Husband had a stroke in Spain

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Hi i am reaching out in hope
Anyone can give me some answers
Two weeks ago my husband was on holiday with my two daughters 14/17 when he had a haemorrhage stroke
They called me on facetime as i was in the uk and managed to get him to hospital
I flew straight out
He is now in a rehab ward where be has been for nearly 2 weeks and in Spain the patients family is expected to stay here so i have slept at the hospital since i arrived
My children are now the uk staying at grandparents
My husband can not walk eat solid and is on a fluid drip ( which they are saying they are removing today and hoping he can start trying fluids)
He was on a rehab course which finishes Thursday then they dont do anymore rehab
They have said then it is upto me and then will wait to his is fot to travel
Does anyone have any idea of when i am
Likely to be able to get him home and we dont speak the language and we have no idea when we will be home with my daughers and husband in a hospital in the uk.
I just want to get us home safely so we can get uk care and be together as a family

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I don’t have a lot of experience but I was told not to fly within 6 weeks.

I also had a very mild stroke and it sounds like your husband has had a much more serious incident. I hope you have travel insurance.
I’d say ‘safe’ passage is a while away yet.

Sorry to hear about your experience.

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We don’t think he will be able to fly possibly ever but to travel by land i cant stay out here indefinitely and my children are not with me
Wondered if anyone has any knowledge of repatriation when having a stroke in spain to get back to uk

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Hi & welcome @Milidom sorry to hear of your hysbands stroke. It’s hard wnough dealing with it all whe you’re at home but abroad makes it so muxh worse.

I remember a previous poster in a very similar situation so have added a link to their post below. Don’t know if it’ll help but might give you a starting point.

The other thing you could do is touch base with the British Embassy out there as they might be able to suggest things & help with an interpreter.

Hope you can get your husband home soon.

Best wishes

Ann

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Thank you he is not very verbal so not sure what they need just be nice if you actually could see someone to ask
I feel so alone and useless to him
Thank you for the link

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Gosh @Milidom

Sorry to hear of your distressing predicament.

You definitely aren’t the first person to be in this situation.

Sounds like you definitely need to look at

You should also check out whether there’s a consulate or the embassy.

Also speak to your GP about the liaison between medical services at whatever the referred to hospital back in the UK will be.

You might find some of the messages in the below will help too

Also

There is more to say but this is enough to absorb in one go.

Come back here when you’ve taken this in and ask the next round of questions.

Caio
Simon
SIG

Ps other sources of help might be:

SA helpline 0303 3033 100
and Stroke Helpline | Stroke Association

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hi @Milidom,
assuming that he had travel insurance then it’s well worth checking as to what is covered regarding reptriation

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Thank you for all
Your messages
We have travel insurance and they seem to not be able to do anything until the hospital give notes but trying to get any notes or speak about discharge to repatriate to uk seems impossible. Feel so helpless and scared

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hi @Milidom,
It sounds like one of the biggest issues that you’re facing is a language barrier. To that end are there any “English” bars or restuarants in the area that you could speak to someone at and find out if there is an “English society”/ “ex pats club” locally - there are an awful lot in Spain and many would be willing to help with the translation side of things.

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Did you try carers UK? They emphasis “crisis support”
Also SA helpline 0303 3033 100
and Stroke Helpline | Stroke Association
Is there for stroke specifically.

How is your husband? (What’s his name?)
How’s his cognition & speaking? & Mood

These are some of the starting key bits - mood will affect everything. Sleep is very important - so is hydration.

Was there skull pressure to relieve? Any clot to be removed? They will both ‘inform’ his readiness to travel and maybe long term recovery.

Not being able to swallow safely or walk is common (I couldn’t walk for the initial couple of weeks but with practice getting from bed to chair then chair to stand then stand to step or back to bed- with support I started along the rehab journey independant of external therapists - took a month to walk to the loo (10yds?) at which point I was discharged - I had an ischemic though so I didn’t have the same physical blood vessel healing needs.

It’s natural to be scared :flushed: - the hospital will look after him, your daughter’s are safe if not where you want them, things will settle in time so take each day as it comes, give a little thought to anticipate what POSITIVES are committing & what to do to prepare.

Look for ALL sources of support and use them - don’t feel guilty or an imposter - you can always promise to pay it forward if you feel that way but you need to be the strong anchor and fulcrum at the moment and that’s easier in company. Not every source of support will resonate with you - if you find some that isn’t working with you move on to the next - Support is there but it needs to be discovered.

BuggerAll’s suggestion of a local English club was a very good one too

Let us know how you get on

Caio
Simon
SIG

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Hi @Milidom

I’m sorry to hear about husbands stroke and what you’re going through as a family.

I hope that the comments that have already been left have been helpful for you, there’s a lot of knowledge here that you can tap into whenever you need to.

I’m sure this is all a lot to take in at the moment so please do take some to digest all of this information and when you’re ready the community will be here to offer any more advice you may need going forwards.

If you need anything specific whilst you’re using the Online Community please don’t hesitate to tag me using username and @ symbol.

Wishing you and your family well.

Anna

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Hi. That must have been very scary for your husband and daughters. It might be an idea to contact the British consulate. They will have dealt with situations like this before.
To get over the language barrier, I have used Google Translate very effectively recently, just using my mobile phone.

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Hi, I’m so sorry to hear of your husband’s stroke and the situation you have found yourself in. Stroke recovery is scary under any circumstances and I can’t begin to imagine how you and your family are feeling.

Hopefully one of the suggestions already posted here will be helpful to you and enable you to get your husband back home and your family back together in the uk.

Thinking of you at this difficult time.

Regards Sue

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Hello @Milidom.
I haven’t anything different to offer but just want you to know I’m thinking of you and your family in this very difficult situation. Hope you’re able to get all the help you need quickly, with a safe return to the UK at the right time.

Trace
Stroke Improvement Group

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Thank you all . We are approaching week three and my husband had a mri today
We are awaiting the results
Been in touch with insurance but all they want is to fly him home despite the doctors saying he has to go by land . Google translate has been my best friend . I know he has a kong road ahead and finally is drinking thickened water and saying a fee words . We appreciate you kind words and hope we can be home to deal with this as a family and be reunited with our children soon.
Cx. Once home i know this platform has some amazing advice ans positive storied

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Good to hear there has been some progress & i really hope you xan get your husband home soon.

Best wishes

Ann