when it rains it pours at my house

[sixpack]

could use some good thoughts coming my mom's way.

my nephew arrived home this afternoon to find my mom sitting oddly at the kitchen table.  She had all the signs of stroke---inability to talk, drooping face and side.  My nephew called 911.  EMTs immediately suspected stroke.  It was confirmed at the ER.  I live in NY.  She lives in TX with my sister. My mom is 76 and she has had numerous health issues over the last few years including lung cancer and lymph node that was cancerous not to mention advanced RA. 

We are still waiting to hear results of CTscans and other dx testing.  I did speak to my sister about three hrs ago now.  My mom is coming out of it a bit.  My sister can understand her speech a bit more.  My mom doesn't remember anything that happened.  Hopefully we'll know more definitive information by morning.  Then we'll make decision about going to see her. 

[kmwondering]

Oh I'm so, so sorry to read this. Good thoughts for you and yours.

[SighNoMore]

Oh sixpack I am so sorry!! Please keep us posted. Praying for you all.

[sixpack]

thanks

I mean my hubs has his health issue.  My youngest needs to see a rheumy.  then my bro in law calls this afternoon tell me this.   THEN,  THEN I check my daughter's hair ( we--well several of us in the clan had lice two weeks ago) for lice.  and damn it if I didn't find some more.  So I had to check other kids and my own.  Luckily it was just the one this time.   Sent hubs out for more lice shampoo and I treated three of my kids again. .  I'm still up at this hour getting some of the bedding washed.  I know it is common to have this happen again.  but damn. 

[MOchp]

I hope everything turns out okay for you. Good thoughts for your family.

[greend]

Good thoughts your way sixpack.  My mother has had mini strokes on and off over the last few years and they can be scary.  As for the lice, oh my daughter has had her fair share.  Best of luck and keep us posted.

[gcalex]

Yikes.  Best wishes for getting through all these things. 

[sixpack]

thanks calex.

it will be an emotional challenge. 

[marc]

I am sorry to hear about your mother. I know what you mean when you say when it rains, it pours.
In 2012 this has happened to me:

I go to the ER with an equilibrium issue.
My daughter is rushed to the ER with a kidney stone.
One of our pets die.
My mother dies.
My father goes into a nursing home.

[LindaRK]

As if the basic stress of the holidays isn't enough ..... I send strength and comfort to you and your family.

Hang in there, nowhere to go but up, right? 

[sixpack]

thank you for the kind replies.


we have some updates on mom.

her right leg is functioning a bit better.  her right arm is lagging behind but a bit of function started returning yesterday.   The neuro told my sister that my mom had a significant stroke, likely caused by her recently dx'd a fib.  I'm not sure if throwing clots a usual issue with a fib?  It may have more to do with the combo of issues my mom has AND that she is 76 and not in good health to begin with.  Doc told my sis that brains swell after strokes and peaks at 72hrs.  Often stroke patients will have more difficulty at this time.  In my mom's case, since she has some brain atrophy--due to her age and some early dementia---that brain swelling shouldn't be a big problem.  I know this sounds horrid BUT my sister and I took a gallows type laugh at this:    we were saying "oh yea Mom's brain atrophy (which was noted 3 or 4yrs ago) is a bonus cuz there is room in the skull to accomodate the swelling.  Yay Mom!".   I mean talk about finding a silver lining 

Doc also said my mom has "aspirated pneumonia" in her right lung.  She probably aspirated food during the stroke.  The doc said this is very common with stroke patients.  Right now they are watching to see if she can clear it on her own.  If not, she'll have surgery on Monday.  So another watching thing.  THIS is scariest to me as my grandmother died from complications of that.  In her case though, she wasn't in the hospital and it must have been more severe.

Doc says she'll be in the hospital for about a month for rehab.  As long as the pneumonia doesn't turn into something BIG and she remains stable, I'll probably fly out in a couple of weeks and visit with her.

[All1Spirit]

My mother had 8 strokes - the first one was so severe she could not move or talk. With therapy she was able to be backin her home alone and drive her car again. Healing continues for a year or more

Dont give up hope - strokes seem worst at first

[sixpack]

My mother had 8 strokes - the first one was so severe she could not move or talk. With therapy she was able to be backin her home alone and drive her car again. Healing continues for a year or more

Dont give up hope - strokes seem worst at first

wow 8.  I'm glad your mom was able to get good quality of life back.

[ClassicNerd]

Sorry to hear this sixpack! I hope everything turns out all right. It sounds like your mom is a fighter! This is a scary and unpleasant thing to deal with over the holidays, but it sounds like you have a very close knit and optimistic family to help cope with it all.

[tinam7]

Whew, SP, what a mass of issues. So Sorry. But maybe it is time for me to come out of my stroke closet. Had one just 2 years ago. Refused to go anywhere because of my near daily knowledge of what happened to my brother with stroke(s).

She seems to have had a left hemisphere incident affecting right side, like mine, like my brother's. But, I tell you, I am a fierce fighter which, in my mind, is key to stroke recovery. The brain is miraculous in its efforts to compensate and heal itself. Patience and time and steady encouragement for her to get her will going to fight all damage is necessary. Do not get discouraged, it can and does get better.   

[evagisele]

Prayers for your Mom, you, and your family, sixpack (and also for everyone on this board)!

[sixpack]

Whew, SP, what a mass of issues. So Sorry. But maybe it is time for me to come out of my stroke closet. Had one just 2 years ago. Refused to go anywhere because of my near daily knowledge of what happened to my brother with stroke(s).

She seems to have had a left hemisphere incident affecting right side, like mine, like my brother's. But, I tell you, I am a fierce fighter which, in my mind, is key to stroke recovery. The brain is miraculous in its efforts to compensate and heal itself. Patience and time and steady encouragement for her to get her will going to fight all damage is necessary. Do not get discouraged, it can and does get better.

I'm going to hope my mom has has the fight you have.   

[tinam7]

My point, SP, is that if she needs help fighting, as most strokies do, give her all the pep talk you can present. It is all too easy to sink into a mode of permanent invalidism and being a permanent patient (brother, my daily sorrow).

Whatever she can do on her own she must be encouraged and trusted to do. Just my experience. Coddling doesn't really help. BTW, I'm just one year behind her.

[marc]

A client of mine had a stroke almost 2 years ago at 59. He hadn't been to the doctor in 4 years and
his glucose and blood pressure were through the roof. His main symptom was extreme fatigue.
His stroke was in the brain stem (bleeding) and the doctors all thought he would not make it, but he is fine now.
He still gets a little woozy when he does  not get enough rest and is a little more forgetful, but otherwise he is fine and
ready to go. I have known him for 30 years and he always appears upbeat.

[tinam7]

Stroke is a very mysterious thing. It takes away, but oddly can also give. My right brain, asleep most of my life, woke up with injury to left brain. Jill Bolte Taylor (book and video) taught me a lot about it.

You've had very difficult crossroads in 2012 losing a parent and placing the other in a nursing home. I worry terribly how to make the inevitable bearable for my son and daughter. There are also distances involved. But attitude, courage, hope, will and determination can be our guiding ways. Here is a toast to all for 2013.

[sixpack]

tina

are you referring to me about losing a parent and having another in a nursing home?   I didn't have either happen. 



I did speak with my sis last night.  My mom's having trouble with saying what she means:  ie: she may say coffee but she means please close the curtains.     I forget what that is called.  there is a medical term for that.  Today they are going to put a line in so that she can have her meds intravenously.  she is also have a Lung wash to clear out the congestion in her right lung.  this is the lung that was partially removed from lung cancer last year.    I'm tentatively planning on going to TX in a couple of weeks to visit.

[tinam7]

Am responding to Marc's earlier post re what happened to him in 2012.

The term is aphasia, I believe, and usually this clears up with some time as swelling in the brain recedes. She is probably sleeping most of the time, again a form of brain healing. It is so tough when there are these distances which was also the case with brother and me. Clearing the lung is very important. But she may emerge remarkably recovered.

[floridaguy65]

   I'm tentatively planning on going to TX in a couple of weeks to visit.

Best wishes for you and your family. Good travels, when you go:)

As always, when us anxiety peeps get hit with something that can put us on edge, we have to keep our own 'anxiety needs' in mind, too. Keep well.....I need to remind myself of this, every now and again, too:)

Peace, Six:)

[marc]

Thanks for the well wishes tinam7. You never really know what lies ahead. I try to hope for the best.
I have a saying that I say on this forum fairly often. It was told to me by a client of mine who is
cardiologist and nephrologist. He said there are two keys to longevity; heredity and luck.

[tinam7]

I like that you are giving me this opener, Marc, because while I would not dispute the power of heredity or luck, there is much power, maybe just as much, in our own ability to try and mitigate heredity and help luck along with our own efforts, own thinking and actions. Or so I think.

Could give potent examples of this in my life but maybe others can do the same. I suppose it's the difference between a fatalist and another kind of thinking.