Can headaches and vision loss after a stroke be related?
Based on your description, it sounds like she likely had a stroke in either the right middle cerebral artery (inferior division) or the right posterior cerebral artery. These strokes often cause loss of vision in both eyes to the visual field opposite the side of the stroke (in other words, her left visual field in both eyes). If the stroke involved the middle cerebral artery, she may also be neglecting the left side of her body - forgetting to pay attention to anything on her left side.
With regards to your questions:
Headaches are uncommon after ischemic strokes, but they certainly can occur. Most common reasons would be 1) swelling from the stroke, 2) small bleeding into the stroke, 3) a dilation of the small arteries in the area of the stroke when the bigger arteries are clogged with plaque or clot. Best to get an image of the brain and the arteries (as I suspect is being done) to figure out which one is occuring.
With regards to the vision, in almost all circumstances, symptoms are worst in the first few days of the stroke, then slowly improve thereafter. No one can tell you how much better her vision will get. The body simply has to heel itself. For ischemic strokes, unless there is bleeding or dangerous swelling in the stroke area, best to treat her ongoing stroke by 1) thinning the blood - usually with aspirin, 2) allowing the blood pressure to run high. Beyond that, physical and occupational therapy are helpful to help regain function. I don't think you need to worry about "something happening". The stroke is the worst part, and it is presumably over. There should be little chance of her vision getting worse from here on out.
Good luck!
amen to all the above. the addition of a blood thinner helped my father, and paying attention to the possible source of the stroke (such as high cholesterol or blood pressure) helped the healing process. my father's treatment was delayed as the neurologist he had didn't put him on blood thinners... but 2 years later he had another ischemic stroke and he was connected with much better doctors. had we learned what we know now back then, he probably wouldn't be as far down the trail of dementia as he is now.
The discription of your mother sound alot like my 53yo sister, who had a stroke in april of this year. The VA doctors described her stroke as a bilateral infarction of the memory center. The stroke has slowed down her verbal expression, and has affected her short term memory. She has headaches, and they suggest that she take tylenol. I live 3000 miles away, I hope that is the best treatment. She is also on blood thinners.
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