What Is The Right Stroke Sleeping Position? - Just Menong

 

A few months ago, one of my uncles complained about his right hand, which often felt numb, especially when driving the car. I remember the symptoms were also experienced by Embah, our beloved grandmother, at the beginning of a stroke. Although Embah has been gone for a long time, I still remember a lot of things about how to treat stroke sufferers. One of them is how the right sleeping position of stroke sufferers should be a special concern, especially if the patient has accompanying diseases such as diabetes mellitus.

What is a stroke?

Stroke is one of the diseases that is very well known by almost everyone, as well as in my family. Embah and his beloved father suffered a stroke at the same time and could not move at all. Medically, stroke occurs because the blood supply to the brain is disrupted due to blockage (ischemic stroke) or rupture of blood vessels (hemorrhagic stroke).

The World Health Organization's (WHO) data says stroke is the second non-communicable disease that can cause death and ranks third as the main cause of the disease that causes disability.

Stroke is most often caused by high blood pressure or hypertension. Another trigger is the presence of heart disease, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and uncontrolled cholesterol.

The most common early stroke symptoms are numbness or tingling in certain parts of the body, especially the feet or hands, and face numbness or decrease due to weakening of the facial and tongue muscles.

He had a stroke at 77. A few months earlier, Embah often complained of numbness in the left hand that spread to the left leg. Blood pressure has indeed begun to increase because of age. And qodarullah, at midnight in the third week of January 2005, Embah had a heart attack and had a stroke two days later while under the supervision of a doctor in the hospital.

The doctor's diagnosis states that there are blood vessels that rupture in the right brain so that the right nerve cells die and cannot produce signals to control the movement of the body's muscles on the left.

Paralysis begins to be seen on the left side of the body. This was realized when the nut was finished bathing him. Because there is no preparation, the Embah clothes that I bring from home are still kebaya and clothes that he used to wear every day. Unlike modern clothes, kebaya fabric requires a pin to hook it to cover it on the front. That's when Embah realized his left hand could not be lifted.

Care for strokes at home

Embah could only be silent in a sleeping position without being able to move hands and feet. Turn to the right or left. In an unstable condition, anxiety became so great that he could not sleep. He also does not want to use diapers, so he does not want to urinate and defecate for days.

He was also not willing to use a pot. Because I was constantly persuaded, he finally wanted it after I promised that I would clean it, not someone else.

Less than 5 days later, Embah was hospitalized. Because in a healthy period he is one of the elderly who are active, this condition makes Embah become more sensitive and often restless. Moreover, in a condition that had not yet recovered properly after a heart attack, the left body of Embah began to experience significant disruption.

As with other stroke sufferers, paralysis on the left side begins to look real. In addition to maintaining efforts to medically treat and do alternative strokes such as acupuncture and reflexology, we also build a support system so that the condition of Embah's liver is maintained well.

Another thing, of course, changes the condition of the house so that it can be adjusted to the needs of Embah, or we who care for and take care of him. The most important part is to change the layout of the Embah room, especially so that the sleeping position of stroke sufferers such as Embah is still comfortable and facilitates treatment.

What should be considered?

Bed and Bed

Beds and mattresses became the things we changed the first time. Originally, Embah was still sleeping in an old-school wooden bed that is commonly used by us in crowds. Because Embah has 30 grandchildren who diligently stay on weekends. And of course we are happy to sleep close together while listening to Embah tell about the time of war before.

Our bed is replaced with a spring bed of size 4 that is not too high so that anyone who waits for Embah can sit comfortably without hanging legs. Because the paralysis occurred on the left, our bed rested against the wall on the left side of Embah and adjusted to the area of the room that was not so large.

Our spring bed is chosen because, in addition to being more cuddly and comfortable on the back than a regular mattress, this type also does not have a side-sectional board in the legs so as to facilitate movement for patients or people who take care of it.

The goal is that Embah’s right hand and foot can still move freely, as when eating. In addition, Embah often automatically rolls to the left, which will certainly be dangerous if the left side is close to the floor. The risk of being toppled and falling will be greater.

This position also makes it easier for us when we have to clean and replace the diapers and bathe with a washcloth or shampoo every day.

But this position has shortcomings because when doing left-sided physiotherapy, either with a therapist or independently, we have to shift the position of Embah slightly away from the wall for more free movement.

Room atmosphere

We also changed the setting of the room to make it more free. In addition to spring beds, wardrobes, and one chair, we took out other furniture that was not needed. We also provide a folding mattress as bedding for anyone who gets a turn to take care of Embah.

This position makes it easier for anyone who sleeps below to be able to look at Embah, who sleeps on the mattress. Although almost every day I am the ruler of the folding mattress, on weekends the children who come to visit can sleep in rows to accompany Embah.

Alhamdulillah, maybe this sign of affection is what helps Embah a lot to be able to survive until the end of his life. Moreover, we also provide TV so that watching the sitcom ‘Bajaj Bajuri', which often makes Embah our regular agenda.

Sleep Position Embah

For stroke sufferers, sleeping position is very important to note because limited physical activity will cause other disorders that are also serious, such as abrasions, blood clots in the legs, or the limb muscles becoming stiff and shrinking.

Every night the Evobs sleep in a supine position with a pillow that supports the head and shoulders comfortably. Because it can't hold his body, the sagging position is inevitable. Finally, we found a trick for Embah to bend his right leg and put his strongest pressure towards the top so that it returned to its original position.

Instinctively, Embah more often turns to face the wall by using his right hand to reach the edge of the mattress so that the body is pulled and straight perpendicular. This means that the left side of Embah will be hit by the right side of Embah that is healthy.

The thing to note is to make sure the position of the arms and palms does not bend in a long position to prevent muscle stiffness. Make sure the palms are open and the fingers are not clenched. Of course, we have to regularly remind you.

What if Embah also occasionally wants to sleep facing the TV that is above the closet? Of course, naturally, Embah could not lift his left side so that he could turn to the right. The trick we learned is that we can help stroke patients change the sleeping position towards the normal side of the body and provide a pillow wedge on the back for a stable position.

Sleeping Position of Stroke Sufferers (Sour).

To watch out for, make sure the lame side of the shoulder limb muscles does not drop and weaken down. Help this position by placing the hand with a straight or half bend at the waist. Give a wedge with a pillow so that the hands do not fall forward or back.

Source: Mary Ann Zapala, The Staywell Company

Because of my observation, the left finger of Embah is like a separation between the shoulder and the hand. Sometimes we remind him to change positions to the left and to the right in turn.

The use of diapers that are already full of urine will make it uncomfortable. This is not a good thing, especially for stroke survivors with diabetes-generated diseases.

Whenever possible, the patient does not need to use diapers. The sleeping position of stroke survivors who are on their backs can cause a rash or abrasions on the back and pelvis.

Reference sleep positions of stroke sufferers from various sources