Effects after a coma.....advice and exp. welcome.....

[crazy_48618]

My husband was in a coma for 5 days from DKA and shock (he was hypoxic, hypothermic, in shock and had blood sugar of 1100) happily he woke from the coma and has quickly regained his motor skills to almost normal...drs say by all rights he should be dead that his young age is most likely what saved him...anyway mental issues seem to be the long lasting effect. He has been awake now 3 weeks, he has tried to elope twice (he should know better), forgets people has visited at all, or says someone visited when they haven't. He even told staff that his dad dropped off a bag of clothes and we all found out his dad hadn't even visited!.....I talked to him and he voiced that even his thoughts seem slow to him, like when you try to think when 1st waking, and that reading and texting seem to take more focus and struggle than ever before...everything I read says these effects can be temporary just from the trauma to the brain, but if they last longer than 3 months they are likely permanant....anyone else have experience in this...cus I am hopeful, but scared....they are talking of once hes done with rehab suggesting an assisted living or group home....hes 37 and I know these discussions hurt him alot....hes not really interested in food, and is the skinniest I have ever seen him (150, when hes usually 180....hes 6'1....so skin and bone right now)....I think all this has him depressed, plus the only place able to take him is a 2 hour commute away so I dont get to visit him much.......any opinions, experiences and advice is welcome....im 33 and never thought this was my future.

[Kirk5w7]

Hi Crazy and welcome to the forum of altered futures.

We are all in various stages of learning to cope with the “new me” whether we are survivors or careers.

I am now 6 years post encephalitis which has left me long term with balance, fatigue, short term memory problems, my interest in reading has faded because I can forget the plot of the book very quickly. I was unable to use my phone for 2 months but now that has come back, as well as many skills I originally lost. My sight is permanently damaged, I need very bright light to see best, my night vision is dreadful, and I have lost peripheral vision to the left.

As to the assisted living I presume that is because he would need someone with him at all times, the eloping wouldn’t have helped with that.

I also find the texting and new technology in particular very difficult to deal with, I can be so slow and I also forget and have to be reminded.

It’s just a long slow process, but he mustn’t give up trying to do these things, it’s the way pathways are made in the brain no matter how old we are. Some of those pathways in his brain need reconnecting and only practice will do that. Think of how long it takes a child to learn various skills, just because he used to do it, doesn’t mean he won’t have to relearn. I had to learn to walk again, but I did.

So a long hard road ahead, but come back for any support you need and don’t forget the Headway helpline.

Janetx

[cat3]

I'm guessing the DKA is now under control....... It'll take quite some time for your man's system to recover from such a serious hit, and not surprising he's lost most of his body fat to the condition.

If it's roughly a month since the start of his illness then it's really early days to expect anything other then confusion ; at that stage I wasn't recognising my own family or able to walk and yet I was discharged a few weeks later to go home. Obviously there were issues resulting from the brain injury (haemorrhage) but I certainly didn't want or need assisted living accommodation.

So don't let your mind race ahead ; it's too early for reaching conclusions just yet as there's time for improvement. And the 'escape' attempts aren't uncommon.......my next door neighbour had to be sectioned after a hypoxic injury for repeatedly trying to leave ; he's 82 and now back to being quite dapper and fit, and off to his snooker club regularly. Stay hopeful m'dear ; your husband is young which greatly improves his potential for good progress.

Keep us updated....

Best wishes, Cat x

PS I love your profile photo ; I wish I could take off like that with my pals !

[Mufc]

Hi I had my brain injury in 1998 and still have problems both physically and mentally. It is hard work for the patient and there family. I thought my husband and I were ok but he has now filed for divorce. He say he cannot put up with my moods any more. He thinks I have been abusing him all this time. Being the person with the tbi I do not. Obviously I have been hard work to live with. So yes I would say it could be permanent, mine is. I have received lots of help both mentally and physically but I am a different person now. Yes I have improved but I will never be the same person that I was and my husband cannot accept the new me any more.

So there is no guarantee try and accept the new person. It will be hard work for both of you.

Best wishes

Mufc