Update
My husband is now being treated for aspiration pneumonia and a blood clot on his lung. As he is so poorly he has had no speech therapy or physio. Exactly 7 days now.
He is full of drips and tubes. He nods that he can understand us and that he is comfortable.
I go every other day as he sleeps a lot and indicated that every day is too much for me as it’s a 60 mile round trip on poor roads.
I am beginning to realise that I really need to keep myself fit to help him so I am going back to AquaFit tomorrow. I started at beginning of October and enjoy it and has made me feel more supple.
My adult daughter (LD and autistic spectrum) finally broke down tonight and had a good cry. It has done her good as she was bottling it all up. She is very close to her Dad.
@Penny….I’m so sorry to hear your husband is so poorly. Please don’t give up hope. My dad had a stroke 11 years ago now. He was in hospital for 12 days before he came home. His speech was slightly different to how it was and he’s was more unsteady on his feet but he recovered well. Hopefully your husband will get stronger and be home with you soon.
@Penny I’m sending love and hugs, So sorry you’re husband is going through all this, I’m glad you’re managing to grab some time for yourself and doing AquaFit - it’s such a breather and balm when you’ve a little space for yourself.
I had the same thought as @Charlesh47
there are online groups: Online support groups | Stroke Association
@Penny
Very saddened to read this. Sounds like your husband has hope, so you continue with some well being time for yourself to keep hope too.
Extra hard time as you have your daughter to support through it too
Not much change. He has had an intravenous filter inserted to stop more clots getting through. Still being fed and hydrated via nose. Still on oxygen. This is Day 11. I am at home today but visiting tomorrow.
Moved to a room on his own which I think is better. Had his oxygen removed yesterday and today had his feeding tube removed and was going for a chest xray. Had a short physio session yesterday while we were there. Thank you all for your kind wishes.
Found out today that the info they gave me is not quite right.
He is not in a room on his own but he is bed 7 in a 6 bay room, so cramped as he and another man share a space.
The reason they removed his feeding tube was because he had been coughing up something and they needed to do a chest xray to see whether the tube is positioned correctly. So he is back on that but looking better today. I actually understood a few words he said today and we were both pleased. He is desperate to have food and drink but the nurse explained that they have to be certain that no food or drink gets into his lung.
@Penny…that’s great that you were able to understand a few words. He’s in the best place to be looked after. It will take a while but hopefully you’ll see improvements each day however slight.
Speech not so good today. He seemed quite low too.
They are still trying to get his BP down. Even on his 7 or 8 meds for BP plus a new one they’ve added, they are still concerned. I am trying to be positive and never appear otherwise to him but I do worry about the future. There is so much to think about.
@Penny sorry to hear he was struggling more yesterday.
Hope they are able to bring his BP down soon.
Hard when the very person you are used to sharing concerns with, is the person you don’t want to worry.
Do you have any friends or family members you can talk to?
Update
After 3 weeks in hospital, husband has moved to an NHS Rehab Stroke Unit.
I was so excited as we were told it provides physio and speech therapy much more than the hospital. He arrived Fri afternoon and has been in bed since. Apparently therapists don’t work at weekends so that will have to wait until Monday. Also the Doctor comes on Monday.
He is eating well but says he isn’t sleeping too well. He is really emotional and cries a lot. Speech varies from day to day. No movement in one arm and hand but very slight movement in his foot (but not rest of leg) sometimes which I hope is a good sign.
The Drs, speech therapist and dietician at the hospital all said how well he’s done but he doesn’t believe them.
I feel exhausted even though this unit is about 10 minutes closer. I have ordered all presents for Xmas online.
I made Leek and Potato soup and took some in for him today and he enjoyed it.
Merry Christmas everybody in case I don’t get on here before the big day.
