My brother aged 55 has just had a stroke with a blood clot and left brain damage. He has loss of vision a ‘Complete Right Homonymous Hemianopia’.
He was admitted on a Saturday 15 March and discharged 3 days later (Monday 17 March). His discharge notification stated: "No follow up - None Planned.
On Monday 17 March after lunch we had to insist that we speak with the consultant looking after him as at this point the consultant nor any doctor had even spoken with the family.
He was bumping into the door fames in the hospital when he was discharged on the Monday 17 March. I had to learn to walk on his right side, as I am new to all of this myself.
The family’s understanding is that a blood clot with ongoing vision loss is an Ischaemic stroke not a TIA. We can’t seem to get clarity from the hospital of the definition of the type of stroke he has had or cause. My brother had been told he would get an MRI but this was cancelled even though as next of kin I requested this be done in the meeting with the consultant.
After he was discharged we rang the stroke ward and we asked why there was no follow up but we didn’t get a response after leaving a voicemail for the consultant’s assistant, so we rang again a week later and now have a follow up appointment tomorrow with the ‘Stroke Clinal Lead’ - but his letter says ‘TIA clinic’. We were told that the consultant looking after him was now on annual leave.
We don’t understand why my brother didn’t have a follow up appointment with none planned either but now has a ‘follow up’ appointment in less than three weeks with the ‘Stroke Clinical Lead’? Surely this is too soon for a follow up appointment. Normally it is around 6 weeks to see what progress has been made.
We were with my brother when he was sent to the discharge lounge - the consultant looking after him didn’t even tell us they were discharging him suddenly that afternoon following this meeting. .
He was given medications of 300mg Aspirin/Lansoprazole up to 28 March and on 29 March to start 75mg Clopidogrel. No nurse or doctor explained the drugs to him or to us. We have had to check these drugs ourselves and any contraindications.
Previous medical history. 3 years ago had severe pneumonia with ARDS and was intubated and put in a medical coma for 2 months/leaking tracheostomy causing a severe bacterial infection. He still has breathing issues as he still has damage to his lungs - though this has improved greatly but he can still get fatigued and breathless at times.
Has anyone experienced a similar discharge with no follow- up and none planned? Is the family correct this is in fact an Ischaemic Stroke as his symptoms are ‘ongoing’ with ‘significant vision loss’ and a clot with brain damage, not a TIA - which are transient and short lasting?
Appreciate any advice help as never had a family member who have had a stroke before.
Many thanks.