Hallucinations after a stroke

When my mum was around 88/89 she had such a severe headache - crying with pain - when she was staying with us that a locum doctor called for an ambulance. She was in hospital for 2 days and had lots of tests but they could find nothing except that a scan showed a mini stroke that had occurred some years before.

When she was discharged and I stayed with her for a week or so she started seeing all sorts of things - horses looking over the garden fence, glittering cobwebs, etc. etc. - she didn't find it frightening though. She also has macular degeneration and this is known to trigger hallucinations in some people. Whether it was the mysterious headache or MD or a combination of the two that caused the hallucinations I don't know. Anyway, they went away after a few days.

I hope your friend soon recovers and that these upsetting hallucinations go away.

No she didn't, and I have to assume that this is not what your friend has, unless the MRI shows signs of it when the results come through. I was just hoping to get across that hallucinations can be disturbing to those around the person but need not be frightening to the person to whom it is happening. I do hope that your friend gets a clear diagnosis and good treatment.

Oops! Said that twice!

Thank you Luckygirl. Did your mother have a seizure before the hallucinations started?

Thanks Luckygirl, did she have a seizure before the hallucinations began?

My Mum had hallucinations - she had Lewy Body Disease which is a form of dementia, known to cause this. It is a peculiar thing and quite disconcerting to observe, but my mother was not unhappy about it - it did not upset her as what she saw were mainly babies.

Hope your friend recovers well.

Thank you! So good to hear.

DH had a stroke five years ago with no paralysis whatsoever. I had a hard job getting him a referral even though his eyesight was affected.

Once he'd had a scan it became clear it was a stroke and not a TIA. He did suffer some visual disturbances and sometimes still confuses left with right but things have improved with time.

I do hope your friend has some reassuring news and appropriate treatment. It's a worrying time.