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Grandfathers sleeping issues after 2nd stroke

Posted By Nathan (San Dieg, Ca) on 08/21/2011

My grandfather had another stroke last year and is having major issues with sleeping now, which is making his condition even worse. He is on several medications:

Advair 250 1 per day
Alprazolam (Xanax). 5mg per day
Fluticasone (Flonase) 250 mcg 2 sprays per day
Ipratropium Bromide 42 mcg 2 sprays per day
Levothyroxine 25 mcg 1-1. 5 per day
Toprol 25 mg 1 per day
Tricor 48 mg 1 per day
Venlafaxine 150 mg 1 per day

He really needs to sleep, and doctors fail to help him and was wondering if anyone out there may have some insight on what to do or how to help him. I'm not sure if all the medications are causing his problems or if it is because of the stroke, but any help would be great thanks!!

Replied by Ti (Houston, Usa) on 08/21/2011

Hello,

I'm sorry to hear about your grandfather's stroke and suffering. Please look up the internet for 'pranic healing'. You can learn to do it yourself, or find someone to do it for your gandpa. It is highly beneficial for any being. God bless.

Replied by Bess (Calgary, Alberta, Canada) on 08/21/2011

Hi Nathan - I'm so sorry to hear about your grandfather's stroke. He's on quite a few medications. I did a quick look on Google and it seems that they are for asthma/allergies, COPD, high blood pressure, anxiety/depression, thyroid, and high cholesterol. Perhaps if you print a list of all the side effects these medications have, you might find some that relate to his insomnia. Since a doctor would only prescribe yet more toxic drugs to help the poor man sleep, looking for something natural is by far the best.

There is a magnesium product called Natural Calm (found in health food stores) which is very popular and has been around for quite a while. It also has a high absorption rate (extremely important). This should help him get to sleep (most people are deficient in magnesium). He should start with 1 teaspoon daily and work up until he gets a good night's sleep. The only side effect is loose bowels if he takes too much, but then he can just taper down.

Another thing to do is check out Dr. Mercola's Web site. He wrote many articles on strokes - such as Vitamin B3 helping stroke victims, taking fish oil, etc. Here's a link to a search on stroke information:

http://search.mercola.com/search/Pages/results.aspx?k=stroke

He also wrote about getting a good night's sleep - taking melatonin, making sure you sleep in a very dark room, no lights from clocks, radios, TVs, etc.

Here's a link to a search on sleep from Dr. Mercola's site:

http://search.mercola.com/search/Pages/results.aspx?k=sleep

The "Doctor Yourself" Web site (doctoryourself. com) also has wonderful suggestions.

You sound like such a caring grandson. I hope your grandfather recovers. If at all possible, try to get him to see a naturopath or a doctor who specializes in orthomolecular medicine. He needs to have something more substantial than all these drugs to help him. A "natural" doctor can assist with many things to help him in his present state and prevent further strokes - enzymes, minerals, vitamins, gentle exercise, proper diet and hydration, etc.

Good luck to you and your grandfather. Take care, Bess

Replied by Debbie (Melbourne, Australia ) on 08/22/2011

For your grandfather to get to sleep, I would look at transdermal magnesium. If possible make magnesium oil yourself (magnesium chloride flakes mixed with water) and massage into the skin or even bath in it. Even the flakes into a foot bath would get it into the skin.

An excellent website on magnesium is magnesiumforlife.com. Magnesium is necessary for life and we are all deficient in it. It may stop him having another stroke. Lots of info on the website.

Replied by Maria (Gippsland, Australia) on 08/22/2011

Hi Nathan, It's quite a cocktail (nowadays common in older folk) your Grandfather is on. One drug for moderate to severe anxiety or panic attacks but is not recommended to be taken by people who have breathing difficulties, even though your Grandfather is on three drugs for breathing difficulties including asthma and copd. One of which has a little known side effect of emphysema. He is also on another for either deppression or anxiety disorder. One med is for hypothyroidism with quite a list of side effects including osteoporosis. He is also on cholesterol and BP lowering meds. At least two have side effects of sleeplessness. Plus there can be interreactions between them.

Maybe someone needs to go with your Grandfather to his Dr and ask why he is on each of them and ask about interactions, plus take a list of any side effects he is having (eg: sleeplessness). You could also take the list to a pharmacist (including any side effects he may be experiencing) and ask their advice about the interactions.

He could try music to help in getting to sleep. Any type that he likes played very softy. I have found it helps. The longer the cd the better. Even better put at least an hour (or more) of his favorites onto a cd. I find that if the cd contains clapping after a song it does not work as well. I read a report of a study done on music therapy some time ago and they had some good results, so decided to try it.

As he has now had two strokes I would also look at cayenne.

Replied by Wendy K (Saskatoon, Sask. Canada) on 08/22/2012

Hi My husband had a massive stroke on July 25, he is 55 years old. He is paralized on his left side but he can talk. They have him on,

Plavix, 75mg; Atorvastain 40gm; Heparin inj. 5000 units; Perindophril 4mg; Acetaminophen 2 tables every 4 hours for his back pain.

I would like to get him on a vitamin, herb or what ever I can to help him recover. His attention span is minimal and I would just like to help him. I have a message therapis come once a week and also i'm wondering about acupuncher if it helps.

He seems to be getting some feeling back but it's painful for him.

Please help. Sincerely, Wendy

Replied by Reader Of Ec (Los Angeles, Ca) on 08/22/2012

Get him on large amounts of high quality vitamin D. That will help in the healing proccess. Also fish oils, omega 3 6 and 9 will assist normal brain function. Please, these suggestions are most imortant over any herbs.

I am not sure if there may be conttadiction with the medications he is taking and the following herbs so please, reserch is very imprtant.

Ashwagandha

Research has evaluated Ashwagandha's effects on both brain health and cognitive function. The current understanding is that ashwagndha has rejuvenating antioxidant properties, as well as potential to modulate inflammatory pathways, both supporting healthy brain tissue and promoting mental clarity.

Turmeric

A randomized, controlled study published in the journal PLoS ONElooked at the neurogenetic potential of prolonged curcumin use.

Neurogenesis is the process by which neurons are created in the brain, including in the hippocampus (one of the centers of neural learning).

Researchers led by Z. Zhao out of the Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Shanghai, China looked at performance and brain growth in rats after 6 and 12 weeks on a curcumin-fortified diet.

The result?

Curcumin enhanced memory (both spatial and non-spatial), as well as hippocampal cell growth compared to rats in the control group.

Replied by Gavin (Manganui, Northland, New Zealand) on 08/23/2012

Yams have something in them that seem to work well for recent stroke victims. If you google yams and strokes you will get some good information.

Replied by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 08/23/2012

Wendy, I don't know about what to give him, but I do know that the pain that comes along with a recovery from stroke is a VERY GOOD sign that things are getting better. Do NOT make the mistake of stopping a therapy because of this recovery pain.

Replied by Mt (Ottawa, On Canada) on 08/23/2012

Acupuncture done immediately after the stroke can help. If you delay starting it, the recovery may be poor. You should combine acupuncture with a herbal treatment.

Please read about Mistletoe:

http://www.mariatrebenherbs.com/67/90-mistletoe/itemid-0

The paralyzed parts of the body can be massaged with Thyme oil and St. John's Wort oil mixed in cold pressed olive oil (90% olive oil). The affected parts should be also massaged with Yarrow and Shepherd's Purse tincture.

Replied by Lubna (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) on 08/27/2012

Sorry to hear about your husband's condition. I am not a homeopath but I have heard a homeopathic medicine called 'Aconite' can help in a stroke. Please check with a qualified homeo doctor for dosage etc. God bless you and your family.

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