Stroke

[packerfanfran]

Bap...I'm so glad your mom is doing well. I can relate to what she went through. When I had my car accident, I also had a stroke and was told I would be paralyzed on my left side. I am not and I know someone was looking out for me as well as your mom.

Thank God for miracles.

[amoeba15]

Feb 4, 2009 21:44:03 GMT -5 TW said:

Amoeba - A lot of people have strokes and they don't even know it. I wouldn't put all the blame on someone not spotting it.

It's only been recent years that they've really been able to communicate to people what needs to be done if a stroke happens.

Thanks.

It was hard for me to understand how several family members were present, while my Grandmother was not responsive for EIGHT hours and NOBODY seemed to notice anything strange.

It is GREAT news when I hear about people who are blessed with fast thinking and acting relatives and friends.

Packerbap's mom is truly blessed with having packerbap and others to love and care for her.

[gbpackershaun]

Bap, sorry to hear about your mum,but by the sound of it she has a loving and caring family ready to take care of her.

I'll say a little prayer for all of you tonight.

[snowpack]

Bap, So glad to hear your Mom is doing better. Make sure you remember to take care of yourself too.

[packerbap]

I just got home from the subacute or rehab center. Mom had a rough day. It appears she hasn't been sleeping the last couple of nights and her brain has been taking her on "field trips." Physically she is 95% recovered but that last bit is rough right now. We were afraid that she maybe having tia's or mini-strokes. But the cat scan showed no evidence of tia's. I was told that the only way to diagnose is through a cat scan. No visual evidence. Doctor believes her field trips are a combination of 4 minor situations including a UTI.

The PR person and me have been working on an article for the local paper about what happened to mom. Not only to stress the importance to get medical attention when there might be a stroke coming on but to the wonderful care she has been receiving. It seems that the 4 people who rushed her to the ER and one of the ER nurses are still keeping a watchful eye on her during breaks.

Thanks for the prayers and good thoughts. She needs all the guardian angels she can get.

There's a good possiblity that she will be dismissed from rehab on the day I bring my pup home. She'll be coming in the front door as I'm bringing the pup in through the garage door. Sure hope I put the right one on the leash to go potty.

[amoeba15]

God Bless the 4 people who rushed your mom to the ER and the ER nurses.

Sounds like you and your mom have been blessed by Angels.

I am sure that you are exhausted with all that you have been through, BUT it is important that you get some well deserved rest because your mom will need your strength.

Our prayers are with you and your mom.

God Bless.

[TW]

TIAs are small strokes, to those who don't understand them. Usually they happen before you have a major stroke. Kind of a "warning signal," but people ignore them, blaming the stroke-like-symptoms on something else. I know. I did. I had several of them over the course of about ten years. But, because I was in good physical condition, they didn't take me down. I just kept going.

The sleep issue may be around for a long time. It's years later, and I still have a problem with it. It goes with the territory, but in time, you learn to control it, not let it control you.

The brain scan is essential. When they did mine, they found I had lost 75% of my right brain usage. Of course I was devastated, and stayed that way, until I met one Doctor who summed it up like this.

"So what if you lost 75%? We only use about 8 to 10 % of our brain capacity. That means that if you had 100 filing cabinets in that side of the brain, someone stole 75 of them. Use the others. The 25 you have left. They're good to go!"

Strangely enough, just turning them into filing cabinets in my own psyche did the trick. And like he added, later in my therapy, it's even possible to transfer some of the needs from the right side to the left, to keep enough cabinets open for the needed things.

[amoeba15]

"The brain scan is essential. When they did mine, they found I had lost 75% of my right brain usage. Of course I was devesated, and stayed that way, until I met one Doctor who summed it up like this.

"So what if you lost 75%? We only use about 8 to 10 % of our brain capacity. That means that if you had 100 filing cabinets in that side of the brain, someone stole 75 of them. Use the others. The 25 you have left. They're good to go!""

I totally understand what you are saying.

We amoeba's only have ONE brain cell to work with.

I have always felt that TIA's are like "foreshocks" before a larger earthquake.

[TW]

Yes. The TIA is a warning in advance. Most people either ignore them, or sluff it off as something else.

[happypacker]

sorry to hear about your MOM. I am happy to hear that she got fast treatment. and I pray for her to continue with her speedy recovery.Hang in there and stay positive.

[brewerbruce]

BAP, sorry to hear about your mother. I hate reading things like this. You just never know when something like this might happen. Keep us updated

[thegreenmeanie]

Feb 6, 2009 8:42:33 GMT -5 TW said:

The brain scan is essential. When they did mine, they found I had lost 75% of my right brain usage. Of course I was devastated, and stayed that way, until I met one Doctor who summed it up like this.

"So what if you lost 75%? We only use about 8 to 10 % of our brain capacity. That means that if you had 100 filing cabinets in that side of the brain, someone stole 75 of them. Use the others. The 25 you have left. They're good to go!"

Strangely enough, just turning them into filing cabinets in my own psyche did the trick. And like he added, later in my therapy, it's even possible to transfer some of the needs from the right side to the left, to keep enough cabinets open for the needed things.

I just took a cognitive class last semester and we spent the whole semester on the brain. It is absolutely amazing what it can do in the form of adapting and recovering. I am glad someone got you motivated and you pulled through. I don't know you personally, but I have read your stuff in the Town Hall, and it seems like your brain operates just fine to me

[packerbap]

I didn't realize the thread had been moved into other areas; hopefully it was TW. If having it helps raise stroke awareness I'm all for it. If I did it by accident, sorry.

TW has been a real sounding board for me the past week. I knew he had suffered a stroke and would let me know how it was with him as I shared what my mom was going through.

The brain is amazing and not utilized enough! Stroke victims do put the brain into action to relearn.

Todays update on my mom: She didn't sleep last night, again. I figured she has had about 6 hours sleep the last week. They have started to give her some meds in small doses to relax her so she sleeps. Hopefully they will kick in tonight. When I talked to her this afternoon she didn't share any "field trip" information. If she still isn't sleeping by Monday we might be turning my house into rehab central.

[packfanforever]

Bap, I am so very sorry to hear about your mom. I'm glad so many people are watching out for her and it's distressing that she has her bad days.

You're both included in our prayers.

[happypacker]

thanks for the update, did the docs say why she is having trouble sleeping? I hope that they get her to rest soon, the body needs that sleep to help recoup. I will keep you and your Mother in my prayers .
By the way bap, nice mug.