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My Father Aged 85 Suffered A Stroke Six Weeks Back.
Question: My father aged 85 suffered a stroke six weeks back. MRI showed small infarcts on the left side. His right side is affected. Over the period he recovered a bit with physiotherapy and medicines - could walk a bit with support, raise his right arm fully etc...however since the last 3-4 days he has been very sleepy - sleeps for about 18-20 hours a day, complains of weakness etc. another MRI was done today and they found two more small infarcts...what could be the possible reasons for excessive sleep/drowsy ness? How long could this pattern last??
Brief Answer:
Drowsiness could be related to multiple infarcts.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for posting your query.
I am Dr Sudhir Kumar, Neurologist, and I would try my best to help you.
I have noted your father's clinical details. Based on this, he has suffered from two attacks of brain stroke, resulting in multiple infarcts in brain.
The possible causes of drowsiness/sleepiness could be: 1. Multiple infarcts, 2. Low sodium (can be checked by blood test).
To improve his sleepiness, active stimulation and physiotherapy are useful. He can be made to listen to his favourite songs through headphones. It is useful to care for him in a room, with adequate natural light, which helps in maintaining diurnal variation and natural sleep wake cycle. In some cases, modafinil tablets can help (check about this with his doctor) in improving daytime alertness.
If low sodium is found in blood test, it should be adequately corrected.
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
Drowsiness could be related to multiple infarcts.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for posting your query.
I am Dr Sudhir Kumar, Neurologist, and I would try my best to help you.
I have noted your father's clinical details. Based on this, he has suffered from two attacks of brain stroke, resulting in multiple infarcts in brain.
The possible causes of drowsiness/sleepiness could be: 1. Multiple infarcts, 2. Low sodium (can be checked by blood test).
To improve his sleepiness, active stimulation and physiotherapy are useful. He can be made to listen to his favourite songs through headphones. It is useful to care for him in a room, with adequate natural light, which helps in maintaining diurnal variation and natural sleep wake cycle. In some cases, modafinil tablets can help (check about this with his doctor) in improving daytime alertness.
If low sodium is found in blood test, it should be adequately corrected.
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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