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New Member: Help me Help my Grandma after Cerebrovascular Disease, Hemorrhage

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Posted 5/11/2012 2:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Everyone,

With my aim to help my grandma in different ways I decided to search through the internet and I found out about this forum. I apologize if I have grammatical errors and I can't explain well it is because English isn't my first language.

But first of all, please allow me to tell you about my grandma's case.

She used to be a very active 74-year old woman. No history of high blood pressure. In fact she used to take care of herself and was even working until she was 70+ years old. Her children, which includes my mom, just told her to stop working (as a fish vendor) so that she can have time to relax and do things that she enjoys the most.

Well, for the past 4 years, she was very active, always with her friends and she can even travel to mountainous places.

She never had an arthritis but because she got an accident about a year ago which resulted to her right knee pain.

But because she don't have a medical/health insurance she just don't want to consult the doctor regularly. Well, considering her income/allowance given by her not-so-financially stable children, I can't blame her.

Then one day (March 20), she experienced an involuntary movement of her left arm which she just ignored. Then the next day, when my Aunt was just about to take her to the doctor, my grandma just collapsed.

She was taken to the hospital, gone through some tests and the doctors found out that there was a blood clot in her brain or what appears in her clinical abstract as I have read it is Cerebrovascular Disease, Hemorrhage. She's gone through a surgery to remove that blood clot in her brain.

Well, to summarize the story, right now my grandma is still continuing the treatment with some vitamins because there isn't any complications.

But our family noticed that my grandma seemed to lose her memory. Although she can move her body but she has a difficulty moving the right side of her body. And she can't talk to us although we can hear her sound when she yawns. She can also hear us because when we call her she looks at us, except that obviously she doesn't know us.

I just want to know what would be the best way to help her so that she can regain her strength and her memory. One person told me that her mom has gone through the same problem and recovered fully after 4 years.

I just want to know more about this so I hope I can find help from people in this forum.

Thanks for reading this.

edenshii :)
Posted 5/11/2012 3:18 PM (GMT 0)
edenshii,

Welcome to HealingWell and I commend you for being an advocate for your Grandmother and I am sure you are very fortunate to have each other. 

I am wondering if your Grandmother is not on Social Security/Medicare as she worked for many years ?  If not has anyone checked into county or state benefits for her if she is completely dependent on her children for financial support ?  I am making the assumption that you are in the USA.

I kindly suggest that you or someone talk with her Dr. re her residual defecits that she appears to have since her cerebral bleed.  Most patients that have been through what your Grandmother has generally have some type of follow up therapy which might include speech therapy as well as physical therapy.

I hope another member has some information to help you with your questions.

I wish your Grandmother well and I hope you continue to advocate for her.

Kindly,

Kitt


 

Posted 5/12/2012 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Kitt,

Thanks for the information.

We are not in USA. Here in our country we have that benefit not-quite the same with medicare because it only involves a little discount in hospitalization but it does not provide free consultation.

My mom talked to the doctor but was only told to take care of my grandma and not put her to physical therapy just yet. My grandma is not even allowed to sit on a wheelchair. We can't talk to the doctor so often considering that it will take time to travel to the hospital.

But yeah, I have researched about letting patients who's gone through CVD to have a speech and physical therapy. I just can't get much information as to when my grandma should go through that (e.g. whether it is after 1,2 or 3 months or so).

I trust that there are many members who can provide me with some inputs. :-)

Thanks.

edenshii
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