recovery from stroke

[Deesknee]

I have tried stroke message boards, but they seem to only link me to another site, and so on. So, I am hoping one of my disboard friends can help me understnad a few things regarding strokes.

My dear friend, male, 50yrs old, apprx 80lbs over weight, high blood pressure, high cholest.

He had a Intracerebral Hemorrhage stroke apprx 1 mnth ago. EMT's were called within seconds-minutes. Ambulance ride to hosp apprx. 20mins. med induced coma. ventilator, tubes draining the blood from the brain.. He is now out of icu, no ventilator, no tubes. He seems to remember names w/people, other than once in a while he thinks once person is actually someone else. He forgets he's in a hospital sometimes, or thinks he went to work on a particular day, etc. He knew my phone # by memory and had a nurse dial it for him, but doesn't answer the phone when people call him. They are planning on moving him out of the hospital into a rehab center. He knows he is forgetting things. He cried to me that he is afraid he is "losing it".

So, my very complicated, simple question is....is there a high possibility he will come back to the person he was? With all the memories & abilities?

Thanks, Dee

 

[CarolAnnC]

I have tried stroke message boards, but they seem to only link me to another site, and so on. So, I am hoping one of my disboard friends can help me understnad a few things regarding strokes.

My dear friend, male, 50yrs old, apprx 80lbs over weight, high blood pressure, high cholest.

He had a Intracerebral Hemorrhage stroke apprx 1 mnth ago. EMT's were called within seconds-minutes. Ambulance ride to hosp apprx. 20mins. med induced coma. ventilator, tubes draining the blood from the brain.. He is now out of icu, no ventilator, no tubes. He seems to remember names w/people, other than once in a while he thinks once person is actually someone else. He forgets he's in a hospital sometimes, or thinks he went to work on a particular day, etc. He knew my phone # by memory and had a nurse dial it for him, but doesn't answer the phone when people call him. They are planning on moving him out of the hospital into a rehab center. He knows he is forgetting things. He cried to me that he is afraid he is "losing it".

So, my very complicated, simple question is....is there a high possibility he will come back to the person he was? With all the memories & abilities?

Thanks, Dee

This is a question that will not be easily answered. From your post it sounds as if his long term memory is intact, but the short term memory was affected. There is some occupational therapy that may help, but he most likely will not be exactly the same as he was prestroke.

The brain is an extremely complex organ. Sometimes there are parts of the brain that will compensate for the damaged area and "take over" by having another area begin functioning for the lost portions. Sometimes the therapy can help in patterning those areas to help out.

My best answer is that your friend may recuperate enough to live a very happy and productive life. He may not be exactly the same, but he may be very close. Most of what he will recoop will happen fairly quickly. I would say it will be less than a year. At that point, there will probably not be more recovery than what has occurred by then.

The crying may be the result of the trauma the brain has incurred. Emotions can run high after this type of brain injury. Hang in there with you friend, and just be there for him and listen when he needs a sympathetic ear. Prayers and best wishes to you both..

 

[quasar4legs]

So sorry that your friend is having such a tough time.
Both my parents have had strokes with very different results.
My father never recovered to be the person that he had been previously although he still did have happy times. He had cardiomyopathy (sp?) which was a progressive heart disease so perhaps this made the effects of the stroke more pronounced. He needed ongoing 24 hour care after his stroke and was very emotional for most of the time which was unusual for him.
My mother had a mild stroke 20 years ago, did rehab and today you would never know that she was ever unwell. She is 83 and is very active, still playing tennis etc etc. As a bright women she insists that she does not feel quite as intellectually capable as she was before the stroke but I don't see any signs of it.

Sending both your friend and you some big hugs, it can be a very frustrating journey.

 

[Deesknee]

Thank you everyone for the well wishes and prayers.

We visited my friend yesterday. He seems to be recovereing very well. He is frustrated with the slow pace of his pt. He has only been receiving pt for 1 week and is anxious to be out of the wheel chair. But his sense of humor is in tact. He made a joke he & I can have wheel chair races down the street if they don't hurry and get him going. His short term memory does seem to be affected a bit. He is very much aware of this & tries not to repeat himself. We are very hopeful. I am looking forward to his Thursday night visits soon. God willing.

Thank you again all. Please continue to pray for my dear Frank.

 

[quasar4legs]

Thanks for the update and I am sure all Frank's friends and family must be pleased to see him keen to participate in his PT. How kind of you to be so supportive.

I shall be thinking of you all and sending a Big Koala cuddle to Frank.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I am so glad that Carol gave you some insight here..

Also.. I think from what I remember from my Aunt that it can be slow going with rehabiliatation.. but that people do come back from strokes and live productive lives.. this is what I want for your friend... Hugs to you and hang in with him..

 

[GoofyGolferGirl]

My DMIL had a stroke in September, one thing we learned was to ask if there is anything she can be doing on her own to move the PT along, I would also ask what he needs to be doing to help retrain his brain to improve his short term memory. Like maybe repeating the main points of the conversation, peoples names etc. I don't know if that is what they will tell him but I know they have lots of tricks to help memory impaired patients. Bless him and you for helping!

 

[Deesknee]

I am so glad that Carol gave you some insight here..

Also.. I think from what I remember from my Aunt that it can be slow going with rehabiliatation.. but that people do come back from strokes and live productive lives.. this is what I want for your friend... Hugs to you and hang in with him..

Thanks Marsha. Nice to see you back. You've been missed.

"My DMIL had a stroke in September, one thing we learned was to ask if there is anything she can be doing on her own to move the PT along, I would also ask what he needs to be doing to help retrain his brain to improve his short term memory. Like maybe repeating the main points of the conversation, peoples names etc. I don't know if that is what they will tell him but I know they have lots of tricks to help memory impaired patients. Bless him and you for helping"!

Thank you. We are working with his memory. I unfortunately am not his "closest family member", So I only get what he can tell me & what his sisters choose to inform me of. But, we are very lucky to have him still & my family & I will be there for him however we can be.

Everyone on these boards have been so supportive & I am confident that all the prayers have helped. I know the support has helped me if not him. Thank you all. & may however you call God watch you all & bless you.

 

[Deesknee]

I have to come here to say THANK YOU ALL for your wonderful support & prayers. I am so happy to say our dear friend "uncle Frank" is doing very well. He is out of the hospital & living temporarily with his sister. We picked him up today & he spent the day with us. He is slightly unsteady on hhis feet. He repeats himself a little, but he knows he does it. We feel so blessed, I cann't begin to express it.

We, with his input, are planning a party for him to celebrate. I cann't thank everyone enough on these boards.


Thank you.

Dee

 

[quasar4legs]

Oh Dee, what wonderful news.
I am so pleased for Frank and all your family that things are going so well with his rehab.

Thanks for the update and best wishes for further recovery.

Quasar

 

[blessedmom4]

I am a newbie; however, wanted to jump in and say a loud Hurray for what has happened for your friend thus far. It sounds as if his immediate care was awesome and his continued rehab is going well, with great on-going support. Our story is a bit different because our daughter (just turned 7) has had two strokes and to this day, years after the strokes, I see her do things she couldn't as we continue rehab. For instance, she can now eat a piece of corn on the cob...it just took me a while to realize her mouth didn't function the way others eat and then we did specific therapy for that skill. My point is, your friend may continue to recover "lost" skills even years from now. What an awesome friend he has in you!

 

[Deesknee]

Blessed Mom4, thank you for posting. I'm sure it is not easy for you all. If it is okay with you, I would like to say a prayer for you & DD. Whoever you may consider your "higher Power" I will pray will hear me & bless you all.

To all, again, thank you for your thoughts, prayers and well wishes. Last week we had Franks Christmas. Several of his closest friends were here. We had a small tree, and a few other decorations. Lots of food, and Christmas gifts. We had all pitched in & made him a scrap book. He became a bit emotional & was very grateful. He is very grateful it was not his time to leave us. He has a new refound relationship with his "blood" family. We, are very blessed. DS picked him up today & we attended a dear friends DD's 1st communion together. Then back here for burgers, just DS, me, Frank, DD & DH. We all know how blessed we are. We laugh. We cry. We rejoice. We live. We pray the same for you all.

Also, next month another clelberation. We celebrate Franks 51st bday. Truly a celebration! Even some friends from out of state will be here for that.

Dee

 

[quasar4legs]

Hi Dee,
Thanks for another update and I am truly thrilled to hear that Frank is doing well and has such wonderful support. I shall be thinking of you all in the future and hope that Frank continues to regain his health.

Hugs to you and your family, we were so grateful for the wonderful support we got after my dad's stroke and Frank is blessed to have you in his life.
Thankyou for caring.

Quasar

 

[minkydog]

You know, it is truly miraculous what medicine (and prayers!) can do. So glad that Frank has kept his sense of humor--that's more a part of him than remembering what he did yesterday. And hopefully, that will continue to improve. I can't recommend occupational therapy enough--it really does help someone recover their "occupations of daily living."

I have a dear friend, in her 50s now, who had a stroke at the age of 17. They assumed it was from birth control pills. She was newly married and her young husband stayed by her side every minute he could. She spent 9 months in rehab and remembers NONE of it, not one day. DFriend recovered fully, other than that bit of memory and some balance issues. She lives a very full and active life, and she and her husband just celebrated 35yrs of marriage. interestingly, last year they discovered that she had a little hole in her heart. What a revelation! Now they believe that the hole in her heart caused the stroke--and it's no minor miracle that she hasn't had another stroke or a heart attack! Got it fixed and now she's good for another 50,000 miles!

Best of everything to you and to Frank. He's had a long hard road, but its so good to see the progress.