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- Member
Tue Nov 23, 2021 7:27 pm
My mum in law 91 has had at least 2 mini strokes leading up to a major left brain stroke on nov 4th.
It started when she went into Guys for a partial knee replacement, being so fit and healthy that they took her. A couple of days later she "fell off the commode". With hindsight that was when everything changed. She became reluctant to eat, vomited a lot, got severely constipated and all were put down to either known after effects of the epidural or a reaction to painkillers. After 4 weeks of hardly eating, water infections and basically neglect in Guys they sent her home, weak as a kitten, for me to look after with a full care package. the following day she had the major left brain stroke and went into Kings College hosp. She's now in the neuro rehab unit at St Thomas hosp.
My question is whether she is likely to regain her lost memories. She was fully alert with a good memory before all this having been a top class silver service waitress all her life. Now, one day she knows me, the next she doesn't. Some visits she seems ok, others she repeats the same question over and over. She currently thinks our cat is hers. Does this sound like dementia or could it be temporary?
Also, she did have some dysphagia but the speech therapist has now said she has recovered her swallow reflex and can swallow when she wants to. Trouble is she has become extremely picky about what she will and won't eat. Jelly, cakes and ice cream are eaten but she will only take a couple of mouthfuls of less sweet foods before spitting them out. She ate a whole ice cream with cone and chocolate flake yesterday so it's not that she can't chew and swallow solids. She just doesn't want to. She is weak from malnutrition We have explained over and over that she must eat and build her strength up to come home. The knee op was a total success but she's too weak to walk. She nods and agrees, says she will eat, then doesn't. She has never liked anything milky, creamy or yoghurt which rules out most supplements. She doesn't like and won't drink the fruity ones even though she seems to understand she needs them. This is not like her at all. Does this sound like brain damage from the stroke and do people ever come back from it or should we resign ourselves to having lost so much of her? Any advice or info would be welcome.
It started when she went into Guys for a partial knee replacement, being so fit and healthy that they took her. A couple of days later she "fell off the commode". With hindsight that was when everything changed. She became reluctant to eat, vomited a lot, got severely constipated and all were put down to either known after effects of the epidural or a reaction to painkillers. After 4 weeks of hardly eating, water infections and basically neglect in Guys they sent her home, weak as a kitten, for me to look after with a full care package. the following day she had the major left brain stroke and went into Kings College hosp. She's now in the neuro rehab unit at St Thomas hosp.
My question is whether she is likely to regain her lost memories. She was fully alert with a good memory before all this having been a top class silver service waitress all her life. Now, one day she knows me, the next she doesn't. Some visits she seems ok, others she repeats the same question over and over. She currently thinks our cat is hers. Does this sound like dementia or could it be temporary?
Also, she did have some dysphagia but the speech therapist has now said she has recovered her swallow reflex and can swallow when she wants to. Trouble is she has become extremely picky about what she will and won't eat. Jelly, cakes and ice cream are eaten but she will only take a couple of mouthfuls of less sweet foods before spitting them out. She ate a whole ice cream with cone and chocolate flake yesterday so it's not that she can't chew and swallow solids. She just doesn't want to. She is weak from malnutrition We have explained over and over that she must eat and build her strength up to come home. The knee op was a total success but she's too weak to walk. She nods and agrees, says she will eat, then doesn't. She has never liked anything milky, creamy or yoghurt which rules out most supplements. She doesn't like and won't drink the fruity ones even though she seems to understand she needs them. This is not like her at all. Does this sound like brain damage from the stroke and do people ever come back from it or should we resign ourselves to having lost so much of her? Any advice or info would be welcome.
