Anyone have experience with things like diet (sodium limits / day?), rehab exercises, mental exercises, and things to watch for going forward? Also things to look for regarding mental health and determining personality changes as a result of stroke damage vs depression etc.
I work in a combination nursing home/physical therapy/rehab facility. Not in a medical capacity. We get young patients too - these are mostly amputees. We also get people as young as thirties who've had a stroke (my mom had one when she was 26!).
I'd think doctors would have already told you what I'll say, but on the off chance not.....
They're always saying to the stroke patients it's best to "get back on the horse" as soon as possible - like if they're in a wheelchair at first but start regaining the ability to stand, walk with a walker, whatever. A "use it or lose it" thing.
I have also seen some stroke victims end up coming down with dementia as a result - youngest one I saw that happen with was 63 though. Still, he was a large, but very fit man - all mentally jacked up when he first arrived, but after 6 months he had improved a lot, it was though he was going to be discharged at some point. But then suddenly he just started going down mentally. So that might be something to look out for down the road...