Update on my Mom's stroke for those that were following my first thread on this.

[Whovian]

She still can't speak or move her right side which scares me because she is an artist. On the plus side, with no further complications, she will be going to an excellent rehab center on Monday and from what I understand much progress is possible there.

Another plus is that she is still herself. We have put placards together for her to point to certain words to describe her current wants. She passed a swallowing test that lets her eat and she has shown a love of chocolate pudding that I never knew of before.

It must be hell. The effects of apraxia are essentially you can understand questions and requests but your brain messes up the desired response. You hear and understand what people say and when you try to answer you may as well be speaking Klingon (she is a Star Trek Fan from the OS). You have to feel as if you suddenly put into a dimension where everyone you try to communicate with are either idiots or can't hear you.

I have higher hopes now as her cognizance seems to have increased greatly.

Another plus. She always has a family member at her side. 24-7

Thanks for letting me share this.

[malaise]

1. She'll recover

she'll slow down a bit but with physiotherapy you'll be surprised.

[villager]

2. Best to you and your mom, Whovian

Looking forward to the post where you mention how easily she's responding and talking to her loved ones and friends!

[porphyrian]

3. Hang in there. n/t

[shadowrider]

4. I had a TIA in '08

The doc called it a "warning-stroke". I called it a devastating life changing event. I quit drinking, quit salt, lost 44 lbs, ate a lot of fish, drank a lot of water. It's something I never want to happen again.

Prayers for your mom.

Shadowrider

[DollarBillHines]

8. Same here, but...

I didn't stop doing anything.

I did, however, switch from white wine to red and from Gin to Bourbon.

Fortunately, I have recovered almost completely. Now, if I could recover from all of this gray hair...

[FLyellowdog]

5. Good thoughts coming your way. nt

[psychmommy]

6. Consider some artsy for her therapy.

Maybe fingerpainting. Listening to classical music is a left brain activity. Sequencing activities.I wish her a quick recovery.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Wishing her healing, peace, and long life! *hugs*

[Tikki]

9. Strong recovery for Mom...

Someone with her 24/7....excellent.

Tikki

[jsr]

10. Patience

She will get better. Good luck and best wishes!

[DollarBillHines]

11. Wishing well for your Mom. I have an artist friend...

who had a stroke and started painting with her left hand.

She then started suffering from Macular Degeneration and now has a tiny bit of peripheral vision and paints off to her left side.

But she is getting juried into more shows (Internationally, as well) than ever before.

Having a family member at your Mom's side is a true blessing. I am convinced the same thing pulled me through a really traumatic experience in my teens.

[renate]

12. the swallowing part must be HUGE... life would be so much harder if her eating had been compromised

It all sounds good-- s and best wishes that her recovery keeps going well!

[flamingdem]

13. Good to hear she is an artist

Her brain might have some additional wiring to rebuild with and she'll be motivated to get eye hand coordination back

[w8liftinglady]

14. I had my left temporal lobe removed in 2010

while edema existed at the site...I had a hard time speaking,balancing for about 6 months.
I'm glad you are going to rehab...it helps.
Use yes and no questions as much as possible...they'll make it easier for her to communicate with you.her short-term memory may decrease,so you might need to remind her daily where she is,what's happening,that she's better.

I'm glad you're there with your mom.Your presence will be her biggest tool for recovery.
Bless you.

[Carolina]

15. Hang in there

things will get better... it's just been a few days and look how far she has come. It is truly amazing what good therapy can do now, though I'm sure it's still hellish at the moment.

Glad to hear that things are improving; continue to keep us posted.

[fascisthunter]

16. I Wish the best for you and your mom

having you there with her is special. My mother had a stroke almost two years ago.... about a year after my father passed from a malignant brain tumor. She was only lost the feeling in her right leg... but of course, that wasn't the only thing she lost. But, she is alive, and I am very grateful to still have her in my life.

I wish the best for you... I kind of know what it feels like.

[Frustratedlady]

17. Healing thoughts coming her way.

Just know she is grateful for her family and will make progress daily. It doesn't happen overnight, so you'll have to be patient and proud of her as she works her way back. Frustrating, I know.

Good luck and hugs!

[MadrasT]

18. Best wishes Whovian.

No advice, just a

[RebelOne]

19. Good vibes to your mom.

I am 73 years old and hope it never happens to me. My sister is 65 and just had a minor stroke. Fortunately, she has not suffered any bad effects, but will have to take some very costly medicine for the rest of her life.

[catbyte]

20. Glad to hear your mom is holding her own.

I'll keep your family in my heart, Whovian.

[begin_within]

21. Watch the swallowing carefully.

I would be extremely careful about what you give her to eat... my Mom had a mild stroke 8 years ago and now can't swallow. At first I gave her most of the normal things but we had some near-choking incidents. I would sit down with the speech therapist and discuss what things she should eat - soft, smooth, easy-to-swallow foods like pudding, jell-o, yogurt, mashed banana, mashed avocado, thick, creamy soups, anything that goes down really easy - are the best. The toughest are things like breads and toast and anything that requires a lot of chewing. Even though she passed a swallow test, as people age their swallowing reflexes get weaker anyway, even without a stroke. So watch that carefully.

Congratulations on her recovery. She will need to be pushed hard in the rehab hospital to do all her therapy - the first 6 months after a stroke is when they will make all the gains, after that they will pretty much stay as they are at the 6-month mark. So push, lovingly, but relentlessly. Watch all the therapists so that you can continue the therapy on your own at home.

[Blue_In_AK]

22. Good luck to your mom, Whovian.

Just make sure she doesn't become discouraged. Optimism is so important in this situation.