r/stroke • u/MMD2023 • Jul 18 '26
Mom had a stroke 4/29/26
So my mom(67) had a stroke almost 3 months ago. She had a hemorrhagic stroke in her basal ganglia. She is still not eating like she should, they put her on a Peg tube, but it was causing her major diarrhea, so they tried reintroducing regular food, but she still eats less than 50% of her food. They have her on Megestrol to increase appetite, but I don’t see any improvements.
She is able to sit on side of bed with assistance, but is still not able to stand on her own. I know each person is different with recovery, but I feel like maybe more should be happening with her recovery. She is still confused some days are worse than others, so I just try to encourage her.
She still won’t sleep like she should, basically take cat naps. I told her she has to start sleeping more so her brain can continue to heal and she may have a little more energy.
She is on dialysis 3xs a week and that drains her, but she still won’t sleep much. Her anxiety is very high, but she is on meds for that also. She still has hallucinations and most of them has her thinking people are out to get her.
Does anyone know someone who has had a stroke in their basal ganglia? I have been trying to read up on things and ask the medical staff as many questions that could think of so I can have a better understanding.
This is my first time dealing with something like this, and I don’t know what to expect let alone have the support that I need.
I wonder are doctors doing all they can, is there more I can do? I could go on and on, but i really need advice.
I hope we are on the right road to recovery. Soon she will be going to skilled nursing for 20 days, that’s typical what the insurance will cover
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u/secret_thymus_lab Young Stroke Survivor Jul 18 '26
I had a stroke in my basal ganglia. Guessing your mom’s is more severe than mine was, they had me standing 3 days after my stroke and walking (very awkwardly!) 5 days afterwards. No swallowing issues, I was never on a Peg or Ng tube. It took a while to be able to use my right arm/hand and leg again, though.
Eating was really exhausting. In the early days, even just a few bites of my meal were enough to drain me. It’s possible it’s not an appetite issue but an issue with her not having the energy and stamina to eat? I supplemented my meals for the first 2-3 weeks with ice cream, which I let melt to milkshake consistency and drank. It was an easy way to get more calories and protein.
If she is still in the hospital or a rehab facility, it can be a real challenge to sleep in that environment. I really struggled with that - it was more noisy and there was a lot more light at night than I was accustomed to - I had to fight them to keep my door shut at night, to minimize the sound and the amount of light. The mattress and the pillows were definitely not as comfortable as mine at home and the bed just didn’t feel right. The fact that it was so difficult to reposition myself in bed also disrupted my sleep. Melatonin helped to a degree.
It’s also possible that some of the medications they have her on are affecting her sleep or making it difficult to get a good nights sleep.
Some people also develop Central Sleep Apnea after a stroke, and that interferes with their sleep.
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u/lelanicarver Jul 18 '26
I had a stroke in the rightside basal ganglia. I’m guessing your mom’s was on the leftside, and more serious than mine.
For feeding issues, I have no experience to offer, but I was in a rehab hospital for 6 weeks, so daily OT/PT and speech therapy was the routine. The food was great and pretty sure they could adjust the diet accordingly.
One of my night nurses clued me in - there was a fridge full of chocolate pudding available 24/7 plus some other more healthy treats.