Anyone have experience where the body is more alert than the mind...minimally conscious state

[Angelia1234]

So my husband is in the minimally conscious stage and is bound and determined to get out of bed. Today he succeeded. Scooted to the foot of the bed and got his knees to the floor. Im not sure this is a good thing. Anyone experience the body coming back faster than the mind?

[dbyeti]

it's been a while ago now since my husbands two comas/brain haemorrhages, but what you describe does sound familiar. I think once the doctors had weaned him off all the sedatives, they would give him a "top-up" at night to make sure he stayed in bed and could get some rest. Even when he got to the stage where he could talk and knew who we were, his main concern was to get out of the hospital and go home. "Er, you've been in a coma for a month, woke up about three days ago, had a brain haemorrhage, heart problems and a collapsed lung, and now you want to walk out of the hospital? right!" I remember his first day out of intensive care after coma #1 he kept saying, "let's get the hell out of here" (although not that clearly, but that's what he was trying to say). It must be a very basic instinct to get out of bed when you're awake (or go home if you're not at home). Oh, I've just remembered that he also had the "pulling the tracheotomy tube out" stage. Yeah, that was fun............. I think he did that in the wake up phase of both comas.

[Angelia1234 in reply to dbyeti]

Thank you for your reply. It is scary. Ill ask are you trying to escape and he smiles. Sometimes i thinks he mouths "home". Poor guy

[cat3]

I think physical instincts return once we're remotely conscious. I had my hands bound with metres of bandage, to prevent my pulling out tubes from my neck. At least the staff could have 1/2 an hour's respite whilst I was methodically removing the binding with my teeth then unwinding the bandages into a heap.

And I managed to shuffle out of bed and collapse onto the floor with legs splayed, which apparently triggered an investigation. I wasn't exhibiting any rational awareness but seemed to be striving for physical 'normality'.

When I finally started making sense and managed an independent trip to the loo, my son videoed me on his phone so he could keep the evidence of my return from an 'unknown place' !

Sending best wishes for a breakthrough very soon Angelia. Cat x

[Angelia1234 in reply to cat3]

Thank you. Its kinda how i imagine. He wants out. I just fear him getting hurt.

[cat3 in reply to Angelia1234]

I have no memory of my first 6 weeks in hospital but, once home, my family and I spent many weeks filling in the details. What hit me most was how scared they'd been, and how upset by my agitation from the pain and inability to move.

But they explained that the consultant had talked of 'Turning the corner'..................and I hadn't got there yet, but when I did it would be obvious to everyone. Apparently it was obvious and my son and daughter assumed it must be drug intervention, but the consultant said not ; I'd turned the corner he'd spoken of weeks earlier.

I hope your man reaches that point before too long m'dear...........

Look after yourself. Cat x

[Angelia1234 in reply to cat3]

Turned the corner.....?

[cat3 in reply to Angelia1234]

Just an analogy for the switch from a doubtful prognosis to a promising one. x

[Angelia1234 in reply to cat3]

He turned that corner very soon after this post!

[cat3 in reply to Angelia1234]

That's such welcome news Angelia ; I'm so happy to hear your man is finding his way ! 😐 Keep us updated won't you ? Cat. xx