what does a minor stroke mean?

[miscsoc]

My grandpa had one yesterday. Is he long for this earth? Tell me honestly, my family says he's okay but I have a terror that they are just putting a brave face on it for my benefit.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. My dear miscsoc...

A minor stroke is one that doesn't have a big effect. It's unlikely that it will kill him, or even do much permanent harm.

They are not putting a brave face on it for you. If it were really bad, they wouldn't be able to hide it.

Hang in there, and ask questions, esp. of his doctor or the nurses, if he's still in the hospital.

:hug:

[miscsoc]

2. He's home, but

my grandmother phoned me today and said something like, she was scared to leave him alone.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. I can imagine she's scared too.

She also needs to sit down and get information from his doctor or nurse. Do they have any Home health nurses coming? They know their stuff and could explain what's going on.

[miscsoc]

5. Maybe, I don't think so though.

I think he's basically been sent back home. I'll ask, I don't really know what to do.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. Asking is always good...

I see you're in Scotland, which means it's the middle of the night. I suspect you ought to try and get some sleep. Often, being tired makes things look a lot worse than they really are...

[miscsoc]

8. well, it's eleven twenty

i'll sleep soon.

[GalleryGod]

4. Good advice from Pal Peggy! Once an RN,always an RN!

Just cause you leave the floor doesn't mean you leave the practice!
:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. My dear Gallery God!

Ah, my loyal friend!

A few things still stick in the cobwebs...

:hi:

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. It's possible for them to have little long term effect

My father had one about 7 years ago; it affected his balance rather than any muscle control (which makes it a fairly unusual one anyway). For a few days, standing up unsupported, and then walking, was a problem, but he got that back more or less completely after a bit. These days, when he gets up from a chair, he can take a few seconds for his sense of balance to be OK for him to start walking, but apart from that, it's had almost no long term effect.

When I first heard about it, they said it was 'minor', and I was a bit sceptical, but it has been. So I hope that your grandpa's really is too.

[begin_within]

10. My Mom had one 5.5 years ago and is still going

Though every stroke is different and the permanent aftereffects may not be apparent for a while. He may not be doing well now, but with intensive therapy (physical, occupational and speech) he may return somewhat to his pre-stroke condition. Each patient and each case is different. He may be weaker on one side of his body for the rest of his life, he may walk with difficulty and/or require a cane, walker, rollator or even wheelchair, he may have difficulty swallowing and might have to have a modified diet in which everything is chopped or even pureed, liquids thickened, and he may have mental difficulties including confusion and some loss of memory (i.e., might not "return" to the same place in his life he was at. I guarantee he will need a lot of help from now on to the end of his life, but a stroke is not a death sentence, however it's often disabling. Try to see if you can get the maximum amount of therapy possible between now and 6 months from now as that is the critical period for recovery.

[JitterbugPerfume]

11. my sister had a stroke

and NOT a minor one , but her recovery has been amazing . It has a lot to do with getting immediate treatment , and the location of the stroke but minor strokes called TIAs cause little to mo damage Sis is 65, so she is not a young person.

[miscsoc]

12. re: the above posts

i'm a bit reassured by them, so thanks, genuinely.

[hippywife]

13. He probably had what is called a TIA.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transient_ischemic_attack

I work in a retirement community and see them often. They are not terribly uncommon among people of a certain age and the effects are indeed temporary. He will probably just need to be watched for a little while and make some slight changes to prevent them or ones that could be more severe, but he should be fine from this episode.

Vibes to you and you gramps. :hi:

[struggle4progress]

14. Depends. It may be something he recovers completely from, it may be something

everybody else thinks he recovered completely from, it may be something like leaves a minor but evident permanent effect. It depends on where it is and how minor it is. As a general rule, it's not a great sign, since one stroke may portend another, but plenty of people live decades after a minor stroke. If you need more insight, try to find out what the doctors are saying

[gvstn]

15. I have no first hand experience with strokes...but

My understanding is that many people who have major strokes have had a series of minor ones that went undetected. It is in reality a good thing that this one was discovered/reported. It means the doctors will be on guard and probably give him medication to prevent a more damaging larger stroke.

He may look weak now but he has a good chance of pretty much full recovery. The effects a truly different for each individual. I think it is a "time will tell" period right now where the he will have to be observed to see what effects may be permanent. Here in the U.S. my Representative in Congress had a minor stroke two years ago and is now running for the more prestigious Senate seat, so don't let your imagination get the best of you. People are resilient!

I wish you and your grandpa well. :)

[TZ]

16. My mother had a minor stroke

early last year. She's fine now. An adjustment to her BP meds seems to have cleared the danger away.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

17. It's a good warning sign

It allows the doctors to prescribe medication to decrease the chance of a major stroke down the road.

My mother had a numbing in her arm a few years back, and went right to the hospital. She's been on medication since, but she is doing well and still very active.

[Deep13]

18. Strokes vary in severity.

Some are mild and don't do much damage. They happen in small, localized blood vessels. Some are moderate like the one that struck my uncle lame and nearly speechless. He did survive, though. Then there are major strokes like the one that killed my Dad in 1999. It happened in a large enough artery to cause damage over a large portion of the brain.

[jobycom]

19. Probably means he needs to do what the doctors tell him.

Change his lifestyle a bit, eat healthier, take the medications they prescribe if that's appropriate. My dad had a major stroke about nine years ago. He's still around, though he can't walk or talk as well. About the same time my 83 year old boss had a similar stroke, and he's still around at 92, though he's not doing so well anymore. He spent the last nine years with decreasing mobility, but it's not certain that this was only the result of the stroke, at his age. Both listened to their doctors (mostly) and took their medications.

Let me tell you what to do and what not to do. Spend all the time you can with him, because you will be more fulfilled if you do. Don't waste a lot of time worrying that he'll be gone in a year, because then you won't enjoy your time with him as much as you should, and in ten years you may wind up realizing you held back for ten years. Use it to understand that all are mortal, and that relationships are meant to be cherished while you can.

[applegrove]

20. My grandmother had ministrokes. Lots of them. She'd forget something for a few days

then would have a complete recovery. Didn't kill her.