My dad has three minor strokes nearly three weeks ago

Emily
Emilyon Saturday, March 2 2019
3 Comments

My dad had a stroke nearly three weeks ago so I am new to this. I’m 28, and very close to my dad so this has been a very scary experience. 

He had three minor strokes on the right side of his brain. After read some other posts on this forum I am yet to know what type of stroke it was. His left side of his face is paralyzed and has drooped. Fortunately, his speech is still well understood and he is able to eat and drink (although needs to use a straw). He is currently still in hospital, attending some speech pathology tasks and working with physios and occupational therapists to help improve his balance. 

For now, the areas most affected is probably his face and eye (he is unable to blink and smile) his balance and he often says he feels “thick in the head”. 

Next week he is attending an in patient rehab program (depending on bed availability we have been told). 

Before the stroke, my dad was incredibly positive, loved life, was always happy and was known for making people laugh. He was very independent, travelled a lot and owns two businesses. Since the stroke he would like to retire which I am so happy about, but one thing he feels particularly upset about is not being able to smile. He has said many times he was known for that and loves to make people happy and joke but I think this has affected him the most. I know it’s early days and we can only hope for the best and be grateful that he is alive. 

Incredibly high blood pressure is what caused his stroke. When my dad was a young teenager he had a couple of negative experiences with gps, and since then has developed a life long fear of anything health related. He would have to be near death to go to a GP, in fact he doesn’t have one. The reason he even went to hospital was because I forced him to after I suspected he had a stroke. The anxiety is so overwhelming for him, he has panic attack’s just hearing the nurse tell him she is a going to check his blood pressure. While things have improved from a medical perspective, I am very worried and I know he is too. I would like him to see a psychologist or counselor to help him through his anxiety and I guess any concerns he may have post stroke. Can anyone recommend a good gp, or psychologist based in inner Sydney?

He is determined to find a good GP after hospital and understands it’s a matter of life or death. I just don’t want him to have another bad experience and for him to avoid going. 

I am also concerned and he is too about the possibility of him having another stroke. I guess a lot of this is anxiety but I am hoping others can relate. 

3 Responses
Dora avatar
Dora

You could try Chinese acupuncture. There are examples of completely healed facial problems with this technique.

Cynthia Power avatar
Cynthia Power

Emily you seem to have a good grasp on what has happened to your dad. I had my stroke twelve months ago. So we are in the reverse situation. My kids, one in particular have been very supportive of me. I never regularly visited my GP and that’s something that I realise was a bad mistake. My stroke occurred after an infection in my foot,  which travelled to my heart and probably could have been avoided if I had followed up with the doctor. Except from incredible fatigue I can almost do all the things I used to do. I have weaknesses in my right hand, but with time even that’s improving. The best thing for you to do is make sure he gets a good doctor. I have to visit mine monthly and she sent me to a psychologist who helped me with anxiety and stress. He is lucky to have such a good daughter and hopefully he will make a good recovery. 

StrokeLine avatar
StrokeLine

Hi Emily,

 

I am sorry to hear of your father's stroke a few weeks ago, I’m pleased it sounds like he is getting the medical treatment he needs, and has great family support.  The initial few weeks can be very challenging for both the stroke survivor and their family.   

 

As you mentioned, you father had his stroke only three weeks ago. Stroke recovery is lifelong, and survivors can keep getting better for years after a stroke. Recovery post a stroke is very individual, and can be impacted by other factors such as pre-existing medical conditions and age.  The effects can also depend on the type, size and location of the stroke in the brain, so it might be helpful to speak with the current treating team about the type and location of your father's stroke.

 

In regards to your fathers smile, once he has been transferred to inpatient rehabilitation, I would recommend talking to the team to identify this as one of the goals he wishes to work on. It sounds like this might be an important goal for him, especially given the fact he was very outgoing and enjoyed making others smile prior to his stroke.

 

We cannot recommend a Gp or psychologist for your father, but by posting your questions here, you might find someone in your father's local area that can give you some feedback. It is important that once he is discharged, he has regular medical follow up with a Gp. The Gp can help monitor and manage your father's risk factors for stroke, including his blood pressure.  A good Gp can also ensure your father receives all the medical follow up he will need in the future.  It can be difficult when you have had a bad experience, but hopefully the experience he is having with his current medical team can help reassure him about medical treatment in the future.

 

You both might like to have a look at the Getting Good Healthcare resource on EnableMe.  There are suggestions on how to find a good Gp, and also questions to ask the current and inpatient rehabilitation treating teams.  It might also helpful to ask friends or family who live in a similar area if they can recommend a Gp from their own experiences.

 

Once your father finds a Gp that he is happy to see regularly, it would be worth discussing with them your father's eligibility for a Mental Health Care Plan.  This would entitle your father up to 10 Medicare rebated sessions with a Mental Health counsellor or psychologist.  Your father will need to return to the Gp after the first 6 sessions for a review and ongoing referral.  The Gp may also be able to recommend a Psychologist in the local area. If they are not able to recommend a local psychologist, you can also search for one at the Australian Psychological Society website at Find a Psychologist. You can search by location, name and by particular issues such as acquired brain injury and anxiety.  Once your father has been transferred to Inpatient Rehabilitation, it would also be worth asking if they have a clinical psychologist working on the team. You father may be able to meet with them as part of his rehabilitation.

 

Fear of a second stroke is something a number of stroke survivors and their families face. We have a podcast Fear of a Second Stroke that might be of interest to you both.  The Stroke Foundation website also has a blog post The Fear Factor which has some great tips on managing the anxiety associated with the concern of having another stroke.  You can also read other discussions about this topic on EnableMe here.

 

You and your father are also welcome to call StrokeLine on Ph. 1800 787 653 to speak with one of our health professionals. We are here Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and would be happy to answer your questions in more detail.

 

I hope this information has been helpful and I am sure others will comment on your post with some more ideas and information. I hope the transition to inpatient rehabilitation goes smoothly for your father.

 

Kind regards

 

Siobhan (StrokeLine)

 

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