Discussion
It's 3 weeks today since dad's haemorrhage/stroke, and we've been told yesterday that there are concerns with the fact that he still has absolutely no ability to move his left side. My mum's been told he may not regain any movement, which was really upsetting to hear.
I was with him over the weekend and he was and he's certainly better than he was - more alert for longer periods, good speech, but still a long way from being up an about in any way.
We're now hoping that the physio he's been receiving will bring some movement back. Now that he's stopped feeling sick continually they hopefully will be able to have a proper try with him.
I was with him over the weekend and he was and he's certainly better than he was - more alert for longer periods, good speech, but still a long way from being up an about in any way.
We're now hoping that the physio he's been receiving will bring some movement back. Now that he's stopped feeling sick continually they hopefully will be able to have a proper try with him.
giblet said:
It took my dad quite a while before he regained any movement on his left side. He was in hospital for the best part of 4 months and I believe proper physio sessions only started after a month and a half.
Early days yet, chin up chap.
Cheers.Early days yet, chin up chap.
One thing other the doc apparently said is that whatever he's like by 6 weeks is what he'll stuck with. I'm hoping that's b
ks as it seems to contradict other advice and experience we've heard i.e. it's a long process, could be years.
Pappagallo said:
Dad's got some activity in his left leg 
.
The physio seems to be progressing well and he's now got more awareness of his left side whereas previously he seems quite unfussed about it. I think the fog has lifted and he's now asking lots of questions about what's happened to him.
Awesome news .The physio seems to be progressing well and he's now got more awareness of his left side whereas previously he seems quite unfussed about it. I think the fog has lifted and he's now asking lots of questions about what's happened to him.
Great news! The 6 weeks comment - we got quite a few of those, curiously, but we were also under the impression that strokes would be a click of the fingers type event, whereas mum's seemed to be relatively progressive over a few hours.
She's certainly a whole lot better than where we were 6 weeks after the event (3 years now and leading a completely normal life apart from swearing about the statins she has to take
) so don't give up hope that he may yet still progress.
She's certainly a whole lot better than where we were 6 weeks after the event (3 years now and leading a completely normal life apart from swearing about the statins she has to take
) so don't give up hope that he may yet still progress. This happened to my mother when she was around sixty three. From my experience, recovery can take quite a long time, patience is the key, plenty of physio, I think realistically you will have to expect he will never be back to how he was, but hopefully, given time, he will make a good recovery and have a decent standard of life going into the future.
I always maintain you can have all the money in the world, but your health is the most important thing.
I wish your Dad well..
I always maintain you can have all the money in the world, but your health is the most important thing.
I wish your Dad well..
Mixed here.
We are looking at about 6 weeks now. Speech is coming back. He can say I love you and he can apparently sing Happy Birthday. A review was held this week where my mother let rip into the physios. When your patients wife is one of the most feared ladies in the North West, her dau in law is one of the best Osteopaths in Europe (and by hell my wife really really is as others on here will back up) and one of Britain's best neuro-pyschs (don't ask me, her husband is on here and she is qualified way beyond our combined braincells) is treating him and providing reports free of charge, then you have to start upping your game. Right side is still not there and most likely never will be. His beloved Boxster will never be driven by him again, BUT his brain is still there. Ill trade his physical issues for the brain still being there.
But its intermittent. Like a short circuit. There is so much more to say but I don't know how.
We are looking at about 6 weeks now. Speech is coming back. He can say I love you and he can apparently sing Happy Birthday. A review was held this week where my mother let rip into the physios. When your patients wife is one of the most feared ladies in the North West, her dau in law is one of the best Osteopaths in Europe (and by hell my wife really really is as others on here will back up) and one of Britain's best neuro-pyschs (don't ask me, her husband is on here and she is qualified way beyond our combined braincells) is treating him and providing reports free of charge, then you have to start upping your game. Right side is still not there and most likely never will be. His beloved Boxster will never be driven by him again, BUT his brain is still there. Ill trade his physical issues for the brain still being there.
But its intermittent. Like a short circuit. There is so much more to say but I don't know how.
If it's any encouragement, like many here, I have had a parent go through this and learned a few things. My mother, a fit and active person, had a bad bleed at 78 and was not expected to survive the first night. Fast forward 3 months and she was out of hospital. A few months later she was driving again though I quickly put a stop to it. First lesson is that it makes a big difference if the person is cared for in a hospital with a specialist stroke unit. We were lucky in this respect because she was not at or near home when she collapsed and the ambulance took her to the right place. Secondly we are also lucky because we have two nurses in the immediate family who visited her every day and supported the hospital staff with the therapy routines. In other words she got extra everything which accelerated her recovery. I noticed that other patients' relatives were far too passive and did everything for their loved one, which is understandable but not a great help. We found that we had to be firm with her and stretch her with everything from feeding herself to learning to walk again. It's a bit like teaching a child to swim when you slowly move backwards as they swim towards you in order to push them to go further. I'd say she made a 90% recovery. The only obvious change was loss of energy and tiring very quickly. I look back and realise that we were extremely fortunate. We all worked hard at it though.
As I've just posted about car options for my folks I thought I'd have a look back in here and give a quick update.
Firstly, LotusNotes - so sorry to heard about your dad. I'm afraid I missed your post in May about his passing.
Dad is now home since about a month. I saw him two weeks ago after no seeing him for about 6 weeks and was really pleased with how he's getting on. His left arm is still useless but his left leg is coming on well. He can now pull himself from a wheelchair to a standing position using a wall mounted handle and generally has a lot more movement in the left of his body. He's a long way off being able to walk but we're hopeful.
He saw a specialist this week who also met him when he first had the haemorrhage, and was very positive about his recovery. He's doing well given the size of the bleed he had.
Despite this it's tough times at home. Had both parents in tears at various times during the visit when talking about things to me alone. Never seen my dad cry before. Mum's exhausted from moving ramps and wheeling dad around. But they are ok and there are still happy times.
I took dad to the garage so that we could work on the toy box I mentioned in my earlier post. We managed to get some of it done and it's nearly finished now. Very difficult for him to be stuck in the wheelchair explaining what needed doing but unable to really help.
Still a long way to go, but he's still here and that's the main thing.
Firstly, LotusNotes - so sorry to heard about your dad. I'm afraid I missed your post in May about his passing.
Dad is now home since about a month. I saw him two weeks ago after no seeing him for about 6 weeks and was really pleased with how he's getting on. His left arm is still useless but his left leg is coming on well. He can now pull himself from a wheelchair to a standing position using a wall mounted handle and generally has a lot more movement in the left of his body. He's a long way off being able to walk but we're hopeful.
He saw a specialist this week who also met him when he first had the haemorrhage, and was very positive about his recovery. He's doing well given the size of the bleed he had.
Despite this it's tough times at home. Had both parents in tears at various times during the visit when talking about things to me alone. Never seen my dad cry before. Mum's exhausted from moving ramps and wheeling dad around. But they are ok and there are still happy times.
I took dad to the garage so that we could work on the toy box I mentioned in my earlier post. We managed to get some of it done and it's nearly finished now. Very difficult for him to be stuck in the wheelchair explaining what needed doing but unable to really help.
Still a long way to go, but he's still here and that's the main thing.
Edited by Pappagallo on Thursday 21st August 13:17
Lotus Notes said:
I replied earler in the thread.....since then, my beloved father has passed away seven years after his stroke.
It's a sad time, but the emphasis should be on continuing with life and enjoying time with those who are close.
It's tough, but make the most of it...
Sorry to hear that. It's a sad time, but the emphasis should be on continuing with life and enjoying time with those who are close.
It's tough, but make the most of it...
Pappagallo said:
As I've just posted about car options for my folks I thought I'd have a look back in here and give a quick update.
It will be a long and slow recovery (from experience) and will be very difficult on your mum as well so keep an eye out for her.My old man is still plugging away, this June marked 10 years since the day. Quality of life isn't great but he's not far off his 75th birthday so that's not surprising. Spotted your thread over on GG, will add my two pence over there.
Thank you all for the condolencies - We're all moving on.
As suggested, look after your Mum...a transition (if only temporary) from wife to carer is not easy and she'll try and do everything! Hopefuly you've had the community care team assess the house and provide equipment if necessary - They can come across as interfering though.
My father cried a lot as well - Over simple things, but get him to help himself as much as possible (I can say that as a family, we could have done better).
It'll get easier as the routines set in and your father progresses. I promised to send them on holiday when things were better (A cruise can be a bit like respite care with each of them at separate ends of the ship)
Pappagallo said:
But they are ok and there are still happy times.
It's good to hear that there is some enjoyment in the household.As suggested, look after your Mum...a transition (if only temporary) from wife to carer is not easy and she'll try and do everything! Hopefuly you've had the community care team assess the house and provide equipment if necessary - They can come across as interfering though.
My father cried a lot as well - Over simple things, but get him to help himself as much as possible (I can say that as a family, we could have done better).
It'll get easier as the routines set in and your father progresses. I promised to send them on holiday when things were better (A cruise can be a bit like respite care with each of them at separate ends of the ship
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