Need some information on strokes?

My grandfather had a stroke last night and was rushed to his local hospital very quickly, when they first noticed his face. He was there for a few hours and unknown tests were done. He was then ambulanced to another hospital 1 hour ambulance drive away to the best hospital for strokes in our state. We have gotten little answers from this hospital and if anyone has any knowledge on strokes that would be wonderful.
They said they thought it was on his temporal lobe, he did have slurred speech but he remember who all his family was and is very hard of hearing anyway so that can't be used as a symptom. They say he has blood in his brain but do not want to drill. Today, all of his vitals are stable and he has never had any problems with his heart or any other organs in his body. Today, he couldn't speak at all though- i think they had him sedated?!? Not really sure. He still has a very good color to his face and even though he didn't talk he knew who I was when I visited. The new hospital has done a few more CT scans, but we have not talked to the doctor in almost 24 hours and have made them well aware, 'but they are busy and all the doctors are treating patients.'

My family is concerned because he was not talking today, and they have no plans to drill into his skull. Is it good that they aren't planning this? We are not sure if he was sedated and did not get to visit with him long today, he was very tired.

Thank you for any information you have for me. If you are religious, please pray for my grandfather, and that he may have the strength to overcome all of this. Everything is greatly appreciated. I know he is very strong and I have put all of my strength into getting him better. We can overcome this.

He was not intabated the last time I saw him. Thank you for the information, though, N, I appreciate it! Can anyone else give some insight?

From what you described he has a hemorrhagic stroke, meaning bleeding in the brain in the temporal lobe causing some speech deficits. Surgery is only indicated if there is a large amount of blood or swelling in the brain which can be seen on the CT scan or if he deteriorates rapidly (if he becomes unresponsive). Usually neurosurgeons like to keep these patients only lightly sedated so they can examine the patient frequently and determine if there is any change which may indicate a need for surgery. However if he is intubated or very agitated he may have been given some sedation. Within the first few days it is hard to determine the prognosis. They will need to follow him closely to make sure that he does not bleed more. I hope the doctors speak to you because you and your family have a right to know what is going on. Best of luck!
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/...