Mini-stroke Symptoms

It's Been 20 since I was in nursing school, but I'm going to give it a shot. Amy, you are invited/encouraged to weigh in on this. Someone asked me how I could tell if Helen has had a mini-stroke, from which Helen recovers w/in 2-3 days. These behaviors are sudden, that's what tell you it's a mini-stroke and not AZD. This is part is mostly what I have seen in Helen, plus a little learned teaching other caregivers and as an RN.

Some signs a person who has had a Mini-Stroke

1) There is a generalized confusion on her part and she goes around the house like she is looking for something (usually at night, but sometimes not.) I don't know a specific name for this behavior. I call it "rummaging." She also be moving slower and more to forget how to cook things, which is dangerous.

2) She is non-conversational for the most part and when she does talk, it often makes no sense or she makes up parts of stories to "fill in the blanks" in her memory the mini-stroke has made.

3) There may be a difficulty in communicating. She may be looking right at you, but if you look closely at her eyes, you can pretty much tell that she's not understanding a word you're saying.

Caregiving suggestions

During the 2-3 days when her brain is recovering

1) stay close

2) Explain to her what y9u or you and she are doing as it happens, to help with her confusion.

3) Helen may lose her sense of time (an abstract concept) so don't introduce and expect her know "time prompts" like 'later on" "Yesterday" "Tomorrow." Even the innocuous word 'when' should be used sparingly us. And do not try to correct her as you would only confuse her. (if you have ever seen her w/o medication, it looks about the same, so that is a way to tell if she if taking her medication. She cannot miss one, signal dose, these seems to come on quickly as well, so check her medication box) With her memory loss and confusion brought about by a mini-stroke, shes apt to forget to take them ( who doesn't?), or God forbid, take too many.

That is when you put her medication box in the brown cupboard above the white refrigerator that has the Honey Buns in it. That's all for now. I'll be posting more information soon; R.