Johns Hopkins newsletter alert:
Engaging in physical and mental activity after acute ischemic stroke has been shown to improve recovery and function. In addition, a recent study reported in ?Lancet Neurology (Volume 10, page 123) found that the antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac) improved motor function when started soon after ischemic stroke occurrence in people with moderate to severe motor deficits.
Researchers randomly assigned patients who had an ischemic stroke and resulting paralysis or weakness on one side of the body to take 20 mg of Prozac or placebo for three months starting five to 10 days after the stroke.
Of 113 patients included in the analysis (57 in the Prozac group and 56 in the placebo group), the researchers found that motor function improvement after three months was significantly greater in the Prozac group than in the placebo group. Also, fewer participants taking Prozac developed depression, a common consequence after a stroke.
The practice of prescribing antidepressants following a stroke is one that is gaining ground, and this study supports its benefit.
A timely post! I’ll read this to see if the other bad stroke is mentioned.
ALSO: Request for good books to read, good sites, on care of stroke victims. How aid their progress and recovery. Plus, the health proxy thing and power of atty (which I hate to even think about, but it will be necessary at some point to transfer funds from other accounts to the checking account).
A friend, “S,” had a stroke on Sunday, 9/2, and to date I have not been able to actually talk to the neurologist, except for one curt and cryptic sentence. “It was a massive stroke, and…”. The dots represent a string of words which I did not recognize, and he walked away before explaining them to me. I am designated on the intake form as S’s contact, but I do not have a health proxy. The medical staff would ask S if I could be contacted with me present, or he would say, “Talk to jawbone.”
I think that the neuro was saying the stroke was hemorraghic (bleeding), with continued small bleeds within the brain a week after the initial stroke…. But he was sent away from easy monitoring anyway.
Initially, S had muscle weakness on the left side, unable to grasp the doctor’s fingers or hold his left leg and arm up. He was up and walking by Tuesday. He cannot swallow and, after 6 days had a stomach PEG tube inserted for receiving nutritional liquid and medications. I don’t know if he got his antidepressant prior to the tube procedure.
The muscle weakness, except for the swallowing, has improved remarkably, but the vision “tunneling” has not; he short term memory loss is still bad, with only a few recollections of short term incidents. When spoken to he replies with comprehension and clear understanding, unless the question is about something very recent. We had one conversation about whom I should call of his friends, fellow workers. That seemed like a good sign, but the next day he was extremely fatigued.
And depressed. This kind of stroke, or worse, was my friend’s worst nightmare. Fortunately he has a good job, white collar but unionized, which has good health coverage and sick leave. Plus, fellow workers can give him sick leave hours they have not used.
S has been in the rehab hospital, highly regarded, since 9/9, with three hours a day of intensive theraphy (physical, occupational, speech — speech therapy is what is used to rehabilitate the swallowing muscles, as I understand it). His cardiologist had encouraged brief visits by as many different people as possible, as he understood that helped the brain to be stimulated. At the rehab, the nurse told me it is imperative he sleep or at least rest between therapy sessions (between 9am and 3pm), so he asked that visitors only come close to or after 5pm and stay only 5-10 minutes! And only two at a time.
BTW, family or friends have to do the laundry for the patient, as they are told to wear their usual casual clothing.
I haven’t been to see him since Saturday, as I came down with a nasty cold on Saturday night (uh oh, I surely was shedding germs during the day…), and I was told not even a mask and gloves were enough to protect S. But by now he’s out of clothes to wear, and I’ve noticed they just toss the day’s clothing on the floor of the closet after one wearing, whether soiled or not. And he sure can’t spill food on them!
As of right now, I’m not sneezing, no watery eyes, no coughing, and have a stuffed up nose, so I’m going to at least do laundry.
I got some good suggestions at Corrente about books to read and things to do, but I’m looking for a book written by a writer wife of a poet husband about how she cared for him and helped him regain his language skills. Anyone know what it is? I heard a discussion about it during the past year.
I also really need advice about a health care proxy; I think there’s time to set up a power of atty. Which can be limited to only times when S is unable to handle such matters by himself. Any thoughts welcome! And I realize NJ has its own laws, so advice would be general.
Thanks for any comments, etc.