Stroke

[carlos iradier]

My father had a serious stroke ten days ago and is paralysed down his left side. Although his speech and understanding are intact, he is permanently sleepy, sometimes verging on the comatose. I cannot find any information on the internet about deep sleepiness as a side effect of a stroke and was wondering if anybody has experience of it and how long it is likely to last.
Carlos

[Swampfox]

Carlos,

with something as serious as stroke, you should call his doctor and ask all the questions you need to ask. if you are not satisified with his answers, seek out a 2nd opinion of a qualified specialist (Neurologist who specializes in strokes).

Has he been through rehabiltation? Does he get exercise every day? He needs to keep moving to improve. Little bits at a time.

[suse]

Carlos,
Mine was 12+ years ago, and I still get tired easily. Sleepiness can most definitely be a side effect. If I would have a doctor appointment or something, I would be absolutely exhausted the entire next day. I've met other survivors who sleep much of the time, and that's completely normal for them.

suse

[Swampfox]

Suse,

Does exercise (such as on a stationary cycle) make you feel more tired?

I'm wondering if there is a difference with the type of stroke one has. I have a friend of mine who had TBI from a car accident, was flatlined, brought back, in a coma for 2 weeks, and woke up paralyzed on one side.
He's a young man in his late 20s and went to VA Rehab for 5 months - they got him scooting around in a wheelchair. He has since worked out each day on a motor-assisted stationary cycle called an eVO (Abledata.com) and is out there working hard in his business. He doesn't have the sleepiness but it just dawns on me that there may be a difference in types of strokes.

Yeah, I just saw the reports of folks who have problems staying awake during the day are more likely to have strokes.

[suse]

(I just lost this! :))

Again - sometimes. If I'm not 100%, (For me) or I don't exercise straight away in the morning - forget it! Also, if I try and push too hard while exercising, I get motion sick and lightheaded, and I'll have to stop.

I do think it makes a difference as to what part(s) of the brain was/were involved.

suse :)

[Swampfox]

Suse,

Have you ever done reciprocal exercising over a period of weeks?
Which type of stroke did you have?
Does your Dr say that this sleepiness and dizziness is just a part of the type you have? (I am asking for my own personal reasons)

[suse]

I had a subarachnoid hemorrhage with damage occurring in my brainstem.

I don't know what reciprocal exercise is! :)

suse

[Swampfox]

Suse,

Reciprocal movement is the right arm and left leg move at the same time, then the left arm/right leg move. Same movement as a baby crawling or a person walking. It's brain training in it's earliest form.

Studies were done years ago which show that even with a set of twins, if one twin is a couch potato and gets no exercise but the other twin eats properly and exercises there is a huge difference in the outcome. The dendrites in the brain keep growing in the one who exercises but not in the coach potato twin.

Think about it a minute. I was watching "Lorenzo's Oil" and watching Lorenzo's Mom calming instructing him to "tell your brain to tell your arm to tell your hand to tell your little finger to move" It makes complete sense. Feed the brain! Do work arounds but get exercise that helps you and don't ever give up!

I just went through PT for arthritis where I cannot move certain toes. The PT insisted that I keep working on it by moving the toe slightly first adn then try moving them on my own. It worked. I was also having anodyne therapy which helped and I walk around a lot.

A reciprocal motor-assisted stationary cycle would be doing for your whole body an adult version of what I'm talking about. It doesn't happen overnight. It takes time. I've seen an ad in http://www.abledata.com ... I know I did a google search of "motor assisted stationary cycle abledata" to find it again. Found it! eVO <http://www.assistivetherapy.com>
I happened to watch their videos and flipped out! I've been on one! It's incredible! I kept watching where they would be on the News and Updates Section - caught up with them and tried it! I cannot believe that this machine isn't in YMCA's across the country for equal accessibility.

[suse]

One of the things the stroke affected was my balance. I do have a stationary bike, an elliptical, and a treadclimber. When I exercise I have to hold on to something stationary, or I fall
When I ordered the elliptical, and my husband bought the bike, we had to make sure it didn't have the arm attachments.
I've had that type of physical therapy though, (Laying on my stomach and extending my RT arm, LT leg at the same time.) to actually strengthen some back muscles.

suse

[Swampfox]

Suse,

It sounds like you are way ahead of the game! You are doing what a great many fail to do after having a stroke - keep moving! Bless your heart! Just Keep Moving!

The arms on this eVO can be pulled up if not needed. I've seen a tetraplegic on it - needing a butterfly vest on top of the seatbelt and the foot straps as well as grasping gloves. This is a young teen who talks with her eyes and she lights up when she's on her BunniSteps (the smaller version of the eVO).

If you went to the website and saw the video of the kids, the middle kid has had strokes. The last video "JRs Field Report" he has TBI, one side paralysis.