My Mom is doing some "off the wall" things and it was once thought that she had a TIA. She has dementia. She has had 2 brain bleeds and 2 surgeries and I was wondering if someone could tell me what stroke symptoms to look for with an elderly person. Thanks for your input.
We had no idea. I wish he would have taken better care of himself and tried to lower his cholesterol naturally to reduce his pharmaceuticals. SE are serious business! Check her BP regularly bc when dad went to hospital they had a horrible time regulating his BP. He may have had high BP for years and we would not have known. (His GP was an incompetent!!).
Person refusing 911, difficult. I think… I'd still get the ambulance or equivalent to attend. If the patient wants to send help away, he or she can do it in person and not expect me to make the choice.
1. F - Facial drooping on one side or the other - Ask them to smile which will
show it more prominently.
2. A - Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift
downward?
3. S - Speech - Is their speech slurred or funny (using wrong words, etc)?
4. T - Time - If you notice any of these symptoms, call 911 immediately.
F-A-S-T helps to remember these things better. If you go to an ER immediately, and they can give her the 'clot-buster' within 3 hours of the 1st symptoms, often the permanent paralysis from a stroke can be avoided. And, keep in mind, as Braida said that if it's just an increase in confusion, it could be a UTI (urinary tract infection), but they could tell that right away in the ER. Don't ever be embarrassed if you go to the ER and it is "only" a UTI. It's always better to be safe rather than sorry, and extreme confusion can make them do dangerous things, so the earlier they get on antibiotics, the better also.
trouble seeing out of one or both eyes. With a history of brain bleeds, your mom needs to go see the doctor now.