Re: My father had a massive stroke. Mom and I are in serious panic mode.
The first week and several after that were touch and go. There were many times we were told that she wouldn't make it. My mom had an aneurysm that caused her to have 2 strokes. She was only 56 at the time. When she left the hospital to go to rehab she was in a coma. The people there were wonderful and within a week of being there she opened her eyes and said Hi. We were overjoyed since it had been over a month with no response. She eventually spoke again. Lost some of her memory and because she had a 2nd stroke she was unable to use her left side I think or walk, but she fought and enjoyed what she had until she passed away 6 years ago. She had complications from pneumonia. If we had listened to the doctors and took her off life support we wouldn't have had 4 great years with her. I know how scared you are. Every time the phone rang I was sure that it would be bad news. She had just about every complication you can think of, but we decided to give her every chance possible and so glad we did. I miss her everyday and I would make the same decisions all over again. Try to stay positive and follow your heart.
Re: My father had a massive stroke. Mom and I are in serious panic mode.
CSI,
I had four simultaneous strokes all over my brain while I was snorkeling in the ocean. The cause of my strokes were malignant hyperstension, which is blood pressure illness that causes organ failure,.
My strokes left me with end stage kidney failure, stokes on my retinas, a heart attack, severe central apnea, periodic limb movements, RLS and memory loss. I also lost my ability to regulate the blood returning from my brain, which causes me to faint if I lower my head below my waist. I was only 43 at the time as well.
I slept for a solid year, about 22 hours a day, and took two more years to really wake up all the way. I walked again at three, drove at 5, and made my biggest recovery when I found this place, where I relearned to type and write again.
Anything is possible. I had a 8 year old son to parent, and now he is 17, and stood by my side all the way. I never considered giving up, and found a new a wonderful life on the other side of stroke recovery. To loose so much and then get it back leaves a person forever thankful and able to face anything after that.
My story is not the most interesting either. We have other folks here with stories right out of the incredible. I am thinking of Coupe, for those who know his story...his puts my little jaunt to shame. That is why we insist on being survivors, not victims, not patients...
I love your commentary about the lightness and the dark, when it comes to the different attitudes about our care. I guess when you see things every day, you must harden yourself, but when we are on our first loved one surviving a stroke, you have to carry every bit of love and care there is for them to recover. They have their job, and we have ours.
We all look forward to every update and report on your dads progress. It can be a rough road, but keep up the fight with him.
Re: My father had a massive stroke. Mom and I are in serious panic mode.
Boy you really went through it. You certainly are a miracle story in your own right.
Just a quick update on my Dad.
My Mom said his temperature was normal this afternoon and my dad was opening his eyes just a bit. This evening she says his fever was back up to 38c. So right now it seems to be coming up in the evenings.
Tonight she said he was opening his left eye but only a bit. She said it looked like his pupil was crossed inward a bit. According to her he kept opening his eye just a tiny bit each time she called his name or heard a noise.
She stayed by his side most of the day and this evening read the local paper to him.
We are just hoping for more improvement the rest of this week.
It sounds like the two places that we can send him to that take trach patients need to evaluate him to see if he will be able to come off the trach after rehab. If not they may not accept him...In this case what the heck do we do?
Re: My father had a massive stroke. Mom and I are in serious panic mode.
A little more history on my Dad's stroke.
his bleed was a very large bleed in the basil ganglia region of the brain and it was about 7cm in size. Some of the blood is/was pushing on the ventricle area of the brain which could be the reason for the fever. I am not sure if it was a significant push into that area though.
His left lobe pushed about 10mm (maybe 5mm) into the right lobe because of the hemorrhage.
So as you can imagine, lots of bad things went on when he bleed out.
I find it so hard to believe that he was able to get up, unlock a door, open a door and then go to the bathroom, sit down, get back up and then go back to the bed with some help before he collapsed.
Re: My father had a massive stroke. Mom and I are in serious panic mode.
Your dad has been through a lot. His poor brain must heal and the swelling must go down before anyone can assess him properly. Remember the brain is an amazing amazing part of our body. But like everything it needs time to heal before it can become amazing again. Keep your faith and believe he will get better. Remember he can hear you talk to him and he knows you are there. Please keep posting and let us know how he is. God Bless you and your mom for the love and care you are providing him. It is the kindness and love that helps him heal. But I know how hard that can be on you both. Make sure you are taking care of yourselves as well. When your dad wakes up he needs to see well rested caregivers. Taking care of yourselves is a gift to your dad also because you will be ready to help him when he wakes up.
God Bless Mulchie
Re: My father had a massive stroke. Mom and I are in serious panic mode.
My Dad is having his trach done this evening at 5:30. My Mom says his fever seems to be gone but his breathing is labored at times. He opens his eyes but that is it...Blank stare into space. No movement from any parts of his body at all.
The following 3 users give hugs of support to: CSI007 Mulchie (03-01-2012), Positive Cynic (03-04-2012), writeleft (03-04-2012)
Re: My father had a massive stroke. Mom and I are in serious panic mode.
Saw my Dad today. Still has a fever in the evening but not real high about 100. For a period of time today he had his eyes fully opened but a blank stare or gaze. His eyes would slowly shift from one side of his head to the other. He did seem to fixate on the clock on the wall or the TV next to it...Really not sure what.
They are trying to ween him off the ventilator equipment so he can just breath room air through his trach. They were unable to put in a PEG because of his anatomy. They are consulting a GI specialist to try to figure out how to get feed him long term.
He has not moved his left side of his body since last weekend. This has really got me worried now. Last Saturday he had some responsiveness and was still shifting his left leg and arm from time to time, rubbing his stomach and reaching for the cath.
None of that right now.
My Mom is really falling apart over all of this. She could not really talk on the phone she is such a wreck.
Is any of this "normal"? Even the physicians assistant who saw my dad do these things last week is perplexed as to why all of this stuff has just stopped now.
It's like he really took a step in the wrong direction. We were hoping to build off the left side movements and the very tiny right side movements he had and go from there.
Even last week his pupils would fixate on people and he would follow movement...none of that now.
I think I really need to try to find a stroke support group in the area and talk to some people about all of this. This is all so damn frustrating. Not knowing what is going on and whether we will see any kind of meaningful recovery.
Last edited by CSI007; 03-03-2012 at 07:39 PM.
The following 2 users give hugs of support to: CSI007 Mulchie (03-04-2012), Positive Cynic (03-04-2012)
Re: My father had a massive stroke. Mom and I are in serious panic mode.
I know how frustrating it is. 1 step forward and 2 steps, back. Its really not that uncommon I don't think. Hang in there. I think finding a support group is a great idea. Please keep us updated. I wish you and your family only the best.
Re: My father had a massive stroke. Mom and I are in serious panic mode.
The only real answers to your questions are held in the future, as no one can predict what will happen from here. We just know that we have to keep the positive thoughts going, without fail. Without hope, the chances plummet. It is all we can be sure of. We know that without hope, all is lost, so keep the faith.
You mother sounds as if she is exhausted, overwhelmed and worn out. Please encourage her to rest every chance she gets, to keep hydrated and be extra careful of falls, accidents, and distractions. Our risk of an accident is much higher when we are tired and out of focus.
We all are wishing you all the very best, only time will answer your most basic questions, with strokes being so mysetrious, and this the the waiting game that makes it so much more insane than most other maladies or medical events. I will be watching for your next posts,
Janet
The Following User Says Thank You to writeleft For This Useful Post: Positive Cynic (03-04-2012)
Re: My father had a massive stroke. Mom and I are in serious panic mode.
Saw my dad today again. He is now off the ventilator and breathing on his own through the trach with just some oxygen. Seems to be doing that OK on his own. Vitals are all good.
No fever...however, nothing from him today at all...never opened his eyes once. Mom was with him all day as was the nurse. No opening of eyes, no arm or leg movement.
So frustrating.
Something happened to him between last Saturday night and Sunday that has completely locked him out now.
Re: My father had a massive stroke. Mom and I are in serious panic mode.
Hi CSI,
It's Tim again. I am here with you and praying with too. I really have nothing to say but support. I know how frustrating it can be and doctors seem so cold at times. So all I want to say is to hold on to hope and faith. God has a reason for everything, so keep leaning on His wisdom. You may be surprised what you find.
Re: My father had a massive stroke. Mom and I are in serious panic mode.
I'm afraid I don't have good news this evening.
My mom just called and said my Dad had to be put back on the respirator because he aspirated again into his lungs and his breathing is very bad. Low grade fever is back too.
Looks like his pneumonia has worsened as well.
Will keep everyone posted.
The following user gives a hug of support to CSI007: Mulchie (03-07-2012)
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Re: My father had a massive stroke. Mom and I are in serious panic mode.
CSI,
This is strange, maybe not, I don't know. It is 3:30 a.m. I could not sleep and thought of you and have been praying for you and you father and saw your last post. Providence I guess. I will continue to pray for you and wish you goodness and happiness in this trial God has given you.
God Bless you my friend,
Tim
Re: My father had a massive stroke. Mom and I are in serious panic mode.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Positive Cynic
CSI,
This is strange, maybe not, I don't know. It is 3:30 a.m. I could not sleep and thought of you and have been praying for you and you father and saw your last post. Providence I guess. I will continue to pray for you and wish you goodness and happiness in this trial God has given you.
God Bless you my friend,
Tim
Thank you Tim.
An update from today for everyone.
Saw my Dad today. Unfortulately he is not doing well at all. His Kidney function is now out of normal so his kidneys are probably beginning to fail him. His hands and fingers are so swollen with fluid by the end of the night I was having a hard time moving them and massaging them for him.
We had a consult with the Staff today and they really believe that things are going to just keep piling on for my Dad. But we are staying the course as of now. The testimonials here and elsewhere are all we have to cling to at this moment in time.
His MRSA lung infection is still present and the 10 day corse of VANCOMYCIN did not get rid of it. They tell us that they may never be able to rid him of this infection.
At this time there is no way we can move him to another facility in the shape he is in.
I spent an hour and half today talking to him, doing everything I could to open his eyes or do anything to show me he is still there....Got no kind of response at all...He is just sleeping.
Please pray for my Dad. he is a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. He would do anything for his family without a second thought. A caring and compassionate person who has many friends from all walks of life, who loves life and was enjoying just retiring.
The following 2 users give hugs of support to: CSI007 goingtorun (03-08-2012), Positive Cynic (03-08-2012)
Re: My father had a massive stroke. Mom and I are in serious panic mode.
My heart goes out to you and your dad. I pray God sends a band of angels to watch over him. You talk so fondly of your dad he so
unds like a wonderful man. You and your mom have been deligent caregivers. Such a wonderful family. You have been at his side and giving him the love and care he deserves. You have done all you can now its up to God.
My prayers are with all of you at this very difficult time. God Bless Mulchie
Re: My father had a massive stroke. Mom and I are in serious panic mode.
Please accept my prayers and best wishes for your father, and thank you for the update. It is not the news you want to hear, and I am so sorry. I am sure you dad has battled every step of the way to be with both of you, he sounds like such a wonderful man and he must love both of you so deeply. It obviously has been felt by both of you, and demonstrated by him your entire life. He deserved the best, and I am sure you gave him the best, and still are.
Another thing he likely is hoping is that you two do not suffer tremendously over him, but of course you are. Please find strength in each other, and in your dad.
You are in my prayers tonight as I go to sleep, and please continue to share his condition with us, as often as you are comfortable. I wish the very best for you...
Re: My father had a massive stroke. Mom and I are in serious panic mode.
CSI,
As I see where you are right now. I see the love you have for you father. So let me tell you a story about my father.
His kidneys failed also and dementia came in quickly. When I went to see him in the hospital and asked "who are you?" It just broke my heart. I am crying right know wriing this. He was such a sweet Dad and it sounds like yours.
So he was in a coma for 3 days. The doctors ask if they should "pull the plug" I said o.k. but let us have a time alone to talk to him. So we all did alone. My mom, my brother and 2 sisters. I am the youngest so I was last. I told my Dad how much I loved him and am sorry if I ever hurt him. Then I whispered to his ear and sang "Jesus Loves All the Children".
His eyes were shut, but he cried. I saw the tears. The doctor came in to pull the plug and I said. "He is crying!" And the doctor said it was just a reaction, they all do that. It hurt me so bad what the doctor said to me.
So I want you to hold on to faith and hope and goodness. God has a reason for everthing, so you can hold on that and move on through this trial.
Re: My father had a massive stroke. Mom and I are in serious panic mode.
Hello, CSI. I, too, sent a prayer up for your Dad, you and your mom. I wish I had great words of comfort for you. I've been in that "serious panic mode" to the point where all my hair fell out and my eyesight is strained. I believe in prayer and will keep you in mine. God Bless. I'm a newbie to this site, but there are angels here.
The following 2 users give hugs of support to: ceedeebee Positive Cynic (03-08-2012), writeleft (03-09-2012)
