Brief Answer:
Provide investigations and other clinical details

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Difficulty in swallowing is present in initial stage of stroke due to involvement of facial muscles. The problem improves with time and patient has to be kept on Ryle's tube feeding initially.
You need to provide details of report and MRI/CT. The location of stroke is also related to clinical manifestations,. In brainstem stroke , dysphagia is prominent problem and may take more time to recover.
The present condition with cough and throat problem may be due to upper respiratory or lower respiratory infection. Another possibility may be aspiration pneumonia due to inappropriate feeding leading to aspiration.
You can provide all your father's reports, imaging and prescription for current medications.
For investigations you can get an Xray chest and blood counts done.
You can also visit a physician/neurologist who can examine him clinically and advice medications.
In such a situation , I prefer in my patients, paracetamol for fever , antibiotics for infection and cough suppressants.
Hope you found the answer helpful.
Do get back to me with reports.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist

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Brief Answer:
conyinue medications for stroke, get X-ray chest for breathlessness

Detailed Answer:
Hello xxxx,
Breathing difficulty, cough and throat irritation may or may not be related to stroke.

In your father's case if there was no persistent swallowing problem and he was asymptomatic in between then possibility of chest infection needs to be ruled out. A chest examination by a physician or a chest physician is necessary. Xray chest is required to look for any pneumonia or pleural effusion.
The duration of antibiotics depends upon the condition. The type of antibiotics depends upon culture sensitivity report of sputum.

Besides the infection, heavy breathing or snoring may be associated to tongue fall if it occurs in night only.

In this context since the possibilities varies, it would be worthwhile to get in touch with his treating physician. He/she can consider the necessary investigations as suggested above. We can be then be able to manage his condition. Management may include antibiotics, nebulisation or inhalers depending upon the condition.
Blood count is only to look for evidence of infection and is raised in pneumonia too.

There is a feature to upload reports and pictures on this page. You can use it to upload scanned images of the report. Alternatively you can mail to YYYY@YYYY with subject as "Attn: Dr. Neeraj Kumar".

Further I would like to know if there any history of yellow or green sputum, blood in sputum, any whistling sound , previous history of smoking, breathlessness?
Any cardiac illness?
Diabetes?
You have to continue drugs for stroke.

Dr N Kumar
Neurologist

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Brief Answer:
Continue treatment of stroke and get an xray chest and physician opinion

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Mri report is suggestive of ischaemic stroke most probably embolic. There is narrowing of right carotid and left vertebral with evidence of atherosclerosis. This may have caused stroke.
Possibility of recurrence is there.
Is there any deterioration in neurological status like increased weakness, new weakness, difficulty in swallowing, speaking?
You can check tongue fall in mouth by changing the sleep posture to left lateral position instead of lying on back.
Some person have history of snoring and have such heavy breathing during sleep.
It will be better if you make a video and consult a physician or neurologist.
Physical examination is necessary to rule out any serious issues and minimum xray chest should be done.
Regards
Dr N Kumar
Neurologist

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