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Do Previously Experienced Stroke Patients Have A Persistent Sense Of Brain Fog Leading To Irritation And Abnormalities In Normal Everyday Function?
Question: My father had - i guess - you call a minor stroke 9 months ago. He came through with
double blurred vision / some speech (throat) function ( 3 on 10 damage scale ) and total balance issue with major trouble walking. He has come from barely walking to troubled walking and then to - balance isues without a cane yet wobbly like people inabbreiated walk. balance was damaged / result but was getting better ( 2 to a 5 on 10 normal scale)
He has always complained of "NEW FOG" or not normal feeling or function in brain after stroke.
it has never gone away in last 9 months and he says he can't explain it in words how this "new" fog feels. It bothers - annoys and irritates his daily functioning and says he has hard time just sitting with this state or "Fog".
a) Question -
what could this Fog be .... damage from stroke and functioning? different blood flow in brain ? Eye damage (consequence) and cause of irritation or harder "OFF"
functioning in brain from eye condition? or just byproduct - consequence of damage /// / now like cloudiness ?
b) 2nd question -
i so greatly appreciate help and knowledge. We don't get many answers from his current doctors and we don't know how to get these conditions /symptoms figured out.
Last few days - he has felt his balance - walking get worst ( was walking 5 -10 scale /// which was best since initial stroke) He has felt this "Fog" or non-normal functioning of the brain Double. He looks stressed - confused personally from sit - apprehensive -
AND FEELS SOMETHING HAPPENED or changed. He can still function but his condition "he says" has gone back to like how he was a month after stroke. He had no trouble walking for hour - hour 1/2 in exercise and therapy "on own" BUT struggles or gets dizzier quicker now when walking only or Fog "Greater" when he does walk therapy last few days.
He says he's okay when sitting but he use to be okay with walking exercise but it has changed last few days
Do XXXXXXX XXXXXXX strokes happen ? small vessels burst from change of functioning or
stroke damage? He says something happened in last few days !!
He doesn't laugh or lost cheeriness or whatever some decent feeling he has ...
he's very serious / is struggling a little with what has happened he feels in last few days. He seams in a little distress and is somewhat concerned but yet a person who favors putting or shrugging it it off. Told him - Not good.
Any input / knowledge / wisdom / experience would be greatly appreciated and / or advice to or who to go seek or IS THIS A WARNING or Alarming thing we should take care of immediately with ER ? or any help in diagnosis of latest condition.
His personal doctor is retiring in one month and is not booking or basically 3/4's out the door.
Thank you for your time. Any help or guidance would be humbly appreciated.
I am very concerned and need to know if i should address this with him immediately tomorrow with medical help or Immediately NOW. Strokes are very confusing and I don't understand what can happen as you go along ... conditions seem to be permanet yet a lil better but HAS CHANGE BACKWARDS and is Alarming Me AND MOSTLY HIM.
Thank you. I need to stop there. Thank you for any help.
double blurred vision / some speech (throat) function ( 3 on 10 damage scale ) and total balance issue with major trouble walking. He has come from barely walking to troubled walking and then to - balance isues without a cane yet wobbly like people inabbreiated walk. balance was damaged / result but was getting better ( 2 to a 5 on 10 normal scale)
He has always complained of "NEW FOG" or not normal feeling or function in brain after stroke.
it has never gone away in last 9 months and he says he can't explain it in words how this "new" fog feels. It bothers - annoys and irritates his daily functioning and says he has hard time just sitting with this state or "Fog".
a) Question -
what could this Fog be .... damage from stroke and functioning? different blood flow in brain ? Eye damage (consequence) and cause of irritation or harder "OFF"
functioning in brain from eye condition? or just byproduct - consequence of damage /// / now like cloudiness ?
b) 2nd question -
i so greatly appreciate help and knowledge. We don't get many answers from his current doctors and we don't know how to get these conditions /symptoms figured out.
Last few days - he has felt his balance - walking get worst ( was walking 5 -10 scale /// which was best since initial stroke) He has felt this "Fog" or non-normal functioning of the brain Double. He looks stressed - confused personally from sit - apprehensive -
AND FEELS SOMETHING HAPPENED or changed. He can still function but his condition "he says" has gone back to like how he was a month after stroke. He had no trouble walking for hour - hour 1/2 in exercise and therapy "on own" BUT struggles or gets dizzier quicker now when walking only or Fog "Greater" when he does walk therapy last few days.
He says he's okay when sitting but he use to be okay with walking exercise but it has changed last few days
Do XXXXXXX XXXXXXX strokes happen ? small vessels burst from change of functioning or
stroke damage? He says something happened in last few days !!
He doesn't laugh or lost cheeriness or whatever some decent feeling he has ...
he's very serious / is struggling a little with what has happened he feels in last few days. He seams in a little distress and is somewhat concerned but yet a person who favors putting or shrugging it it off. Told him - Not good.
Any input / knowledge / wisdom / experience would be greatly appreciated and / or advice to or who to go seek or IS THIS A WARNING or Alarming thing we should take care of immediately with ER ? or any help in diagnosis of latest condition.
His personal doctor is retiring in one month and is not booking or basically 3/4's out the door.
Thank you for your time. Any help or guidance would be humbly appreciated.
I am very concerned and need to know if i should address this with him immediately tomorrow with medical help or Immediately NOW. Strokes are very confusing and I don't understand what can happen as you go along ... conditions seem to be permanet yet a lil better but HAS CHANGE BACKWARDS and is Alarming Me AND MOSTLY HIM.
Thank you. I need to stop there. Thank you for any help.
Brief Answer:
Followup CT brain is suggested to check for recurrent brain insult
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
As your father suffered from stroke, so there is a possibility that it resulted in damage to posterior aspect of the brain which controls the visual sense of the body. Its damage can give the feeling of "fog". Problem regarding balance is controlled by "brain stem". If stroke has occluded the blood supply of that particular area then there is quite a possibility that balance problem has been affected as well. From your description, i am assuming that your father's symptoms have increased from last few days. If this is so then followup CT Brain is suggestive to check the brain status and for if again a stroke incident occurred. I can understand that you are quite disturbed due to the current health status of your father but you need to remain strong to look after your father. In cases of damage to specific areas of the brain due to stoke, little help can be achieved by medication. Main focus use to be on physical therapy and symptomatic management. If i were your treating doctor then i would have advised follow-up CT brain and compare its findings with the previous scan to check for if any change is there. Its better to take your father to your nearest hospital and discuss with your treating doctor about follow up scan to rule out any recurrent brain insult.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help.
Wishing him good health !!
Followup CT brain is suggested to check for recurrent brain insult
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
As your father suffered from stroke, so there is a possibility that it resulted in damage to posterior aspect of the brain which controls the visual sense of the body. Its damage can give the feeling of "fog". Problem regarding balance is controlled by "brain stem". If stroke has occluded the blood supply of that particular area then there is quite a possibility that balance problem has been affected as well. From your description, i am assuming that your father's symptoms have increased from last few days. If this is so then followup CT Brain is suggestive to check the brain status and for if again a stroke incident occurred. I can understand that you are quite disturbed due to the current health status of your father but you need to remain strong to look after your father. In cases of damage to specific areas of the brain due to stoke, little help can be achieved by medication. Main focus use to be on physical therapy and symptomatic management. If i were your treating doctor then i would have advised follow-up CT brain and compare its findings with the previous scan to check for if any change is there. Its better to take your father to your nearest hospital and discuss with your treating doctor about follow up scan to rule out any recurrent brain insult.
Hope I have answered your query. If you have any further questions I will be happy to help.
Wishing him good health !!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Dr. Muhammed XXXXXXX .... thank you very much. Does the "fog" sensation from the posterior aspect of the brain ... get better over time. will it remain constant.
He wears corrective glasses for double vision and this fog is the most dominant consequence for every day living. It is constant and hard to live with.
Do the glasses strain this area or is there anything to do that can help alleviate this sensation or consequence ? His balance he has adjusted to and does intense physical therapy to work on. It's the fog he can't get away from. and it dominates
his daily living.
Thank you so much Dr. I am very grateful for your experience and wisdom and help. thank you
He wears corrective glasses for double vision and this fog is the most dominant consequence for every day living. It is constant and hard to live with.
Do the glasses strain this area or is there anything to do that can help alleviate this sensation or consequence ? His balance he has adjusted to and does intense physical therapy to work on. It's the fog he can't get away from. and it dominates
his daily living.
Thank you so much Dr. I am very grateful for your experience and wisdom and help. thank you
Brief Answer:
Condition may improve; eye examination is requested
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
In some cases it does improves with the passage of time. however, i would suggest you to once get his eye sight checked by an ophthalmologist. Usually there is no such deterioration of the vision from glasses on the ischemic brain area. there is a condition known as cataract. in which lens of the eye becomes opacified and also presents as clouding of vision. one of its cause is increased age. so an eye examination would rule it out. in case its cataract then lens replacement will significantly improve condition.
thank you and all the best.
Condition may improve; eye examination is requested
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
In some cases it does improves with the passage of time. however, i would suggest you to once get his eye sight checked by an ophthalmologist. Usually there is no such deterioration of the vision from glasses on the ischemic brain area. there is a condition known as cataract. in which lens of the eye becomes opacified and also presents as clouding of vision. one of its cause is increased age. so an eye examination would rule it out. in case its cataract then lens replacement will significantly improve condition.
thank you and all the best.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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