looking for stories of hope for my mum after large stroke

[kieracupcake]

my mum (56, slightly overweight, had high blood pressure that she did not know about) had a severe stroke, large intracerebral hemorrhage on right hand side of brain on 20/06/2011 at about 10am. she was at hospital within the hour of signs such a slurring and left hand side body drop, but she was quiet all morning and could of had headaches and problems early on but not told us. She was still conscious and attempting communication at 8pm that evening when i was finally allowed to see her. the next morning when we came in at 10am to the neuro icu unit we were told she had deteriorated (she was barely conscious) they told us the brain bleed and swelling had gotten alot worse and they had to put her into a medical induced coma that morning to save her life. she was in the medical coma for 7 days, they tried a hypothermia machine to try reduce swelling, this did not have any affect on the swelling, and it put all her organs at high risk. we were told about 5 times she would not make it. they brought her out of the medical coma as it was doing more damage then good. they told us surgeory was not an option due to size and location of bleed and her high blood pressure.

3 weeks later she is still in her own coma, she has not woken up (we've had an eye open a few times, she was responding to pain for a few days, twitching in her eyes, but now it is just body convulsions and not alot else) the brain swelling has not gone down at all, so it is exactly the same as that morning they put her into a medical coma. her body organs are all ok once again, and her high blood pressure is now under control. the bleeding has stopped, but its just sitting and waiting for the swelling to go down (how long does this usually take?) and the blood to be re-absorbed to see if she wakes up and what sort of brain damage has been done. we've been told again she is not going to make it. and that she is at high risk of catching a fever/bacteria and dying that way. theyve told us the swelling is extremely close to the stem and encroaching on the left hand side of the brain. she has hypertension. the only meds she is on now is for high blood pressure. she has a trach. and is slowly being weened of and on of breathing machine to see if she is strong enough to breathe on her own.


has anyone had any sort of story similar, same sort of bleed, coma, timescales, stories of hope for me to share with my dad and brother? this has been the worst rollercoaster ever and to be told she isn't going to make it so many times is just destroying us and our hope. but we still go everyday and try to talk to her for a little bit everyday.
please. thank you
x

[fefe5910]

hope your mum comes out of coma.  My mum's the same.  It's heart wrenching. Might make it might not!  Doctors etc say she won't make it.  Let's hope for both our mums it's 'will make it'.  This is only the 5th day, yet it feels heaps longer than that.  

[Kristie1957]

I am 54 and had a brain stem stroke in March..  My son was told I would never walk again and have partial use if right arm.  I am walking with a cane, but still a long way to go.

[kieracupcake]

Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers. Congratulations on your strong road to recovery, keep it up and i wish the best possible outcomes for your life.

Slight different as she is in her late 50s so i guess it will be harder for her, but by heck im sure she will try given the chance. however we are now entering our 4th week of being in a coma. We won't give up on her until she gives up on us. Which she isn't doing. But by now we would of expected swelling to have started to go down and some signs of waking up. We still haven't had either of these things.

We've had a very bleak picture painted from the start. I think sadly this case is alot worse to many i read on here, but i still want to read them all and let everyone know my thoughts and prayers are with them and to see if they can give any info or thoughts for my family.

it would be nice to see someone who is as bad as my mum who has a hopeful survival story, or a carer for someone who is still fighting and in rehabilitation. Or if anyone is going through this right now to share the rollercoaster with.

All the best, thank you. x

[carebear062511]

hi nothing i can say or do caN EVER  make you feel better about you situation i took a stroke at the age of 14 im 20 now i took a stroke playin softball i was int the IICU for almost a month i was in a coma for almost 2 and half weeks but the crazy thing was is that i could hear everything that anyone said to me no i could not say anything back or move to let them know i was hearing them but it just felt so good to hear everyone tell me they love me and that i was strong!! i also left my whole left side arm hand leg left side of face left ear hearing and left brain function i was in rehabilitaion a month at an intesive care rehabilitation center and than for 5 months after that was in an outpatient barcly rehab. One thing for sure is that it is a long process but you can HONESTLY never  give up on her she needs strong and understanding people in her life to help her with this mile stone in her life also support your dad and brother it will be ok just be strong ffor her


your mom and your family will be in my prayers i wish the best for you guys! i hope i could help you a little just letting you know you are not out their alone


                                               God Bless <3 Gina