How to Get a Clear Diagnosis and Early Prognosis for Stroke

Set up a meeting with the primary doctor. If your loved one is still in the ICU, this will probably be a neurologist.

Prepare for the meeting by jotting down a list of questions, including:

• How serious was the stroke?
• What kind of stroke was it, and what caused it?
• Will your loved one be disabled? If so, how?
• How long can we expect recovery to take?
• When should we get ready for discharge?

Ask anything and everything that comes to mind. There's no such thing as a stupid question.

Bring a notebook and/or tape recorder to the meeting (be sure to ask permission before recording).

Be prepared for uncertainty. One of the biggest challenges after a stroke is not knowing what the future will hold. There's no magic formula to figure out the timeline for recovery, no crystal ball that will reveal how much ability will be recovered. At this point, the best strategy is to take things day by day -- or even hour by hour. The doctor may be able to make some predictions based on your loved one's current condition, but that prognosis might change as the brain heals.