Ways To Take Care of a Person After Brain Surgery
Caring for a person after brain surgery can be challenging, but with the right approach, we can ensure that the recovery process goes as smoothly as possible. However, it takes some time to get accustomed to everything.
In that case, the patient’s family needs to hold endurance. It is normal that patients take time to return to normal life. We just need to know the perfect way to cooperate with a certain patient to get normal.
This article is going to tell you how to deal with a person after brain surgery. We have jotted down the most effective ways. So, keep reading till the end.
Care After Brain Surgery: What Is Brain Surgery?
Brain surgery or neurosurgery refers to multiple medical processes that involve the treatment of structural issues in the brain. However, there are various types of brain surgery. It depends on the area of the patient’s brain and their condition. According to Neurologists, brain surgery is one of the most critical medical surgeries. It has been done by highly experienced neurologists.
There are multiple reasons(abnormal blood vessels, an aneurysm, bleeding, blood clots, damage to the protective tissue called the “dura”, epilepsy, abscesses) that can lead a person to go through the process of brain surgery. Now, we should move on to the tips to follow:
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Follow The Doctor’s Instructions
The most important thing you must do is to follow the doctor’s instructions sincerely. Doctors will educate you about the common problems after brain surgery. This includes taking any medications, adhering to dietary restrictions, and attending follow-up appointments.
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According to the doctor, monitoring for signs of complications is very important to take care of patios after brain surgery. It is important to monitor for signs of complications, such as fever, headaches, or changes in mental status. If any of these occur, contact the doctor immediately.
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Get Knowledge More About Brain Surgery
Being a family member of a brain surgery patient, you should have basic knowledge about brain surgery. It will help you to understand relatable factors about a certain person after brain surgery.
It has been seen that those who have knowledge about this matter can easily avoid certain mistakes. In that case, you can consult with your neurologists and consult the patient’s behavior.
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Hold Patients With Emotional Difficulties
Brain and emotions are connected. Therefore, brain surgery can lead to certain emotional changes. Don’t panic when your loved one shows unnatural behavior. For example, a person might suffer mood swings. Sometimes, they may scream for no reason, stay patient, and don’t react. They may show a lack of empathy.
In that case, you need to show more emotions and always try to get in touch with a person after brain surgery. They might be irritating sometime but you must keep in mind that they have recently gone through brain surgery. They may be confused or exhausted. They might just need some ‘me time’. Allow them to fix up everything.
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Help With Daily Activities
Depending on the type of surgery, your loved one may need assistance with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, or grooming. Be prepared to help with these tasks as needed.
In that case, you need to support the Recovery time after brain surgery, a person needs time and attention. They may feel helpless after brain surgery. As a family member, you need to spend as much time as possible.
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Plus, it will be better if you discuss positive things like vacation plans or something family related. After brain surgery, patients may consider themselves extra for family. They feel down. In that case, motivation plays the greatest role to recover the person after brain surgery.
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Ensure Rest And Relaxation
Your loved one will need plenty of rest and relaxation to aid in their recovery. Encourage them to take naps and limit visitors if necessary.
When you take the responsibility to recover the person after brain surgery, you have to ensure that the person takes the proper rest. According to doctors, proper medicine, food, and care can heal the brain surgery patient.
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Provide Emotional Support
Brain surgery can be a traumatic experience, and your loved one may need emotional support during their recovery. Be patient and understanding, and offer a listening ear if they need to talk.
After brain surgery complications, the person becomes more sensitive physically and mentally. You need to be their mental support.
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Encourage Physical Therapy
Depending on the type of surgery, physical therapy may be necessary to help your loved one regain strength and mobility. Encourage them to attend therapy sessions and participate in exercises as directed by the therapist.
If possible, you can learn the therapy process from the therapist. Maybe a patient does not like to take therapy from an unknown person, it will be good if you can manage these things. As we told you, after brain surgery, patients become more sensitive.
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Understand Communication Barriers
Communication is the most effective way to get a person back into a new normal life. It has been seen in many cases, dysarthria happens after brain injury. Depending on the severity level of dysarthria, traumatic brain injury patients may face difficulties in finding words, and understanding what people are saying.
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It simply means that the patient loses their ability to understand language. In that case, hold your patience and remember not to shout. Contact speech therapy to handle this situation.
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Stay Organized
Keeping track of medications, appointments, and other important details can be overwhelming. Consider using a calendar or planner to stay organized and ensure that nothing is missed.
If you make any mistake, it will be difficult to handle a person after brain surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
However, you may have a few relatable questions. In this part, we will cover the most frequent questions that you should go through once.
Q1. Can A Person Live A Normal Life After Brain Surgery?
Yes, of course. Yet, it takes time to recover. Proper care, medicine, and diet can help a person live a normal life after brain surgery.
Q2. What Helps Brain Recovery?
- Take rest during the day, and maintain sleeping time at night.
- Increase your activity slowly.
- Avoid alcohol, drugs, and caffeine.
- Eat brain-healthy foods.
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
Q3. How Long Is Brain Surgery Recovery?
It depends on the patient. As we said, there are different types of brain surgery, recovery time vary on it. However, it takes several weeks or months after brain surgery.
Give Time To A Person After Brain Surgery
Remember that every person’s recovery process is unique, and it is important to be flexible and adapt to changing needs as necessary. With patience and support, you can help your loved one through this challenging time.
Hopefully, this article will help you out. Stay tuned with us to get more knowledge about health-relatable facts. Contact ILS hospitals for experienced doctor’s treatment and the best affordable modern health care services.
Spot a Stroke – 3 Things to Do and Not to Do
A stroke is also referred to as a “brain attack” and every moment is important during these medical situations. You need to act accordingly in order to save someone’s life who is getting a stroke. Usually, the oxygen and blood supply get cut off from the brain, which disrupts the function. Stroke can occur due to a blockage or a clot, or a bursting of a blood vessel. If the stroke is left untold and untreated, then the brain cells die, which leads to a life-threatening situation for the patient. There are various treatments that are advised and recommended to save the person during this critical moment. However, it is also very much essential to take the person to the hospital on time. You can also consult with the best neurologist in Kolkata.
So, let’s get to know how you can help a friend, family member or any acquaintance who is suffering from a stroke.
What are the types of stroke?
Strokes can happen without any warning, and the most affected part is the brain, which can put a halt to the functioning of other organs or any fatal incident.
Strokes are usually of two types:
- Hemorrhagic stroke: Here the blood vessel gets ruptured, which usually leads to brain bleeding.
- Ischemic stroke: This is caused due to a clot, and the blood vessel which carries blood to the brain gets blocked.
Both these types require equal attention and immediate action.
What are the ways to detect a Stroke?
If you do not know about the symptoms of stroke, then a FAST test from National Stroke Association can help you to recognise and act fast. You can also seek help from the best neurologist in Kolkata.
- F- Face: You need to observe the patient and ask them to smile. If one side is looking drooling, then it is a symptom of stroke.
- A- Arm: Ask the patient to raise both arms together. If one arm drifts downwards automatically, it is a clear sign of stroke.
- S- Speech: Try to talk to the person and ask them to reply. If they are unable to process your question or unable to say anything or make a strange sound, then this is a stroke.
- T- Time: If you observe all these symptoms, you must immediately call for help without waiting a second.
Do’s – When a person is suffering from stroke
If a person is suffering from a stroke then –
Call for help or request an ambulance
Immediately call the helpline number and inform them about the situation. Try to note down the time as soon as you see the symptoms. It is said that to reverse the symptoms of the developing threat, the treatment must start within 4.5 hours of the onset of the symptoms. Advanced therapies and surgeries can be the way out to ease the pressure that is building up in the blood vessels and brain.
Perform a CPR
If necessary, you must perform CPR. However, most patients do not need this. If you see that the person has become unconscious, check the breathing rate, whether it is quite abnormal, and then start CPR before the ambulance reaches the location. If you do not know about CPR, you must perform a repeated and steady chest compression.
Don’t allow the patient to sleep
If the patient is already a stroke survivor, then during the second stroke they might feel sleepy. Do not let the person go to sleep or lie down, talk to them continuously and keep them engaged until the ambulance reaches the location. The patient may feel tired even during the first stroke, but remember that if the person is allowed to sleep, then it can decrease the survival rate. At first, reach out to the primary doctor or the one where the patient usually goes for follow-up. Then, act according to the advice given.
Don’t’s – When a person is suffering from stroke
There are certain restrictions that must be maintained if a person is suffering from a stroke, such as-
Do not give any food or drink
The patient should not be given any kind of food or drink without consulting with the doctors. Stroke can also affect the ability to swallow, and so it can lead to choking or breathing problems. Along with that, it can also lead to chances of development of infections.
Do not give any over-the-counter medicines
You should avoid aspirin, the most recommended over-the-counter medicine to reduce pain. But, remember, the pain caused during stroke is either due to blood clots or vessels bursting. Aspirin acts as a blood thinner which increases the chances of damage. Mostly 80% of the strokes are ischemic, and 20% are hemorrhagic strokes, so without a CT scan, medicine should not be referred.
Never drive the patient to the hospital
Never drive a stroke victim to the hospital. If you find that somebody is severely affected by a stroke, then it is better to call an ambulance or inform the primary doctor. Ambulances have all the essential life-saving treatment facilities to respond to emergencies. So, by the time you drive the patient to the hospital, it might be too late for medications and treatment. Also, you must get information about the hospital and whether it has facilities to treat stroke.
What are the symptoms of stroke?
Strokes can be frightening, and you must always be prepared. It’s all about staying focused and taking immediate action. So, you need to inform the ambulance as quickly as possible to initiate the treatment.
Every minute counts when a person is suffering from a stroke. If it is left untreated, then it can lead to permanent damage to the brain. So, once you recognise any symptoms, take the patient immediately to the hospital and get an appointment with the best neurologist in Kolkata.
There are various of symptoms, such as –
- A drool on one side of the face.
- Difficulty lifting one hand to the full height or using only one hand.
- Difficult to move one leg or drag the leg while walking.
- Slurred speech, difficulty talking, thinking or taking any action.
- Poor vision or unable to see anything clearly.
- Dizziness, vertigo, imbalance in walking difficulty.
In certain cases, even severe headaches are also noticed, along with severe pain that flows from the right side of your neck. However, headache cannot be taken to be the potential sign of stroke because in most cases strokes are not accompanied by any kind of pain.
Conclusion
You might also notice that in certain situations, within a few minutes, the pain vanishes, but that does not mean you are going to postpone visiting the doctor. These are usually called mini-strokes. These should also be taken seriously as they are signs of severe underlying conditions that can lead to stroke in the future. If you are unable to distinguish whether it was a symptom of stroke, get the situation evaluated by a specialist at ILS Hospitals.
Why Would You See A Neurologist?
A neurologist is a medical expert who specializes in diagnosing and treating issues related to the brain, muscles, nerves, and spinal cord. Suppose you are experiencing symptoms related to the same that started appearing suddenly and are now causing a debilitating impact on your daily schedule. In that case, it’s the right time to visit the best neurologist in Kolkata.
Several symptoms can be tell-tale signs that you need a consultation with a neurologist for further testing and examination. Some of these symptoms might seem benign and common, but if they turn severe and are persistent, we would advise scheduling a visit with a neurologist as soon as possible.
1 – Headache
This is a common symptom but is aso highly ignored by most people. We all suffer from headaches; that’s common, but what gets concerning is when your headaches become so severe that you can’t function normally anymore.
Suppose you deal with headaches more than four times a month and pop over-the-counter medicines frequently to deal with these headaches. Also, if your headaches are fatiguing, you are dealing with migraines, or come with other neurological symptoms like nausea, dizziness, or a vision change, you need to schedule an appointment with a neurologist.
2 – Dizziness
If you have been experiencing vertigo or dizziness for more than a couple of days, you should get examined by a neurologist. You can experience dizziness due to several factors, such as high blood pressure, anxiety, stress, and imbalance in the inner ear. The best neurologist in Kolkata will perform a few neurological tests to make a correct diagnosis.
3 – Unexplained Seizures
Having a seizure is usually more subtle than what people think it to be, dropping on the ground and convulsing violently. Seizure symptoms can vary, but having any seizure is a concerning issue and must be examined immediately by a neurologist.
Some of the seizure symptoms include daydreaming spells where a person stops responding, shaking the body, disorientation, loss of bladder control, and stiffening of the body. A neurologist can examine you and diagnose whether the seizure is due to epilepsy or some other problems such as meningitis, stroke, or kidney failure. An untreated seizure can be harmful, leading to severe brain damage.
4 – Loss Of Sensation Or Weakness Of Muscles
Numbness or loss of sensation in any part of the body is usually harmless if it’s short-term. However, if they occur suddenly and persistently, you need to get the same examined by a neurologist. If you lose the sensation of touch, change in temperature, vibration or pain, a consultation with your doctor immediately is recommended.
Similarly, experiencing weakness of muscles after a hard workout or a physical activity is common and not harmful. But if you experience it for no reason or frequently, it’s a worrisome situation.
A neurologist will check several factors such as the strength of your handgrip, history of numbness in your family, how long you have been experiencing the symptoms, whether you are facing foot drop, is there lingering numbness/ weakness after an injury before he makes a diagnosis.
Conclusion
If you have been facing any of the above symptoms, it’s highly advised that you schedule a visit at https://www.ilshospitals.com/ with the best neurologist in Kolkata immediately. He will help identify the cause of the symptoms and make a treatment plan for you that can benefit you immensely.