I have posted twice here before and read loads of posts with useful information. But now … My husband (75) had his second stroke today, six months after the first. Both ischemic, the first right-sided, this one left-sided. He had just started to walk so well with a quad stick, was cognitively fine and generally better after four months in rehab and two months at home. He was looking forward to sitting in the garden. I had finally started to relax a little bit, not being so anxious, and now this. I am really worried about aphasia since the stroke was left-sided and I feel so sorry for him. They did a thromboectomy today, and we were told we just have to wait and see. Any words of hope or encouragment? I am so sad and worried, he is my only family.
So sorry to hear this. Sadly some people do go on to have more than one stroke. Often, I believe, after a thrombectomy the lasting effects can be less severe but right now it will be a waiting game and that’s always the worst bit.
Just remember that you got through the last6 months and good progress was being made. You have more of a clue on what to expect & what to do this time which is a bit of an advantage. Although not much of a comfort I know.
Just yake it a day at a time & try not to worry about something that hasn’t happened yet. Not everyone who has a left sided stroke will have aphasia but if he has he can work on getting things back. Others on here have overcome it.
It’s ok to feel sad right now. It’s all very fresh with it only happening today. Tomorrow you might know more about how he is affected which is some ways will make it easier as you will know what you’re dealing with.
Look after yourself too as that’s really important.
Thank you so much, and you are right, of course. And maybe I am still in shock. He was in the ambulance within 20 minutes of the stroke, so that is good. And we live just a few minutes from the best hospital in Oslo, so he is in good hands. I have to remind myself of this to avoid spiralling. And I have a sleeping pill for tonight. Anna
I had four strokes, right and left of cerebellum over three months. I am a wee bit younger than your husband, but age is relative when it comes to stroke. His second stroke after six months is, I am to understand, fitting with the timeframe for a secondary stroke after the first. Some medical professionals say it is only after the first year that one is out of the woods, yet I have heard others say it is five years. Nevertheless, this is unsettling for you both. Have they identified the trigger or cause?
So sorry to hear this. Wishing you strength and I hope you meet with kindness around you. I had 2 strokes, and here I am, posting on the forum.
@Rups Thank you for your kind reply! I know they put a stent in his left carotid artery this time, although he checked both carotid arteries a month ago (CT). We had just managed to put the past six awful months behind us and was looking forward to summer. The waiting and seeing is the worst.
@Dexster Thank you so much.Hearing this gives me hope. (And now I have figured out how to tag people when replying as well!)
Hi @AnnaC, sorry to hear about this one stroke is bad enough but the second one is so unkind on you both. Having read that recovery seemed well after the first do not give up hope, your husband made good progress and was clearly supported by at least you and others who care and love him.
I have no experience of aphasia but am sure with time and support again he’ll make good progress once more, wishing you all well too.
Thank you, @Jbob! Yes, he will get all possible support, and then we just have to hope and have faith. My husband is a writer and literary translator so language is a huge part of his identity. So I was thankful that the first stroke was right-sided because of this.
Hi AnnaC
I am sorry to hear about your husbands 2nd stroke please give him my best wishes.
I thought I’d write as I had a 2nd stroke, 3 months after the first. Like yr husband first right second left thankfully very minor but none the less a stroke.
The second did put me back psychologically it had a far great effect as u said just feeling like recovering then back in the ambulance hospital etc. And ive been lucky I know that. Having to start recovering from scratch again pottering to the end of the road slowly getting round park slowly stretching endurance and the worry and uncertainty.
The good news (fingers crossed), I am 7 months on now. Big improvement aafter about 3 months went on holiday to Florida with family after 4 months and now starting to walk some inclines again doing the foothills.
So while I can’t say how things will go for you both, I can say theres every reason to be hopeful. I have no experience of aphasia but did have alot of mouth numbness advice from someone here was chewing gum or similar. That worked I have very little now. Please keep saying how things go and as others have said keep talking - I’ll help all I Can. Hope this of some use.
Hello @Baldrick and thank you very much for your kind reply - you seem to have made a great recovery from your second stroke! I visited my husband this afternoon, and as I feared he is unable to speak at the moment. The good news is that he is not paralysed on his right side and he was squeezing my hand very hard with his right hand. I need to remind myself that the first few weeks after a stroke are the worst, and then progress will hopefully come. (I apologize for any spelling mistakes etc, as English is my second language). This forum has really been a great source of support to me!
I have aphasia, I had a ministroke 5 years ago. Speach has grown steadily over that time, to the point it’s barely noticeable to strangers.
Have they figured out what type of aphasia he has yet? Probably not as rest is the most important thing just now and speech will be taxing on his brain. There is no certainty at this stage how his speech will recover, for some it’s a matter of weeks/months, for others it’s years. Over the next 6 months you’ll get a clearer picture as he progresses in his recovery.
In my aphasia group we have all levels of recovered speech, even one gentleman with foreign accent syndrome, I love that
Lorraine
Thank you, @EmeraldEyes! I don’t really know anything yet, the doctors are taking a look at him tomorrow, the nurses said (there was a sort of bank holiday here this weekend and most doctors were off duty). I am struggling to keep a positive mindset, my anxiey is bad at the moment. But thank you, all of you, for your replies!
Sounds like the UK. Weekend and bank holidays (it’s one here today) you only get to see a dr in the hospital in an emergency. Hopefully you will get more answers tomorrow x
Hi Anna,
Just wondering how things are going for your husband now? I hope everything improving sometimes it happens very slowly.
Wishing you both well…..
Thank you so much for asking @Baldrick! My husband is slowly starting to speak a little, thankfully. He has managed a few sentences spontaneously without me asking him to repeat what I’m saying. The speech therapist says this is a good sign. He is bilingual in Norwegian and French, and his French seems to still be there.But mostly he makes a rather loud and constant humming sound. He understands everything we say to him, and he has even been able to write a little by hand, although much of it is hard to read because his writing has become almost microscopic. The thing I’m most worried about is his swallowing issues as he still has the NG feeding tube in. He hates it. After his first stroke it took about five weeks before he was able to drink thickened water and eat a little yoghurt, as we are four weeks in now, it seems his progress is a little bit slower this time. The speech therapist has taught me some exercises I can do with him to help with his dysphagia, as I sit with him for five hours every day. The physiotherapist is trying to get him to sit on the edge of his bed without support, so walking again seems a distant goal at the moment. In a few weeks it will be decided whether he is able to go on to a better rehab facility, the one he was in after his first stroke, or if we are looking at a permanent nursing home situation. I’m absolutely dreading this last option, naturally. I am currently reading up on aphasia, which I knew a little about already since I have an MA in linguistics. It seems educating myself is my way of controlling my anxiety, knowledge is power etc. I have also found a good psychologist for myself. Thanks again for asking, so very kind of you! I hope you are doing well yourself. Kind regards from AnnaC
Thanks Anna,
Thats very encouraging i think even though there at clearly big challenges ahead. My strokes were a lot less severe than you husbands I had trouble with speech on the first but it recovered within hours thanks to the clot busting drug. The second stroke was very mild and recovery seemed to stall but then improved dramatically - there are never any guarantees o course but every reason to be optimistic. Good he understands everything it must be so frustrating for him and the swallowing issues too.
4 weeks in is still very early on as you will know from the first time around. Physiologically a second stroke is a massive hit - you’ve recovered once and then you are back at square one with all the uncertainty i can only speak from my own experience. He is lucky to have you though and you are giving the best support ever. Do look after yourself too - caring is a massive thing and we all of course do it without question end without limit. I won’t lecture you just ive been there - but thats all another story.
Please do keep in touch - give my very best wishes to your husband please.
Thank you so much, @Baldrick I will definitely pass on your best wishes to my husband (who is 1/4 English, by the way)! And yes, being a carer is extremely demanding, but the best hours of the day are the hours I spend with him, regardless of his condition or mood. I try not to think too far ahead, easier said than done, but I think I’m getting a bit better at it. Have a lovely weekend! In Oslo we are still waiting for the warm weather. All the best, AnnaC