I went to pick up Mom at 10:30 this morning to take her to the wound care clinic. As usually, the nurses had her waiting for me in her wheel chair next to the nurses station. Mom was slumped over, chin on her chest, and appeared to be asleep. I went up to her as I usually do, saying "Hey Mommy!, I'm here!" She didn't budge! I tried to wake her patting her face and hands and still nothing! By then the nurse and aides were over looking her over trying to wake her. She was like a rag doll! She was breathing and moved her arms a little, but we could not wake her! So they moved her to her bed and took her vitals. All were good. Slowly, she began to wake up and tried to talk. But all she could do was mumble. THEN. . the nurse was trying to get a urine sample from her by catheterizing her. Boy howdy. . .that woke her up! My dear sweet Mom yelled: "***t!! STOP IT"! Yes. . .although slurred, it was a definitely and CLEAR . . "***t" from my dear sweet 90 year old mother! Trying not to laugh, I tried to calm her down and tell her that if she could pee in the toilet, that would be better. So, she wanted to try . . .with the nurses help. We turned on the water to help her "go" and then both the nurse and CNA had to "go"! lol! The doctor came in an hour later and he said that it looked like she may have had a mini-stroke as she could move her arms and legs and passed the other physical tests for stroke. She was awake then and speaking a little more, but still slurring her words. She was very agitated. . which isn't like her! The doctor asked if I wanted her to go to the hospital and I asked what he would do? He said that it depends on what my mother's "wishes" were. Even if she had a full blown stroke, there really wasn't much they could do due to her age. So he recommended they run a full labs on her blood and urine and to watch her for the next two hours. During that time, Mom woke up more and more and eventually even ate some lunch. She was still groggy and slurring her words, and then took a nap. I later found out that her labs came back fine. In the meantime, the nurse told me that Mom did this last Friday but came right out of it and then had her hair done. However, no one told me this, which made me mad!!

I finally got Mom to say my name and I went home by 4:00 PM! (Had to get home for my 10 year old!) But I was wiped out! The worse part is just going through it all alone! I had to be strong (and stern) for my mother and couldn't show her my fear and utter saddness! On my way home, I fell apart as I called my sisters and brothers to let them know what happened. I feel that these episodes are happening more often and that is may be leading up to "the big stroke"! Bless her heart. . .she just doesn't seem to get a break!

Anyone know about these "mini-strokes"? Are they a precurser to a larger/fatal stroke?

Connie

Oh Connie, I am so sorry this is happening to your mom and sorry that you had to go through this alone.
I don't know medically if this always means that a larger stroke is coming.
All I can tell you is that my mother died in 2004 from a stroke and that she had been having mini strokes for over a year. However I have also known people who had a stroke and then never had another one. Hopefully Atian can help us out here.

I"m sorry this happened to your Mom. Here is some basic information and a website to find out more.

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter. ... ifier=4781

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

What is a TIA or transient ischemic attack?

A TIA is a "warning stroke" or "mini-stroke" that produces stroke-like symptoms but no lasting damage. Recognizing and treating TIAs can reduce your risk of a major stroke.

Most strokes aren't preceded by TIAs. However, of the people who've had one or more TIAs, more than a third will later have a stroke. In fact, a person who's had one or more TIAs is more likely to have a stroke than someone of the same age and sex who hasn't.

TIAs are important in predicting if a stroke will occur rather than when one will happen. They can occur days, weeks or even months before a major stroke. In about half the cases, the stroke occurs within one year of the TIA.

((((Connie & June)))))
We'll always be here for you,
and I'll keep you in my prayers.
Carol

I'm so sorry Connie. It must be so frightening. I figure, I could fast-forward my Mom, six years from now, if she makes it to 90, and our stories would probably be very similiar. I was wondering, if they thought it was a clot in her leg, that ran up to her heart, or brain? Mom's husband has inoperatable leg clots, and as a result, has had many mini-strokes, I have even witnessed them? Growing old sucks, all the way around.

Hang-In Connie. I still think of you & June often.

Yes. . .TIA is what the nurse practitioner thought it was. Mom is still slurring her words today so they are going to take her to the hospital to have a brain CT scan to determine what happened Monday morning at 7:30 AM!! I'll going with her! I know she will be freightened.

Annaberry - thank you so much for the info on the TIA's. Half the fear is in not knowing what is happening. Although I had feared that these TIA's seem to be leading up to a major stroke. It's SO scary. I have to tell you, part of me wishes that if she does have a major stroke, that it takes her and not leave her crippled. The thought of her poor crippled body- helpless - along with the AD. . . it would just be pure torture for her and I just could not bear it!

Just as my mother's foot is actually starting to heal. . .this happens! I can't help but feel that her body is just preparing for that long journey home. I feel it. And that just tears me up inside!

Lori, Carol, and Sky - As always, thank you for your love, prayers and concern. You have been there for me from the very beginning and I owe so much to you and other's who have given me strength . . .given me courage and given me hope to take up this battle for my mother's life! No matter what happens, you all have played an important role in giving me my mother back and giving my mother some long over-due quality of life she was denied for many, many years! I will never give up hope for her. . .my sweetest angel. . my mother! I will fight to give her happiness. . .one day at a time. And if God calls her home. . . .at least I will feel blessed to at least have been granted the time I've had with her and the smiles and gratitude that she has expressed from her heart. . .in her own way. There is no greater gift!

I'm taking her to see her Podiatrist tomorrow just to check on her foot. Then Monday is her CT brain scan. I'll keep you posted. Thank you ALL again! God Bless you!

Connie

Annaberry got it right. Sounds like TIAs to me, which are thought to be precursors to strokes. I am surprised the doctor didn't order a CT that day. Hopefully they don't find much else. Sorry to hear this Connie. We'll pray for your mom.

Thanks Aitan. It was the nurse practitioner who asked me if I wanted Mom to go to the hospital or to wait an hour or so. He said that there wasn't much they could do if it was a stroke due to her age. It also depended on what my mother's wishes were as far as DNR, etc. But like you, I was surprised that they are waiting until Monday. I was told that it was the earliest time they had opened. I guess they didn't consider it an emergency.

It is VERY scary to learn that this is just warning signs of things to come. You mentioned you hope they don't find something else. Do you know what else could there be?

Connie

Hi Connie, going by the symptoms and the fact that they went away with time means it's more than likely TIAs. I was thinking with your mom's history of vascular problems that it could potentially be a bleed, but I think the details you gave us of the presenting problem point away from that. There is always the possibility of a tumor, but again you would see other symptoms like seizures and constant decreased level of consciousness in the bleed scenario. I didn't mean to stir up any additional fears... I've treated enough TIAs that I would agree with the NP in this case. There is treatment for prevention of stroke, so that is the good news in this case for mom. The fact that she had a TIA isn't an indication that she will definitely have a stroke in the future, it's simply a risk factor. In our county South Florida regional protocols all the suspected stroke patients have to be stroke alerted to a neurological facility to be evaluated. There is no way of knowing whether the patient had a stroke of a TIA simply by symptoms, that is why it is important to get the CT done to rule this out. Anyways, enough of the "what ifs", let's pray that this will be her last time dealing with this.

Connie, my mom has a history of TIAs and several mild strokes. She's had several TIAs that were not followed by a stroke, which bears out what Aitan told you. It is scary, I know, and I'll keep you and June both in my prayers.

Oh Connie,
Just what your Mom needed when everything was turning out so well.

Years ago, my Mom had a TIA. This was before AD. She never had a stroke after that, or even another episode. But when she had ended up in the ER a few months back, she did the same thing as your mom. Completely unresponsive, like a ragdoll. This happened in a restaurant so we called 911. But it has happened many times before at home. When she was in the hospital in March, she had a ct scan, and of course it showed plague on the brain.

The doctor has told me that of course they could be TIA's each time, but most of the tests are showing they are not. But she does have her on a 325mg. aspirin a day. We tried Plavix, but it just was not agreeing with her. It made her so fatiqued and poopy all day. So I decided with the doctor to stick to the aspirin, her bp meds, and her cholestrol meds. She needs to have some quality of life, and seeing her that way was not what I wanted. I may be taking a chance, but in the case of AD, its just hit or miss.

So review everything with the doctors, and try what they want. But in the end, if more meds or anything else they may want to do is not agreeing with her, then let her enjoy the time she may have left. You'll know what to do, I did. Again, I may have taken a chance taking her off the plavix, but it was too hard seeing her that way all day.

Keep us updated on your Mom please. You have always made any decision about your Mom keeping in mind what is the best for her. You will do that again if you have to, and we will support you and be here for you.

Jackie

Thank you Aitan, Sarah and Jackie for your experience and your wisdom! That REALLY is so helpful!

The good news today is that I picked her up to take her to see her Podiatrist today and she was back to her "ol self"! No slurring! YAY! I took her out to lunch and she ate great too! Griped at me for taking the hard crust off the bread because she liked it! lol!

Jackie, I will definitely take your advice about the medication. I would not want her too live all drugged out as you said! Quality of life is definitely more important than quantity at this point of their lives! She has her CT scan on Monday, so we'll see what they say and I'll discuss the meds options with her doctors. Thanks so much for letting me know about that!

While we were sitting in the waiting room of the doctor's office, the TV had a news coverage of lawyers before a judge with the subscrpt saying: "Pre-trial hearing for Casey Anthony". Mom turned to me and asked: "Is that about me?" Which brought tears to my eyes!! She STILL, deep down inside, thinks she is in jail! I just don't know what to do about that. I feel SOOO guilty because she has always told us she NEVER wanted to be in a nursing home. But she has needed the special medical attention (Rehab, IV's, etc.) because of her health (broken hip, ribs, foot and now her foot and mini-stroke) and our bedrooms are all upstairs and we have no place for her with us at home. I just wish I could have taken care of her at home. Well. . .perhaps when her foot heals, I can move her back to the ALF that is just two blocks from my house. She was happier there.

Connie

Connie,

So glad to hear that Moms speach is back to normal. She sounds like she's happy and somewhat content again. Good sign that she got mad at you about the crust, and so really funny. As soon as you think you know that they might not like something, it automatically changes. Go figure.

As far as your Mom thinking she's in jail, I think you may have tried everything to convince her she's not. Seems like when something is stuck in their minds, there's just no way of convincing them otherwise. Mom keeps asking me why the physical therapist and nurse are coming here. I told her it was because she was in the hospital 2 weeks ago, and the doctor just wants her checked for awhile. She keeps telling me she was in the hospital a few years ago, and now the doctor wants someone to check on her? Twice a week she's been asking me, twice a week I've been telling her. Now I just say ok, and try to change the subject. Although sometimes thats not even possible as she won't let me. So very clever huh?

I guess all you can do at this point is just keep reassuring her that she is not in jail. Maybe you should try telling her she's at a hotel and their giving her room service and health service. She may not exactly understand, but maybe the hotel thing will stick in her head more. But I have a feeling there's not much that will work. It's just the nature of this disease.

Get one thing at a time figured out with your Mom. Get that ct scan done, her foot healed and then think about the alf again.
There was no way with all that was going on that your Mom could have lived in your home. And I have to say, if she did, and had all these things wrong, she would have been there by now anyhow, and you probably with her. Its bad enough when they have AD and have little medical problems, but when there what your Mom had, it would have been so very hard for you to care for her at home. If your not healthy to care for her, who's going to? So I say, yes, you would rather have her home, but at what cost?

One day I know I will have to decide the same thing. And I hate the thought of it. But as Mom progresses, and I have to do more, or she needs special medical attention, I too will probably have no choice. I cant' stand the thought of what might happen if I am not the one who will always be in charge of her care if I cant' ever do it. So think of it as you are still in charge because you can be. Where would you be right now if she was at home with you? Not in a very good place.

So chin up my friend, your doing the best for her by doing the best for you.

Jackie

Dear Connie,

I just said a prayer for you and June. My heart goes out to your Mom for still having that fear of "being in jail". May the God of all comfort be with June and help you both in your time of need and may the Lord grant you and your family peace.

Grace be with you always.
Love,
Marcie

I'm sorry for the mini strokes, those things are really scary to see. MIL has had one or two.

I'm glad to hear your Mom is recovering from them though!

Kat