Hemorrhagic pontine stroke

Posted by eva13 @eva13, Jul 21, 2021

My husband has been intubated since 7/10/21, he developed aspiration PNA. We’re hoping to put a trache in but he still has a fever. Any thoughts? How can I get a second opinion? He’s only 37

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Hello @eva13 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. We’re a community of members who use our experiences to help others cope, to offer encouragement and to help find answers. We’re not medical professionals and can’t offer diagnosis or treatment.

I’m so sorry for what you and your husband are going through! The frustration and anxiety have to be taking a toll on you. Is your husband doing ok with the stroke? Is he stabilized other than the pneumonia?
Is the pneumonia responding at all to antibiotics? If there is no decrease in the disease, often a culture is taken on the fluid to test for the type of bacteria so it can be treated with specific antibiotics. His care team is trying to avoid further complications and infection by placing a trache tube in if he has a fever.

Seeking a second opinion while he’s in the hospital can be a challenge with not being able to be moved. But you are always entitled to a second opinion for healthcare!
Are you concerned his current doctors aren’t responding as they should in trying to treat your husband?

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@loribmt No, I think he’s getting great care. He’s in a Neuro ICU. A friend thought it would be a good idea to get a second opinion because it worked for her brother when he had cancer. It’s a little different when you’re in the ICU though, he can’t be transferred. I think we all feel helpless so we’re just trying to think of ways to help. They did a culture and he is all done with his antibiotics. He was still running a fever but it finally broke a day ago. He’s having a trache put in today so that’s some good news. He’s alert and understands everything so he’ll be more comfortable with the trache.

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@eva13

@loribmt No, I think he’s getting great care. He’s in a Neuro ICU. A friend thought it would be a good idea to get a second opinion because it worked for her brother when he had cancer. It’s a little different when you’re in the ICU though, he can’t be transferred. I think we all feel helpless so we’re just trying to think of ways to help. They did a culture and he is all done with his antibiotics. He was still running a fever but it finally broke a day ago. He’s having a trache put in today so that’s some good news. He’s alert and understands everything so he’ll be more comfortable with the trache.

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Oh, that’s wonderful news that your husband’s fever broke and he can get trache tube! I completely understand the helplessness and frustration when you feel dealing with medical conditions. We all want immediate results and unfortunately our bodies don’t work that way. But it really sounds like he’s getting great care and things are now starting to move in the right direction! This has to be a relief for all of you!!

Is he having any side effects from his stroke?

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@loribmt Yes, he is paralyzed on the right side. Hopefully with time and rehab he will regain some movement. He got his trache today, everything went well 😊

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Hello @eva13. I'd like to also extend a warm welcome, along with @loribmt who I can see has been sharing information with you for the past few days.

The following information may be helpful:

Reference info: aspiration PNA -"Treatment of aspiration pneumonia requires antibiotics. Many antibiotics, including clindamycin, amoxicillin/clavulanate, ampicillin/sulbactam, and imipenem, can be used. For people who have conditions that increase their risk of aspiration, doctors may stop or reduce the dosage of drugs that cause sedation."
- Aspiration Pneumonia and Chemical Pneumonitis:https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/lung-and-airway-disorders/pneumonia/aspiration-pneumonia-and-chemical-pneumonitis

- Good Outcome in a Patient with Massive Pontine Hemorrhage: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6703036/

You shared that your husband's fever broke and he got his trache two days ago. How is he doing today?

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Hi, I just received the report of my Brain CT Scan: Small vessel ischemic white matter and diffuse cerebral volume loss.

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What to do so that it does not turn to stroke or alzheimer's?

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@nsainato

Hi, I just received the report of my Brain CT Scan: Small vessel ischemic white matter and diffuse cerebral volume loss.

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Hello @nsainato, anytime we get results from a medical scan or blood tests that we don’t understand it can be alarming. I’ve had several MRIs over the past year and was told some of the changes in white matter are normal and expected as we age.
The best answers would come from your neurologist or physician, whomever ordered the MRI.

May I ask what led your physician to schedule an MRI for you? Were you having symptoms such as headaches, dizziness or vision issues?

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@eva13

@loribmt Yes, he is paralyzed on the right side. Hopefully with time and rehab he will regain some movement. He got his trache today, everything went well 😊

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Hi! Just popping in to see how your husband is doing. I’m hoping all is going well since his trache removal and that he’s recovered from the pneumonia. That was a big setback but from last report he was really making progress.
Has he started doing his rehab yet?

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@loribmt

Hello @nsainato, anytime we get results from a medical scan or blood tests that we don’t understand it can be alarming. I’ve had several MRIs over the past year and was told some of the changes in white matter are normal and expected as we age.
The best answers would come from your neurologist or physician, whomever ordered the MRI.

May I ask what led your physician to schedule an MRI for you? Were you having symptoms such as headaches, dizziness or vision issues?

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Thanks for responding, I try to eat healthy and exercise, all my test were normal. I had two episodes of getting up from bed and not being able to walk to restroom, which I ignored, but then I had sharp pain going from my sinuses to my temple. Thinking back I had some vision issues which I ignored. According to my physician (over the phone message) if I have any more issues to contact her. I assume it is an aging issue but I was expecting for her to say lets check and see about your Blood Pressure or do this or that to your diet so that it does not get much worser. Nothing.

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