caused swallowing problems, although I'm not sure if he has any or if he just didn't understand that he was supposed to cough when he was told to.
It's been less than 2 weeks, but he can now use his right hand and arm, although his co-ordination is off. He has a little physiotherapy, but not much. The day before yesterday he said my name when I went to see him, and he could say more words, yesterday he could hardly say anything, today he has a few more words again.
He was given drugs to thin his blood and prevent more clots when the scan results were first received, then they were stopped, for 2 weeks I think. On his notes it says they were stopped because of the risk of another CVA or problems with his heart and circulation. His blood pressure is very low, and most days I am sure I see blood in his urine. I don't know if any other organ has been damaged.
When he is a little stronger he'll be given anti-coagulants again for two weeks, so that the doctors can try to get his heart beating regularly.
I don't know how long he'll be in hospital, although it will probably be months, if he lives. I need to work full-time, but if he comes homer I'd be afraid to leave him alone. I'm close to retirement age and get very tired working full-time but I can't afford not to, his pension is very small and the state pays little to carers. If I return to work full-time after the holidays I'm afraid that I'll be too tired to spend my evenings with him at the hospital, but if I don't go, apart from him missing me and me feeling guilty, I doubt he'll be fed properly by the staff. At least I am there to make sure that he eats as much as possible of his evening meal, and encourage him to drink.
I don't trust the hospital to care for him, and I desperately need some information about how long it takes people to recover from this type of stroke. I know he has asphasia but he has improved a little, will that improvement continue so that he can communicate reasonably? Will I ever get my husband back? How long before he can come home, already he is telling me he wants to come home, although it's not easy to know what he is saying.
I didn't know the reason, or even thought it was significant before he had a stroke, but for several month he'd had spells where he'd lost his balance. I now know this was caused by a heart arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, and it led to him having a stroke.
I came home from work on the 13th and found him laying on the floor. He'd been there all day and I could see that he'd had a stroke. He was taken to hospital, too late of course for any clot-busting drugs, and wasn't even given a CT scan for over 48 hours. In that time even the asprin he was taking for his heart was stopped. After the scan the doctor told me he'd had a massive stroke caused by a clot.
It's affected his right side, although he never lost the use of his arm or leg completely as far as I know. Of course he's been in hospital since then, first on a medical assessment ward, then the cardiac unit until his heart rate had been brought to a slower speed. Now he's in the stroke unit, although in the UK there aren't enough staff, there's a shortage of equipment, and everyone has to wait their turn for medical treatment if they don't have health insurance, and not many do.
I am feeling very alone and frightened. I don't know if I will ever get my husband back. He still has an NG tube, because he's not drinking enough, He's never drunk as much as he should, but I think the thickener put in all his drinks to help him swallow puts him off drinking more.
Some days he can say a few words, but unless he is swearing or telling me to go.. do something, I don't know what, he speaks very quietly and can't find words. He's tried writing but trhat doesn't make sense either.
He has a catheter, it took the hospital 3 days to realise he wasn't able to empty his bladder, although I knew when he was still in the ER.
I know that everyone is different, and I know that it takes a long time to recover from a stroke, and many never do reach a point where they can live independently.
But does anyone have any personal experiences of somebody who had a similar stroke in the left hemisphere of the brain, affecting the right side and causing weakness but not paralysis, that may have caused swallowing problems, although I'm not sure if he has any or if he just didn't understand that he was supposed to cough when he was told to.
It's been less than 2 weeks, but he can now use his right hand and arm, although his co-ordination is off. He has a little physiotherapy, but not much. The day before yesterday he said my name when I went to see him, and he could say more words, yesterday he could hardly say anything, today he has a few more words again.
He was given drugs to thin his blood and prevent more clots when the scan results were first received, then they were stopped, for 2 weeks I think. On his notes it says they were stopped because of the risk of another CVA or problems with his heart and circulation. His blood pressure is very low, and most days I am sure I see blood in his urine. I don't know if any other organ has been damaged.
When he is a little stronger he'll be given anti-coagulants again for two weeks, so that the doctors can try to get his heart beating regularly.
I don't know how long he'll be in hospital, although it will probably be months, if he lives. I need to work full-time, but if he comes homer I'd be afraid to leave him alone. I'm close to retirement age and get very tired working full-time but I can't afford not to, his pension is very small and the state pays little to carers. If I return to work full-time after the holidays I'm afraid that I'll be too tired to spend my evenings with him at the hospital, but if I don't go, apart from him missing me and me feeling guilty, I doubt he'll be fed properly by the staff. At least I am there to make sure that he eats as much as possible of his evening meal, and encourage him to drink.
I don't trust the hospital to care for him, and I desperately need some information about how long it takes people to recover from this type of stroke. I know he has asphasia but he has improved a little, will that improvement continue so that he can communicate reasonably? Will I ever get my husband back? How long before he can come home, already he is telling me he wants to come home, although it's not easy to know what he is saying.
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hectaffy
12-29-2006, 04:04 PM
So sorry to hear about your husband. My husband had a stroke on the left hemisphere (that affected his right side) September 19th of this year (Has been a little over 3 months now). He was in the hospital for 10 days and then transferred to a rehab center and was there for 5 weeks. He had the greatest care there and 3 hours of intensive therapy every day, including the weekends. He had trouble swallowing so they put a feeding tube in and when he was able to swallow he started eating like a horse. :-) He came home with a cane but was able to give that up after about a week. He has great balance now and exercises his arms and hands every day. He also works out with weights and eats really well. He can say a few words that we understand but cannot say a lot of words or sentences yet. I think it will all come back with time. I think it will for your husband too. Will he be going to a rehab center? They get good care at most of them.
I hope things improve for you and your husband. By the way, my husband is 68 years old.
I wish you luck and good health in 2007.
Lynda
I hope things improve for you and your husband. By the way, my husband is 68 years old.
I wish you luck and good health in 2007.
Lynda