“So, Karen is going to rehab on Monday” the nurse said. “You know?”
I didn’t know because nobody had told me… and it didn’t really matter because Monday was brought forward to Sunday at 4 pm… which quickly became Sunday at 1 pm. And even then they turned up just after 12.00.
Karen is doing really well. When she had her stroke there was great concern she would be paralysed on her right side and be unable to speak at all, but she can move her right leg, her right arm moves (its just the fingers and wrist/hand that are being stubborn) and her speaking is coming along, even if she can’t quite find the right words when she’s trying to ask me something or tell me something.. but that will come, I’m sure.
Now she is safely ensconced at her rehab unit, two bus rides away (but I’m staying in a hotel 3 nights this week and 4 next so I can see as much of her as possible and ensure she’s doing okay) and starting ‘Visual therapy’… which sounds like it involves watching television??? … which will be fine so long as it includes her beloved Korean tv dramas, but perhaps won’t be so good if she starts speaking Korean instead on English!
Congrats for Karen! I was in the same boat, the whole right was paralysed and was mute. They focused on the right legs so at least I can move around a little in hospital and working on my speech when I was was released, but my arm was paralysed permanently plus I don’t feel my right side even today.
4 years on, I don’t need the cane unless I’m shattered, and my voice has good days and bad. But I focused on the future and I hoped I can swim a little, boating a little, and breathe a little.
Focusing on the future is what matters. Karen can’t see how far she’s come from the terribly dark days when it happened and she was on life support. She gets a little down about it, but we keep on reminding her that she’s going amazingly given what was expected when it happened.
I think it just goes to show that doctors can’t be right all of the time, and eventual outcomes can be very different from expectations.
Well, I was put on a DNR for the first week, with my wife’s blessing. Partly, the blockage was in 4 places, some deep inside my brain, and partly the doctors feels leave him be (let him die).
But I was only 46 and I was a fighter. The brain damage though was enormous. But I went back to work after 6 months with my peers helping me to adapt.
Yeah, I had to argue against a DNR which they talked to me about several days after Karen had been on ICU and had been to Bristol ICU and back.
She’s 63 and i still think of her as young, and the scans do show significant damage, but thankfully the brain is an incredible organ which can perform miracles so we live in hope she will continue to improve. 46 is young. I had my TIAs at 47 and 49, and know how difficult it was dealing with the last one which affected my right side and which I can still feel as I am sure I’m weaker there than before. I’m glad you fought, and going back to work is an incredible achievement so many heartfelt congratulations on that.
We live in Beaminster, just north of Bridport, but they took her to Yeovil when it happened, not Dorchester, hence we’ve been in Bristol and Yeovil. Now she’s in Sherborne.
Great news.
Keep up the good work.
Everything is moving in the right direction and I am sure it will continue to do so with your determination and support.
Remember, the recovery will be at a rate that suits Karen. As you have already found out, doctors and healthcare professionals can’t know everything and don’t always get things right. Each individual will respond and recover at a rate that is appropriate for them. What doctors tell you are generic guidelines. Karen will take as long as she needs and this could be weeks, months or years. It is important to understand this and also to accept there will be ups and downs along the road - that is just normal in any walk of life and doesn’t just apply to stroke survivors.
Karen should pace herself and you as her carer and support should watch out for signs when she should slow down and take rest. This is important as her body and brain will need time to recover. Think of it as a job - you work Monday to Friday and rest at the weekend. Not literally, but knowing when to rest and accepting that things can sometimes take longer than you might like will help the journey you now embark upon.
She is making great progress by the sounds of it. It’s only been a few short weeks & look how far she has come already.
Now she is out of a hospital setting & in a rehab facility she can start to do some proper work on her deficits. Her word finding skills will improve in time.
It’ll be a bumpy road at times & aome things may take a very long time to improve significantly but as long as you are prepared for that the rewards will be found.
hi @2Weevils glad to hear that Karen is coming along well and has made it to rehab. The arm hand thing sounds positive as does speech, from my experience started off with no arm function then with some work and physio input got movement back. It takes time and my best tool or piece of equipment was a child’s spikey ball as for some reason could feel this even with a dead hand. It took hours of work when on here or watching TV/ Youtube but got my hand back to around 80-90% so there is hope, the words will come back I hope too. Good luck and best wishes to both of you.
Does Karen have a favourite food. Hospital food is not always great. Could you arrange a takeaway meal that you could share? It might make life feel more normal.
That’s great news to hear. I’m pleased Karen has moved into rehab and gaining the use of her limbs slowly. I was paralysed down my whole right side. My shoulder still gives me problems on occasion as I can’t look over my right shoulder and it can get painful. I already had problems with my legs through other illnesses, but it’s now like wading through treacle since my stroke and my right leg is difficult to put forward. Giving way on me sometimes, but to how I was it’s a great improvement and I’m sure with patience and time the possibility of karen gaining more movement and speech must be a positive thought. It’s good you are able to stay close by and I hope things will improve further now and wish you both well.
Well, I had some change of pallet (if that was the right spelling) post-stroke. My taste for wine is still there, but drier white as opposed to rose. I like spicy Indian as opposed to medium. I love salad (I always was) but I need it now - maybe more greens? But I loved chocolate and still do - yippee!
But, and it’s a real BUT, still after 4 years on, I have migraines, at least one a quarter and it’s debilitating!
On the other hand (joke) I write with my left hand and it’s coming along nicely. I can fly my drone with one hand. I can work on my house (carpenter/plasterer/move the walls etc) with one hand (though it takes 3 times as long). I produced my films with one hand. I consult with one hand. I even played my piano one handed.
My point being, hope for the best but adapting what you can, you’ve then got double the chances of being happy!
