Speech Getting Worse Since Stroke?

[Alicat58]

My 85 year old dad had a stroke 2 weeks ago which was picked up by my mum when he cold not move his left arm in the morning. He is so allergic to aspirin that one would kill him so it was over 8 hours before he was given anti-coagulants but he had regained much of the use of his arm and his speech was not affected.
When we went to visit him the day after he was delirious, talking nonsense, his face was twisted and his left arm was not moving at all. I was of the opinion that he had a second stroke at some point but as told that as he now had a urine infection (hence the confusion), so they could not confirm this.
He was put on antibiotics, then developed pneumonia. The family was called in for a 'no resuscitation' chat with the doctor, which we agreed to as dad had been through major heart surgery, had a pacemaker and both legs had been amputated due to diabetes and we did not want to prolong his suffering should his heart stop again. My brother flew over from the US and amazingly my dad beat both infections and things were looking up.
He was speaking with difficulty but could string a few words together and was even telling jokes!
For the past two days however we have noticed a deterioration. A doctor spoke to me and mum yesterday and told us that he had indeed had a second stroke and the damage was worse than they had realised making a prognosis difficult. It is his speech though that has suddenly deteriorated. Dad has been struggling to articulate every word as if having to think hard about them and sometimes just gives up after a couple of words. He has progressed to being able to swallow pureed food so that has not been affected.
Is it possible that there could be progressive damage to his brain? Suddenly my mum's husband and our dad has disappeared and being a very strong advocate for 'Dignity in Dying' my dad would hate the fact that we are seeing him like this. He is in no position to make a choice now but can anyone explain this deterioration?

[murraymints]

urine infection and dehydration will make him appear confused....but I agree the prognosis does not look great..I lost my beloved dad quite suddenly to pneumonia after a 5 year fight with cancer/diabetes ...my heart and prayers are with you at this time...xx

[Alicat58]

Thank you and I am sorry for your loss murraymints. My dad has been clear of infection and off antibiotics for 3 days now. His temperature has been normal although BP a bit high. He has been on a saline drip since admission so is not dehydrated.

[murraymints]

sqad may be around in the morning with proper medical opinion...please take care of yourself too...xx

[Alicat58]

Thank you, it is very difficult for me and my mum. My brother has had to go back to work in the US and I have long term mental health problems and am hanging on by my fingernails at the moment. Fortunately I get counselling which along with medication is keeping me almost sane at the moment. xx

[Sqad]

I don't know what you mean by "progressive" damage to the brain as there certainly has been significant damage already. Facial asymmetry,loss of movement of the left arm, superadded infection in the kidneys and lungs, diabetes, coronary artery problems.
I agree with murraymints in her post above, the prognosis is poor.
There is a time for all of us to go and Dad seems to have reached that point.

[Alicat58]

I know the prognosis is poor sqad but I just wondered why there has been a sudden deterioration in his speech after 10 days and now he has no infection. We ars all amazed that he has survived to this age and really it would have been kinder to him and his family if the stroke had killed him. He would not choose to live as the shell he is now.

[Sqad]

I understand, it is difficult to be sure about the cause of the sudden deterioration in speech, but a further stroke is the most likely explanation.

[NoMercy]

My money would be on a TIA.

[campbellking]

Has he been seen by a speech therapist Alicat, if so ask to speak to him/her as they may be able to help you more with this?

[Alicat58]

Thank you for all of your kind answers and suggestions. We are going to try and pin down a doctor today and see if we can get some answers. Last night I as on my own and scared and just trying to get my head round the fact that the dad I have known and loved for 61 years has gone.
I woke up this morning hoping for a call to say he had slipped peacefully away in his sleep. We would not let animals suffer in this way.