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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Can Patient Have Any Indication About Oncoming Stroke Attack?

My Mom was in the hospital for a blood condition. On 10/7/14, she had a massive stroke to the brainstem. They called us and we got to the hospital and she was in the middle of her stroke. She was trying to talk but couldn t. She was frustrated and scared and mad and it was the most horrifying thing I have ever seen. She kept pointing to her right arm which was paralyzed and grabbing her right cheek which was paralyzed. She couldn t speak, the words couldn t come out. It was so sad. We were asked to leave because she was too hysterical. We went to the waiting room and they came back and got us and told us she was declining. She fell into a coma and they said she would never wake up. She was there four days and was evaluated by 3 top neurologists who also said she would never wake up. Due to her already compromised and suffering body, we chose to bring her home and help her transition into her next journey of life, peacefully. She died on Monday 10/13/14. My question to you is... do you think she knew she was having a stroke?, in the beginning when she was trying to talk? I would like to know if she knew what was going on? Thank you.
Mon, 1 Dec 2014
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Neurologist 's  Response
I read your question and I am sorry about your mother passing away.
Regarding the question, sometimes stroke patients can not be aware of their paralysis, but the fact that she pointed to her arm means that she was aware about not being able to move her right limbs. Whether she understood the origin of that and what a stroke is that I can't say since that depends upon her prior knowledge on the disease.
Afterwards though as you say she fell in a coma, which is often the case for brain stem stroke and she hasn't been aware of her surrounding anymore, hasn't been under pain or suffering. Hope that is a of some comfort for you to know.
I wish you good health. Feel free to come and ask further questions.
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Can Patient Have Any Indication About Oncoming Stroke Attack?

I read your question and I am sorry about your mother passing away. Regarding the question, sometimes stroke patients can not be aware of their paralysis, but the fact that she pointed to her arm means that she was aware about not being able to move her right limbs. Whether she understood the origin of that and what a stroke is that I can t say since that depends upon her prior knowledge on the disease. Afterwards though as you say she fell in a coma, which is often the case for brain stem stroke and she hasn t been aware of her surrounding anymore, hasn t been under pain or suffering. Hope that is a of some comfort for you to know. I wish you good health. Feel free to come and ask further questions.