Hi, me again, thank you for welcoming me even though its unfortunate that we are on here. I hope you are all keeping as well as you can be and are able to enjoy the sun we have today! As stated before my husband had a small stroke at the end of June and since then has suffered 8 " tias " or " after stroke " seizures. He seems tired as I would expect but at the moment his eating and drinking is absolutely awful. He has no interest in really anything but I know he needs to eat and drink to help with the repair process. Any advice gratefully received. Also, because of his potential for having these after stroke " dos " I havent been to work or out the house without him. They only last about 3 mins and thats it. I need to be able to get back to work and basically get out of the house without too much fear of what might happen to my husband. He is hopefully having a carelink alarm tomorrow, once again, any ideas gratefully received. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Take care all of you.
Shwmae @janesmith87, I must disclose that in my opinion there is no such thing as a small stroke, each stroke will affect the individual depending on where the damage is as opposed to the size of the damage. I mention this only because each stroke survivor will suffer according to the result of the stroke as opposed to the scale of damage. That aside, eating, I dropped from nine stone to about seven stone, during my worst phase of appetite loss. I found it useful to graze, eating fruit and nuts throughout the day. One mealtime, all I fancied was a bowl of ice cream. I could cope with soup and salads. I think my body craved liquids, so salad was a good meal, I added tuna to it for extra protein. Cognitively, I found it useful to search for what I craved. If I ran through my mind all the different things I could eat, something would appeal to me, and then that is what I had to have. I keep a fruit bowl beside my bed and, at times, before resting I would coerce myself into eating an apple. I had to get it into my head that I needed to eat. It was a battle of willpower, I didn’t feel like eating and could have easily given in to not doing so, but I told myself that I would acquire further complications if I didn’t.
The injured brain experiences all sorts of hitches when managing the function of the body, this can result in acquired conditions as a result of things not running properly, if starved of nutrients it has less energy and the body has less capacity to prevent those acquired conditions from developing. So, it is essential to get those nutrients somehow, it doesn’t have to be a Sunday roast every day, but even a bowl of ice cream has essential nutrients like calcium and, the sugar provides energy, but also it’s a jolly treat, and it releases endorphins which provide a good mood and relieves stress. All this is beneficial when coping with life after stroke.
I can only second all that @Rups has said because, even down to losing 2½stone and I did all the same things with regards eating.
Get him Complan or Meritene, most chemist and supermarkets stock one or the other. They are a nutritional supplement designed to provide extra energy and nutrients to the body. Even though he’s sleeping and not doing much, his body is still burning up an awful lot of energy, nutrients, so they need replenishing. These shakes are good way of getting them into him and hopefully in a week or two he’ll be hungry for real food once again. Keep one beside him to sip at his leisure.
My sister managed care homes for the elderly and she always swore by it for anyone recovering from surgery, illness, malnutrition, etc. A couple of days on that and you soon notice a huge difference in them. And the beauty about them is that, as well as making a milkshake out them, you can also mix the powder into most foods that may entice him to eat.
The usually comes in Strawberry, Vanilla, Chocolate, Banana and he can have 1-3 a day.
I couldn’t think clearly let alone communicate after my stroke, I wish I’d remembered Complan though. By the time my sister reminded me of it, after we’d come out of lockdown, I was already on the road to recovery 
Instead of cups or bottled waters, get him some travel cups to drink from. I got this one Morrisons for £3. Maybe have one for hot drinks and one for cold.
I have a wooden trolley (similar to below) beside my armchair. It was handy for keeping my pills on, along with, phone, drinks/snacks, books, tissues/wipes/kitchen roll even at one time, moisturiser, tv remote, pen/pencil and notepad, etc etc. All the useful fiddly little things you suddenly need to minute you’ve just sat down. Yes you need to remain as mobile and active as you can but in the early days post stroke your body has its limits.
Got it about 6yrs ago when I had my hip replaced and have been immobile twice more since then so came in very handy on all three occasions. With the lip around the edges nothing slipped off.
But I would never try to use it as a walking aid…it’s not stable enough for that! …just don’t put the wheels on 
Don’t overload him with information and conversation, keep it simple and keep it short if you can. He’ll never remember it all and you’ll just over phase him and give him a pressure headache. Just try to relax yourself and don’t flap 
Look after your own health, his brain is charge of him for now 
He’s going to be tired for at least the next 6mths to be honest, many suffer fatigue for longer. And he won’t have much interest in anything as it’s all about brain and its healing and recovering everything it can. So don’t be worried or upset if he does nothing but sit and stare off into space, it’s all quit normal. I did a lot of that in the early days. Then after however long, I’d be in the middle of attempting to do something, sweep the kitchen, unload the washing machine, doing a rehab exercise and I’d just down tools and go sit down without a word for 5mins or an hour, maybe napped, basically whatever the brain demanded of me. As I recovered more and napped were less. Then it was more like the brain became the restless/inquisitive toddler, I get so far in whatever I was doing and the brain would have me move onto something else regardless of whether I was finished or not, and something else, and then maybe let me back to complete the first task. I was basically all over the place and so grateful for my hubby and children’s wealth of patience and understanding, because they had to finish off whatever I started…even if it was cooking a meal 
I think I’d better finish here, that’s enough food for thought, but if there’s anything else you want to ask, just ask away 
@janesmith87 i agree with all thats been said bt Rups & Emeraldeyes.
I have had no appetite since my stroke 20 months ago and have now lost over 4 stone. Fatigue, i think, plays a part in wanting to eat. I was so fatigued I didn’t have the energy to lift my knife & fork never mind eat the food.
Hubby started leaving bowls of fruit by the side of me & biscuits. I also started making fruit smoothies to drink & just sip them throughout the day.
I have now been prescribed supplement dtinks (Ensure) & take 3 a day. I’m still not gaining wright but at least i’m getting nutrients. I should add i do eat 3 meals a day but my evening meal is smaller portion sizes.
You could also try adding Marvel (dried milk powder) to things like yoghurts, hot drinks etc to add some calories.
In relation to leaving the house hopefully the alarm will give you a bit more reassurance that you can leave him for a bit. Not sure what your work is but could you work from home? Will work allow you to reduce your hours in the short term? Could someone else sit with him? Have you spoken to adult social services to see if he is entitled to any help?
My husband used to put everything he thought i needed within easy reach & i had to promise faithfully i wouldn’t do anything I shouldn’t. But it meant he could go to work at least part time.
Best wishes.
Ann