My 75 yo husband had a slow bleed in the brainstem 3 months ago, it is simillar to a stroke in the brainstem. he is also bedridden, due to a broken hip, it has affected his eyes, speech and memory. he is also very, very disoriented. he has slowly been getting worse. in the last couple of days, he isn't drinking much, and not urinating much. he is still eating good, when i wake him up. if i let him, he would sleep 24 hours a day. he is also very agitated. always fussing w/ the covers, reaching out for imaginary objects, speech is also very slurred. the drs. say nothing can be done. i was just wondering if this is the beginning of the end. still knows who i am, but can hardly say my name. any thoughts would be greatly be appreciated.
I wish he had had home hospice a lot sooner. I wish I had had him with me so that we could talk uninterrupted by the staff at the rehab hospital. I'm a minister, and while we were having a communion service the rehab physician just walked in and interrupted as if our service weren't important. I told him in no uncertain terms what we were doing and that he would have to leave. I had on a ministerial stole which he must have seen. We could have at least had privacy during that most important time. My husband wanted to make his last confession during communion. Hospice gives you privacy.
Blessings to you on this journey.
Blessings to you on this journey.
We do know that it will happen...but when? No one knows for sure.
A brain stem bleed is very serious, and I'm amazed that he is still conscious.
He is only 75 so concern should be for any cardiac events.....shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, slow heart, but not pain.
I wouldn't be concerned about the agitation or the fact that he sleeps so much.
Here's what may happen: Speech will become non-existent and hand gestures will take over. He will definitely know who you are, regardless of his inability to speak well. I hope that he is on Oxygen and receiving medical care 'round the clock. Pls. talk to another doctor.
They will evaluate him and determine if he qualifies for hospice care. I learned that the doctors do the best treating certain symptoms and hospice treats all symptoms and they have so much experience at this.
Better to call them in sooner than later - it doesn't mean your husband is at the end, but appears that comfort measures would help tremendously. Hugs and blessings to you.