Mom is 92. She had a small stroke last Oct..no permanent dmg done physically. Her left side coratid is completely closed due to plaque, etc. Last week she had 2 TIA s or (strokes) in the same night. Because of her age,no surgical procedures will be done. MRI shows TIA activity. Since then, she has changed quite a bit. She sleeps 20 hrs out of 24. This is not normal for her. Does anyone know if this typical ? I know her little body has been thru alot lately but im not sure if the sleeping is good or bad. So far the Dr's say the "big one" is coming probably sooner than later. Has anyone been thru this?
I'm not sure what I can say to you that would be comforting or helpful. Except, perhaps, that as long as your mother is not in pain and not afraid then you are doing everything right. Let her sleep; only, if she is very immobile, not moving around in the bed or getting up every few hours to transfer or whatever, then do keep a close eye on her pressure areas and, if you're worried, consider asking about a variable pressure air mattress for her.
My mother was a little younger than yours, and her TIAs/small strokes/vascular dementia and finally major strokes (they're really all aspects of the same problem, which is compromised blood supply to the brain) were caused by chronic congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation - slightly different in cause from your mother's condition, but not really different in effect.
If there has been a recent increase in the frequency of observable TIAs then I'm sure your doctors are correct. I'm so sorry, I know the helplessness is incredibly stressful, but there really is nothing to be done except to watch, wait and give your mother comfort and reassurance.
Regular eating (cut, lift, bite, chew, swallow) requires a lot of energy & cognition. But things they can suck on will be easier to do till they are able to eat regularly.
My mom fell and shattered her hip @ her NH (pulling her wheelchair no less LOL) and became bedfast & on hospice. Hospice did order for her a pressurized mattress and staff changed both her & the angle of the bed often. She was on hospice 18 long l…o….n…g months and did not have another TIA till 6 mos before & then the month she died. I do think that the mattress helped in keeping the TIA's at bay, she slept well and didn't have any real pressure sores. Hospice can arrange for all this for her.
btw if mom is a nonagenarian, probability is you will be too…..