Hi everyone -

My father in law who is HD positive and definitely mid stage, had an episode on Friday that I can only explain as a stroke. Prior to this, he was able to care for himself, get around, etc. His issues were mild chorea in his hands and feet, slow comprehension during discussion, unsteady gait, apathy, anger outbursts and sometimes paranoia. From what I understand, he was running the vacuum in the house (which he does do) and all the sudden stopped, was unsteady and my mother in law helped him sit down. She noticed his mouth and eye drooping and he couldn't lift his arms. She called us and we told her to call 911. He was very agitated that 911 was called and gave them a heck of a time getting him restrained and to the hosptial. Once there, they had to restrain him and eventually give him a high enough dose of Ativan to knock him out... The ICU doctor told us that becuase of his huntington's disease, they were concerned of Quality of life and asked if we wanted to run a bunch of tests. They told us that if they found a blockage in the carotid, they were concerned that if they addressed it, he would be worse off. They told us that he had a mini stroke and they were treating it as that, but couldn't confirm 100% unless they ran an MRI.

My mother in law spoke to another doctor who now is saying that maybe he didn't have a stroke, but it is the complications of huntingtons. She is believing this and we just don't.... I know things can happen fast with HD, but can you go from running the sweeper one minute to a droopy face, eye and mouth and not able to walk or talk in a few minutes with HD?

My husband saw him last night and said that the drugs are now out of her system and he still can't communicate/talk and although they haven't gotten him out of bed, he didn't look like he could move any of his limbs on his right side.

Another issue is that my mother in law insists on keeping him at this hospital (which doesn't have the best reputation) because its closer to home. We have tried to convince her to take him to the Cleveland Clinic where his HD doctors are, but she doesn't want to budge. Now with this diagnosis... I'm really wondering if he needs to be somewhere else.

Sorry if I'm rambling... its been a stressful affair and I'm just looking for some direction/answers anything on this... Thanks!

My husband did something like this once. He just froze and couldn't move however he didn't have the droopy face or stroke symptoms.
At the time he was seeing a movement disorder specialist at University Hospitals of Cleveland. His Neuro said Parkinsons patients often have this issue where they freeze. It doesnt last long and doesn't leave any real 'symptoms' behind.
He thought that, although unusual, maybe it was an episode like that. Since it didn't happen in front of the Dr. and it only happened once they let it go.
I would have to agree with you. This seems more like a stroke.
I have noticed with my husband that when he catches a cold or a bug it takes him a long long time to recover. Maybe thats why they are not agressively treating for a stroke?

My husband (at 45) took a pretty quick turn for the worse. Even after a drastic medication change he didn't improve enough that he was safe to bring home again. He's been in a nursing home for over a year now. As hard as it is, I know he's getting the care he needs.

This certianly sounds like a drastic turn in the road either way.

Chris

Hi, So glad you posted this but not glad you went thru this. My HD husband also went thru some of this. We thought the first episode was due to his heart valve problem. He passed out, fell, and hit his head, or vise versa (no one saw what actually happened first) and laid on the floor, turning gray for a few minutes before coming around. A year or more after his heart surgery he again had an episode, but his time he suddenly just fell onto a bed. I thought it was a stroke because he had the lopsided smile, couldn't repeat a sentence, say my name, and his arm was totally useless. He continued to deteriorate before an ambulance got there. By the time we arrived at the hospital, he was unable to do anything but breathe. The dr. said he had 3 seizures in the ER. It took him 3 days before he could say my name, was totally incontinent for about a month, unable to walk for a week. A long recuperation before we could return home (we were in another country). He did regain everything, but no memory of what happened and his memory took a dive with that episode. Since then he has seen 4 neuros (at Mayo) and had every kind of test run and rerun. No sign of a stroke, but he has a brain abnormality so they said it might not show. They gave no firm diagnosis or prognosis, so we lived in fear for quite awhile. Other doctors said it was just a seizure....Didn't look like that to me-- other than when he was near death in hospital. He has had two more episodes of passing out, where he comes around within a 5 minute period. The dr. told me to just wait them out unless they don't abate--like you would for a seizure. Not taking any meds for epilepsy and he has not has a seizure in over a year now. The most cited diagnosis is epilepsy.
May be that HD degeneration affects the brain in ways that look like epilepsy too???? Best of luck to you both.

My sis also went through a period where she would freeze up, jaw locking arms and fingers locking, convulsing, and falling unable to breathe fully. She would have many episodes a week, sometimes more than one in a day. Many trips to the hosiptal before it just became normal. Doctors said it was a panic attack and told her to learn how to relax! At this point her HD symptoms were just beginning to be evident to the doctors. I have seen people with seizures and my sis looked like she was having seizures. Don't see how it could be a panic attacks.... Now her typical HD symptoms are prominent, but she hasn't had an epsiode in a year. I'm glad, they are very scary and everytime I was afraid she would just quit breathing.

It sounds like yours are more serious with lasting affects... I hope youget some answers

Thank you for your input. I know that HD affects each person individually... but one thing that is in common is that IT STINKS.

My husband talked to the nurses today and they did confirm that something happened and it was probably a stroke, but because we are not doing the tests to determine the cause... they can't confirm for sure. So they are treating the symptoms.

They are moving my father in law to a rehab facility to help him. I guess only time will tell what happens next.

the Wife recently experiance something similair. A MRI showed subdural hematoma. the Nerosurgeon stated that due to atrophey of the brain, it became very suceptable to tearing supporting blood vessels. after a few months, she was getting better but took a turn tonight.

Sure sounds like a stroke. I'm with you on changing hospitals from what you told us. Sorry this is happening.

For some time now I experience what seems like slit second moments were I freeze, go blank, feel almost like my body quit functioning for a split second. Don't know what it is. I wondered if it could be a seizure of some sort.

Mike

My husband also went through a similar experience. His problem ended up being a side effect from risperidone! He couldn't move or speak. We also thought that he had a stroke. Once it was out of his system he did improve.

My sister that had a similar experience. With some help, we were able to find out it was panic attacks. She was having problems at work and was worried about lossing her job.

Thanks again to everyone for your responses/experiences. Just an update on the situation... it was indeed a stroke that my father in law suffered. He was in the hospital for about 6 days and then moved to a acute rehabilitation center where he has been for the past 2 weeks. He is doing better, but did suffer a lot from this stroke. His speech is still heavily affected, he cannot walk on his own and is on a pureed diet. As I said its been 2 weeks so I'm not sure how much better he will get at this point. Although he has HD, prior to this stroke he was pretty independent. I guess only time will tell how things will be.