The First Eight Days in Hospital

The Hospital Story


Day 1 -The Stroke

Day 2- After the stroke on day two my mom communicated well and looked fairly good. From now on forward you are going to talk about Good Day's and Bad Day's, it is like a roller-coaster ride and be prepared to be tested on a physical and emotional level.

Day 3 - Mom had a major set back, not lucid, comatose and slept a lot. Sleeping is good, as the brain starts its healing process. Drip and oxygen is given. The doctors are tight lip about just about everything and do not be surprised if all they do say -  “Time will Tell”.

Ask your doctor. about physiotherapy and occupational therapy on day 3. Please start physiotherapy and occupational therapy as soon as possible as this is important to prevent stroke patients from having pneumonia shortly after their stroke.

Day 4 - If your loved one wasn’t diabetic don’t be alarmed if there is a sigh over their bed that states “Diabetic”. This is a general precaution for all stroke patients.

• Daily injection in the stomach is normal – These injections are blood thinners - possibly Warfarin. 
• Eating and drinking water is very difficult for stroke patients so do not be alarmed if the having difficulty doing these activities. Ask for an injection to administer juice in small quantities by hand. Drip is normal for a week or so.
• Arnica Oil. Stroke patients have enormous amount of muscle pain, rub in your loved one as much as possible – morning noon and night. Leg pain is first, normally lasts about 2 weeks and then the arm has its turn, and the pain goes on and on and on.

Day 5 - Eating and drinking – Soup is King. A very soft diet is necessary as swallowing is difficult.  Yogurt is awesome for mixing and administering medication.

• Nappies, start buying nappies and lots of them. I would suggest buying 5 bags of 15, do not give them to the hospital as you are going to need them when your loved one leaves hospital.

Day 6 - Ask your doctor to start the paperwork to persuade the medical aid for a transfer to Intercare Hospital in George, your doctor has to request this from the medical aid.

Intercare Hospital  - (George, Western Cape) Contact Details.
Tel: (044) 801 4195

• Make contact with your broker. Inform them of the situation so that they can prep the medical aid for all that is to come. A good broker is going to make your live so much easier.

• Major confusion due to brain trauma, dreaming a lot. Dreams and reality are very close to each other and my mom could not distinguish between the two. Seeing people that did not exist, dead relatives and animals’ are normal. Paintings on the wall are clocks and light switches are insects on the wall.

• Spend as much time with your loved one as possible. By being there you can pick up on small symptoms that need to be communicated to the doctor.

• Bright light is dangerous to a stroke patients eyes. Make sure you have dark glasses at hand. From now on ensure that the patient is always wearing shades. If you look closely you will notice that one eyes retina is larger than the other and the two retinas reacts differently to light. Bright light exposure could lead to blindness.

Day 7 – Mom is reacting well to physiotherapy and can almost sit by herself. After a stroke balance is a major issue.

Day 8 – Mom was transferred to Intercare Hospital at George.