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What Will Be My Mothers Life Exspectancy?
My mother had two strokes days apart Oct of this year. They were mild and is not getting better in her therapies and has her speech, memory, and mobility. However she no longer has an appitite, can feed herself but will only eat if someone is feeding her. She is not willing to get out of bed and has a cathater due to the inability to urinate on her own. Before the stroke she was a young 90 year old who lived on her own, drove herself and went to 3 lunchens a week, played bridge and was active. She is on anti depresent medications. My question is what are the studies for her life exspectancy.
Tue, 5 Aug 2014
User's Response
Hi, thanks for posting your concern in the HCM.
I should assure you that an acute attack of stroke is life threatening, but stroke is not a progressively increasing disease. A stroke, whatever it is, ischaemic or haemorrhagic, causes damage of the brain all at once and the sequelae of that damage follows including brain edema, loss of brain tissue etc. However, once this acute phase is managed with treatment, the next part is only rehabilitation for the already lost functions. They do improve with physiotherapy, but often, they are permanent. You are now dealing with that rehab phase.
If there is any subsequent attack, chances of survival is significantly less. So, every precaution is to be maintained to prevent any future attack. Strict control of all the comorbidities are also important.
Another important thing in case of stroke patients withy significant disability is that you need to prevent DVT and pressure sores. DVT stocking and frequent change of posture, physiotherapy and ambulation may help in this regard.
Regular change of catheter based on what material it is made up of is also important to prevent UTI because that may complicate to urosepsis which can be life-threatening.
Not only anti-depressant medications, a cheerful life is also necessary by adequate social support from the family members, to fight depression or any mental problem, which are actually very common after CVA.
As she is already 90 years old, it is very difficult to predict her life-expectancy. However, with proper rehabilitation methods, good compliance for medication, she can definitely fight back for another couple of years or more. But, bringing her back to some activity, at least with the help of physiotherapy and close social support,is very important for her survival.
Hope you are satisfied with my answer. If you have any further query related to this, please write back.
In case you have any new query in future, you can directly ask me questions @ http://www.HealthcareMagic.com/doctors/dr-kaushik-sarkar/68460. I will try my level best to help you.
I should assure you that an acute attack of stroke is life threatening, but stroke is not a progressively increasing disease. A stroke, whatever it is, ischaemic or haemorrhagic, causes damage of the brain all at once and the sequelae of that damage follows including brain edema, loss of brain tissue etc. However, once this acute phase is managed with treatment, the next part is only rehabilitation for the already lost functions. They do improve with physiotherapy, but often, they are permanent. You are now dealing with that rehab phase.
If there is any subsequent attack, chances of survival is significantly less. So, every precaution is to be maintained to prevent any future attack. Strict control of all the comorbidities are also important.
Another important thing in case of stroke patients withy significant disability is that you need to prevent DVT and pressure sores. DVT stocking and frequent change of posture, physiotherapy and ambulation may help in this regard.
Regular change of catheter based on what material it is made up of is also important to prevent UTI because that may complicate to urosepsis which can be life-threatening.
Not only anti-depressant medications, a cheerful life is also necessary by adequate social support from the family members, to fight depression or any mental problem, which are actually very common after CVA.
As she is already 90 years old, it is very difficult to predict her life-expectancy. However, with proper rehabilitation methods, good compliance for medication, she can definitely fight back for another couple of years or more. But, bringing her back to some activity, at least with the help of physiotherapy and close social support,is very important for her survival.
Hope you are satisfied with my answer. If you have any further query related to this, please write back.
In case you have any new query in future, you can directly ask me questions @ http://www.HealthcareMagic.com/doctors/dr-kaushik-sarkar/68460. I will try my level best to help you.
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