Oh, Della, I just had to jump in here to wish you both well. I haven't had a stroke, but I had two heart attacks at fifty, and a bypass. I don't know how old your husband is, but if he's your contemporary, you're both too young for this.

I have to tell you that rehab did wonders for me, and that, five years out from bypass, I'm working out and doing better than I have for years.

Your husband will develop peripheral circulation to encourage the growth of new blood vessels in the heart, and now it's been shown that the brain generates new synapses to "work around" the stroke damage.

Ya'll have every reason to be hopeful and positive that he will get back to himself, but it does take time.

I can't promise that he will get back to IT, but I'm thrilled that he survived without worse damage. Like me, he got a wake-up call at the point in time where he can make changes that will buy himself many years of productive time. All the best.

Vicki Womack

What a dreadful, almost catastrophic year and a half it's been for your husband and you in so many ways.

I presume he continues to be in the hands of a neurologist, and that he/she has given you time guidelines for recovery for speech and any other affected functions.

I have a fair number of patients who have gone through somewhat similar experiences. Sometimes the recovery is remarkable and complete. On occasions it is incomplete even with rehabilitation.

Time for recovery seems highly variable, and again, be guided by the neurologist.

Thanks for the wishes...he's in bed and I'm sitting up to wind down for the night.

He's lost a lot of muscle, but I really do feel encouraged about his recovery.

We're trying to sort out what he can and can't do. As you said, it takes time, and in three weeks, we'll be seeing the neurologist again. The story I just told here will be what I tell the doctor. His thought process has slowed down.

I'm over the shock, and am now trying to shake off the stress. We both walk our dogs together at least every other day. And, interestingly, little things like that DO make a difference.

His health problems began at age 35, when we discovered his cholesterol was 300! Within months, we had it down to 140, but he had chest pains, which it took persistence for them to diagnose...he had a 90% blockage of his LAD. He had an angioplasty, followed four months later by a collapse of the artery...hence, angioplasty number two but with a stent this time. Five years ago, he had a mild heart attack, resulting in an angioplasty in yet another artery, also with a stent. What can I say? He's a bull-headed, type A kind of guy, nice as can be, but has to be busy every moment. I hope he learns to slow down now, and take care of himself for a change.

Just remember that I ended the post with a joke...that's where we are now in the recovery. Able to laugh and enjoy our day.

Again, thanks for your kind thoughts.

TonyA,

Thanks for asking! Yes, he is under the care of a cardiologist and a neurologist, and neither have released him to work yet. He has taken speech therapy, and occupational therapy, both of which he "graduated."

We are keeping our chins up and laughing as often as we can nowadays; the first 6 to 8 weeks, not so much.

But we are seeing progress, and the fog of worry is lifting.

Now, it's on to the next adventure. He's given me 25 years of them so far! I'm hopeful for more.

Thanks for responding!

Della

Well, ya'll certainly are on a journey. I don't have to know you personally to tell you sincerely, from experience,how sorry I am that this has happened to the two of you.

Thing is--you're right! You might as well laugh...

Bless both your hearts, Della. Having gone through a similar ordeal with my hubby these last four years, my hat is off to you both.

I think the output of words will slowly but surely resume. The thought is inside their head correctly, but it gets lost or jumbled on its way out. Our doctor recommended playing complex video games to help stimulate synapses. Also, crossword puzzles, reg. puzzles, chess, anything that stimulates the brain and causes new synapses to be formed. The results have been amazing. It has been almost a year now since he came out of his vegetative state and he is almost 100% and gainfully employed again. And his terrific sense of humor is returning! I missed that most of all.

My very best to you and your husband. It is a long journey to recovery but the destination is fantastic.

Peace, Jo

Jo, thanks for the words of encouragement.

Actually, he flies airplanes online, and I never really thought of it as therapy before. But you're right, it is, isn't it? I don't know if it's a game or a website, or what, but whenever I check on him, his computer screen has the view one would see out a pilot's window, and you can hear the hum of the engines through the speakers.

He also builds remote control airplanes. So far, he's doing pretty good. I bought him two to build at the end of January, and about a month ago, he began driving to open fields to fly them. The first day he tried, he started the plane's motor, used his right hand to launch it into the air, and then stood and watched the plane crash to the ground. He completely forgot to raise his left hand and use the control box he was clutching! The next day, he hung the control box on a strap around his neck, launched the plane, and immediately grabbed the controls and began to fly it.

He's been attempting to build balsa wood planes, where there are hundreds of tiny pieces to put together, but so far he gets really frustrated with those.

Thanks again for the kind words and thoughts...I do see him slowly returning to his old self. But truth be told, I'm kind of enjoying some of the new aspects of his personality, too.