Patrick had a Stroke ! Three Weeks in the Hospital

 05 November 2019

Today marked Patrick's almost month-long stay in the UST Hospital due to a Stroke.  I'll try to make it short and focus on things that will help you realize what symptoms he had, what treatments did he undergo and how to move on after being released from the hospital.

I wrote this a long time after everything happened because while everything was happening, I was just in a state of shock and was just focused on being there for him and the kids.  It's hard to think of anything else, actually. But for purposes of chronology, I'll keep the date from when it began.

I hope that some of the information here helps because as I understand it from what his doctors said, there are now plenty of cases of middle-aged males that have strokes.  

We all should stay healthy, watch what we eat, exercise as much as we can because getting sick is not an option.

1st Week - November 05 - November 12

On the 5th of November, we went to De Ocampo Memorial Hospital because we thought it was a simple problem but they said they weren't equipped to handle his case, thus we went directly to UST Hospital.  Here, they diagnosed him as having a stroke which shook me to my core.  I didn't realize it was that serious.  When asked about his complaints or what he was feeling prior to being taken to the hospital, he mentioned the following: headache, loss of appetite, feeling heaviness in his body.  

These things didn't ring any alarm bells and we just thought he had the flu or the beginning of one.  The headaches were present since Friday though and weren't that severe until that morning.  That morning, as we were walking to the car, he definitely showed signs of favoring his left side.  When we got to UST, his left eye veered to the left and that was a sure sign that he was having a stroke.  His BP was pretty high too.  

They also tested his speech.  At that point, there was no evident slurring but when they asked him to say these words - Thanks, Tip Top, Fifty-Fifty, Huckleberry, Mama, Baseball Player, he couldn't enunciate Fifty-Fifty. It was like he couldn't say the middle "F" sound.    

He was also brought to the MRI and other tests were performed, like blood work and X-Ray.

Then it was time to admit him.  They recommended he be put in ICU but that would mean a deposit of P100K and a daily charge of P20K - P40K.  We couldn't afford it.  We opted for a Regular Private Room (he initially had medical coverage) which was considerably more affordable than an ICU.  

During the rest of the week, there were so many tests - MRI, Ultrasound, Blood work, Blood Sugar tests.  We all hardly slept during this time.  On the first night, they even attached a Holter Monitor to record and monitor his heart beats.  I was tasked to record everything that happens during that period for 24 hours.  

November 10, I asked a Nurse Aid to give him a bath.  I didn't really know how so I figured I'd pay them to do it and then I can do it myself.  It may seem frivolous, but to me, it's also important to feel refreshed especially since he's lying down all the time and can't walk to the bathroom himself.

I also bought an egg-crate mattress, diapers and mattress pads.  This was the first time I had to change the diapers of an adult!  He was embarrassed but there's no choice.  During this week, he was given meds that made him pee all the time.  We were going thru diapers so fast.  And at first, the diapers kept on leaking because there was just too much volume, hence the necessity for the underpads.

His doctors recommended an NGT (Nasogastric Tube) but we declined.  They were worried that he might have difficulty eating or swallowing in particular, as the throat muscles might have been affected by the stroke.  At this point, his left arm and left leg had lost their range of motion hence the recommendation.  However, I've observed that he's still able to eat the food that the hospital provided and that he wasn't choking on it, so far. So they didn't push it.  

By the end of the week, we were visited by the Rehabilitation and Therapy doctors who recommended the immediate start of therapy.  They said that the longer we prolong it, the longer it will take to revive his frozen muscles.  So, they performed an initial evaluatiom for both Physical and Occupational Therapy and scheduled him for therapy in the coming weeks.  He would have PT and OT everyday until the Chief Doctor revises the schedule depending on his progress.

2nd Week - November 13 to November 20

    

This week mostly focused on his PT and OT activities.  They were still monitoring his vitals, memory, speech and physical movements throughout the week but the tension and apprehension have somewhat subsided.  

His first PT and OT were done in-room as they tested how strong he is, if he's capable of standing on his own.  So PT was mostly exercises for the arm and leg.  For the arm, they involved opening and closing his fists, rotating them too, raising his arms straight up or as far as he could reach.  Initially, he said he felt that his left arm was so heavy he couldn't it. For his left leg, since it was capable of more movement, although somewhat limited, they asked him to do leg lifts and foot exercises while seated on a wheelchair.  He was also treated with electrotherapy on both left leg and left arm to revive his muscles, restore muscle mass and improve circulation.      

By November 15, he was able to do PT and OT in the Rehab room at the ground floor.  PT was accomplished by getting him to walk.  At first, he was supported from behind and in front and without a cane or walker.  It took a while to get him to walk several meters because it was really one step at a time.  He was also dragging his left foot which made it harder for him to balance.  His left leg was still weak.

 

OT was prescribed to enable him to use his left arm as soon as possible.  Since the arm was like a deadweight, the therapists would assist him in lifting his arm.  At this point, he also wasn't able to fully grip anything too so they were working on that too.  They needed to develop both strength and accuracy of movement to get him back to normal.

Throughout this 2nd week, it was mostly PT and OT and there was remarkable progress with his walking, his balance and his arm movements.  He was really determined to get better.  Oh and the therapists also work on eye coordination exercises for his left eye so that its function will also be restored to normal.  According to Patrick, his view seems broken or cracked because of his left eye. 

There were two slight problems during the week.  First, there was a day when his temperature indicated a slight fever.  The doctors deduced that it was probably due to "dextrose fatigue" and they had to transfer his IV line from his right arm to his left.  So that was resolved.  Then, there was a day when he wasn't able to pee.  Apparently, the prostate also gets affected from a stroke and it became slightly enlarged blocking the urethra, if I remember correctly.  This was relieved by alternating between hot and cold compresses throughout the day.  But a more permanent cure was when they had inserted a catheter, which was so painful according to Patrick.     

While he certainly felt emotional and depressed for the first two weeks and, was in fact, on medication for it, it was progress to see him smiling and being happy in this picture.

 

3rd Week - November 21 to November 27

By this time, we're pretty much tired of the hospital.  We really wanted to go home already.  Patrick was getting stronger, blood tests bore positive results.  But we were still under observation.  The doctors said that it's better to cross all the T's and dot all the I's and be 100% sure rather than speed everything up and then have to come back again much worse than before.

So, Patrick continued with PT and OT.  He had moved on from just walking to climbing the stairs.  They started with wide and deep steps to maneuver.  He could do it one step at a time with support from his therapists.

OT was focused on fine motor skills, the practical skills, like using a fork and spoon, buttoning your shirt, picking up items and moving them.  

 

Since he was able to manage sitting up, we were able to dress him up in normal clothes.  The therapists initially thought we were going home because of it but we told them that it should help the mind shift to normalcy since he's no longer wearing the hospital gown.  Oh and he also felt refreshed because it was the first time he was able to take a bath since his dextrose was also removed!

One highlight of the week was Dana's Convocation Day.  She was an Honor awardee again and was also able to visit us in the hospital.  Here's a picture for posterity.  We were so proud of her because she was left alone at the house all throughout the time we were in the hospital.  Dylan had to stay with me and Patrick because there would be no one in the house with him when Dana went to school.  It was really tough let me tell you.  

By November 26, we were ready to go home and were just awaiting our discharge papers.  We were dealing with paying the bills (don't get me started on how much it was you 'll go bonkers!), getting the necessary documents and scheduling his ongoing Outpatient Therapy sessions.

Finally, November 27 we were able to go home!  We were finally sleeping in our own beds!  We are now on the road to normalcy!

Realistically though, my mind was plagued with financial problems, medicine scheduling, taking care of the kids, cleaning the house. doing all other household chores...Oh and taking care of Patrick - giving him a bath, changing his diapers, making him eat right...

Looking back on it as I write this, I don't know how we got through it.  My Dad and Lynne were such a big help.  They were able to stay with Patrick at the hospital while I got some much needed rest.  Dana was such an angel because she never asked for anything and never once complained about being by herself.  Patrick's friends who dropped by, sent messages of love and supported us financially without asking for anything in return are a godsend.  Our family who gave financial support at a moment's notice - Allan, Stevie and Toni, the Titas of the Paypon clan - we are forever in your debt.

Patrick still had 2 months of therapy after being discharged.  It was because of his therapy that he was able to gain his mobility and  his return to normalcy.  It was difficult and frustrating but in the end, it was rewarding.  He now has to maintain his health and protect his heart to avoid and prevent any recurrence of a stroke.