StrokeSurvivorBlog

Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. These episodes usually last 10 seconds or more and occur repeatedly throughout the night. People with sleep apnea will partially awaken as they struggle to breathe, but in the morning they will not be aware of the disturbances in their [...]

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. [...]

My goal in creating this blog is to encourage stroke survivors along with their family and caregivers in their recovery process. We’ve had many successes along the way, but I feel it would not be fair of me to tell you only of the positive things that have happened and not to share all the struggles we’ve [...]

Monday, Feb. 23, 2009 marked the one-year anniversary of Steve’s stroke. As I look back over the last year I am amazed at all that has happened. There were many successes and victories, challenges and setbacks. Frustration, hopelessness, discouragement and depression are emotions that Steve struggles with, so it is good that we look back [...]

Now that Steve only has therapy twice a week at the CP Aquatic Center, the responsibility lies on me to help him with physical and occupational therapy at home. The therapists at the hospital gave us a therapy program to follow, but it takes a lot of diligence, and it’s very strenuous on my hands. But I [...]

Finally! Steve was fitted with the CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine and mask to relieve the sleep apnea. At first the air pressure was so strong that he couldn’t wear the mask more than 20 minutes. It’s necessary for the pressure to be strong enough to force the oxygen into his blood stream, but [...]

Last night Steve went to St. Vincent’s Sleep Clinic for a Sleep Study to determine if he has sleep apnea. This breathing disorder is caused when the tongue relaxes during sleep, blocking the airway to the lungs. Steve was born with the palate structure for this type of disorder. When he reclines with his head back, his [...]