Hemorrhagic Stroke

[Brat]

A partner in DD's firm had an almost identical experience. He and his wife went out to dinner. After dinner he felt woozy, she is a physician and drove him directly to ER. He has recovered and is back to work.

DS's MIL suffered a series of small strokes. Prompt medical care and she too has recovered BUT she isn't driving and has been instructed to call 911 if it happens again. The first round she went to the clinic across the street from her apartment, they told her she needed care urgently so she DROVE to the urgent care clinic, they sent her to the hospital. After discharge, she was staying with DS's family and it happened again. They called 911 and she was transported to the nearest hospital. People having a stroke can't think clearly. The clinic staff in the first instance should have called 911 or a car service to take her directly to the hospital.

[kaneohe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rustic23 ................................ FAST (Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties and Time) I found a better one: .............................

I like the idea of the acronym as a mnemonic for remembering these important factors but for some reason I couldn't remember them all. I finally invented my own imagery that hopefully will help when needed:

A giant FACE with 1 ARM. When I look at the image, the major features of
of ARM, FACE,EYE, EAR, and MOUTH hopefully will suggest to me when needed:
1) Weakness in arm
2) Facial drooping
3) Vision problems
4) Stability problems (as in inner ear problems)
5) Speech problems

Hopefully I don't get hung up trying to figure what "nose" signifies.

[gindie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rustic23 I have learned there are two types of strokes, 80% of strokes are caused by clots, and I think that is where clot buster drugs are used. For the 20% bleeds, lowering blood pressure and waiting until the blood is absorbed, if it is, is about all they can do. The blood shows white on an MRI and blocks the location of the bleed. So it is wait four to six weeks then another MRI, and hopefully we will know more. From reading, treatment is compounded as those things that prevent clotting, aggravate bleeds. Most of this information I have gathered from the web, with exception of DW's direct doctor input. One thing that does seem to be in all articles is monitor and track your blood pressure. Both stroke types are aggravated by high BP.

My father had a brain stem hemorrhage in '99. He was extremely lucky that we had him another 18 years. It did put him in a wheelchair and affected his eyesight, but we still had him.