In March 2008 my husband suffered a stroke which proved to have been a small brainstem haemorrhage.  Since then he has been unable to swallow and cannot breath reliably without support from a ventilator via a tracheostomy.  This is accompanied by a form of pneumonia requiring frequent suction through the mouth and/or tracheostomy to remove the constantly accumulating phlegm.  He is being treated with Hyoscine patches to try to dry up the secretions but with little success.  He is very gradually regaining strength and breathing ability but still cannot swallow snd consequently being fed by tube directly into the stomach (PEG).  Can anyone suggest other ways to reduce the secretions?  then perhaps he will be able to speak again and gain confidence in a real hope of further recovery?  I have succeeded in being allowed to add folic acid and ginko biloba to his cocktail of heart/angina drugs.