StrokeSurvivorBlog

With the difficulty Steve has breathing when he is lying down sleeping, we have decided to purchase a lift chair. I was at our local home medical supply store recently and tried out several of their models. Not only do they lift to elevate a person to a standing position, but there are models that have infinite positioning. They are controlled [...]

The doctor gave us a prescription for thigh high compression stockings to help keep the swelling down in Steve’s legs, feet and ankles. The edema is a result of an overload of fluid from the congestive heart failure.  If I press with my thumb on the calf of his leg, it feels soft and squishy leaving a white imprint that [...]

Stroke survivors deal with frustration on a daily basis. Their body won’t work like they want it too, so they may take out their frustration on others, especially their caregivers. As Steve’s full-time caregiver, I am witness to much of his frustration and I feel helpless to help him. This can add to my frustration [...]

Today Steve had an echocardiogram which his new doctor (an internist) ordered. He thought the shortness of breath was not due to collapsed lungs, but to congestive heart failure with fluid filling his lungs. The echo confirmed that diagnosis, and it also showed that one heart valve is not working which is causing the swelling [...]

Last Wednesday I took Steve to the emergency room at the urging of his primary care physician who thought he had a blood clot in his leg. Steve presented with swelling in his right leg and severe shortness of breath. An ultrasound of the leg showed that blood was flowing and there was no clot. [...]