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Stroke
Feb 15, 2009 12:40:23 GMT -5
Post by TMWight on Feb 15, 2009 12:40:23 GMT -5
That's why if you even have the slightest thought that it could be a stroke please call 911. That is why they are there and it is not worth risking. I have seen happy endings and sad endings and regardless of the ending it is not something to take lightly. If you are even remotely concerned ask the person if they can smile. Ask them to read a sentence, ask them to raise their arms with their eyes closed and keep them raised. Even if they pass tests like this and you are still concerned never hesitate to call 911 or go to an ER. That is why they are there! I agree with your post however, there should never be any hesitation to call 911. You are describing part of the "Cincinnati Stroke Scale" . The other part is asking them to say "You can't teach an old dog new tricks". BTW, we don't ask the people to close their eyes. If they are having a stroke or TIA or neither , closing their eyes won't effect them. It's about loss of strength on a particular side of the body. Never ask any person you suspect of having a stroke to do anything other than sit there. Allow us, firefighters etc. , to preform those tests. Most people do not know what to look for if they ask their friend/loved ones to raise their arm or smile. FMCH, I agree with you on to call 911 and never perform these test on your own but I disagree with how you use the stroke scale. If your patient is thought to be suffering a stroke you raise their arms and have them shut their eyes. If the patient keeps their eyes open then the brain sees that the arms are up, the brain thinks the muscles are doing their jobs. If you have that same patient close their eyes you'll see how the arm falls. Meanie was right on this one. |
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Stroke
Feb 15, 2009 13:10:38 GMT -5
Post by packerbap on Feb 15, 2009 13:10:38 GMT -5
It's been a tough few days for my mom. From going to not sleeping she went to sleeping too much. Adjusting the meds to find what will work.
She still is having difficulties with location and time. Dreams are so vivid to her she thinks they're real but she now realizes they are dreams when refocussed.
Blew her speech/cognition therapist away when I showed her the crossword puzzle she was working on Friday.
Lots of questions but not enough answers. I'm worn out physically and mentally.
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sharpefan
Valuable Player
Guru - Week #17 - 2008, Week # 1, #8, #12, #17 2009
Posts: 3,178
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Stroke
Feb 16, 2009 10:23:13 GMT -5
Post by sharpefan on Feb 16, 2009 10:23:13 GMT -5
It's been a tough few days for my mom. From going to not sleeping she went to sleeping too much. Adjusting the meds to find what will work. She still is having difficulties with location and time. Dreams are so vivid to her she thinks they're real but she now realizes they are dreams when refocussed. Blew her speech/cognition therapist away when I showed her the crossword puzzle she was working on Friday. Lots of questions but not enough answers. I'm worn out physically and mentally. Stay strong Bap if you need a shoulder to lean on I would say everyone on this board will give you one, your mom and you are still in my prayers. |
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Stroke
Feb 16, 2009 13:01:15 GMT -5
Post by TW on Feb 16, 2009 13:01:15 GMT -5
It takes time to recover. It's a slow process. It's been 14 years since I had a stroke, and each day is a new adventure of progress.
There will be days you take a step back, and there will be a lot of days where there seems to be no progress, but in the end, you'll see the gains, but not magically.
Time. Give it time. Give her an opportunity to feel her way forward, and start to deal with each issue that surrounds what happened to her.
Before I had my stroke, I could type up wards of 80 WPM. After the stroke, I didn't even have a clue where most things were on a keyboard. Each year since then, with repetition of using the keyboard, things get better, but I still have wayward fingers on a regular basis, especially when I'm tired. And I may never type over 80 wpm, but I'm happy that I have learned to type again. That's a big step from where I was, right after the stroke.
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Stroke
Feb 16, 2009 17:09:36 GMT -5
Post by brewerbruce on Feb 16, 2009 17:09:36 GMT -5
Hang in there BAP.......things will get better. You know that you are in my prayers.
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Stroke
Feb 23, 2009 18:02:53 GMT -5
Post by happypacker on Feb 23, 2009 18:02:53 GMT -5
Bap, i hope your Mom is getting back to her normal self. I am praying for her recovery. take care.
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Stroke
Feb 24, 2009 18:23:24 GMT -5
Post by packerbap on Feb 24, 2009 18:23:24 GMT -5
Mom is due to be released this Saturday. She has had a rough time the past week. The confusion and sleepless nights have returned. The doctors can't quite pin down the reason. She wasn't confused or losing sleep the day or two after the stroke. Things were better around her birthday but now have gone down hill. Her doctors are hoping it will improve once she gets to my house. I have been looking into assisted living options.
Keep her in your prayers. Things are not easy right now. Too many questions and not enough answers.
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Stroke
Feb 24, 2009 22:40:37 GMT -5
Post by packerfanfran on Feb 24, 2009 22:40:37 GMT -5
Bap...hope things get better every day for you and your mom!!
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Stroke
Feb 25, 2009 8:40:48 GMT -5
Post by brewerbruce on Feb 25, 2009 8:40:48 GMT -5
Bap, you know we're here for you to lean on if needed. Also, if you need a break and want to do lunch just to get away for a bit, I have a lot of time to do that right now. Just let me know
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Stroke
Feb 25, 2009 9:24:04 GMT -5
Post by happypacker on Feb 25, 2009 9:24:04 GMT -5
Bap, sometimes just being away from home may cause some of her problems. Once she is home for a couple days, i think she may settle down and sleep much better. let us know if she does. I will indeed continue prayer for her. hang in there and we are all hoping to be by your side to give you strength to get through this. take care.
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Stroke
Feb 25, 2009 23:40:29 GMT -5
Post by packerbap on Feb 25, 2009 23:40:29 GMT -5
Thanks for the thoughts and prayers. I'm really hoping that once she is home things do improve. Today when I was talking to her on the phone I asked her if she remembered where I was? She told me "jail." I then explained that I was at the Brewers game and then she remembered I was in Phoenix.
It has to get better; it can't get much worse.
Again, thanks.
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Stroke
Feb 28, 2009 15:59:31 GMT -5
Post by packerpowergirl on Feb 28, 2009 15:59:31 GMT -5
Bap, I'm so sorry to hear about your mom and her struggles. It's so hard to find the right words to say, but I'm glad to hear that she survived and has made the such great progress that she has so far. Hold tight to that.
You are in my thoughts and prayers. You have my email address and please use it if you need a friend to talk to or vent to or anything. I'm here for you, even though I haven't been for the past few months. I'm sorry about your mom.
Lots of love, thoughts, and prayers to you and your family. And I mean that.
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Stroke
Mar 1, 2009 10:02:31 GMT -5
Post by packerbap on Mar 1, 2009 10:02:31 GMT -5
The thoughts and prayers from all of you are appreciated. The latest, mom developed an intestinal bug. All the antibiotics to kill infections also killed good bacteria. She might becoming to my house on Tuesday.
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Stroke
Mar 1, 2009 14:28:19 GMT -5
Post by amoeba15 on Mar 1, 2009 14:28:19 GMT -5
I know that your mom can not wait to get to your home and away from everybody who is poking and probing her.
The tremendous stress being around medical people for such a long time, hoping that they do not discover anything else that is wrong and your mom wondering/worrying whether she will ever leave and be carefree physically and/or mentally can be very taxing while recovering.
Good home cooking and being home and surrounded by loved ones is the perfect cure for what ails your mom.
God Bless.
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Stroke
Mar 5, 2009 7:36:24 GMT -5
Post by packerbap on Mar 5, 2009 7:36:24 GMT -5
Intestinal bug seems to be gone. She'll be at my house on Saturday. The nurses say that nights are still difficult for her. She is very eager to get out of the rehab facility. Wonderful care but it's not the same as home. It does look like she will be moving into assisted living; she'll be close to one of her best friends.
Time will tell. Thanks for the prayers. I'll give you an update on Sunday.
Strokes do different things to different people.
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