It’s been a rough ride . He’s 9 weeks post injury and his body is getting weaker and weaker from antibiotics for chest, high blood pressure, seizures meds, insulin meds, not feeding as pulls nose feed out all the time. Medically is in worst stage with stage 5 kidney failure. Dr keep saying he’s not going to make it . His brain function is also not good . Doesn’t communicate. Looks around , sleeps wakes . Moves limbs wildly if he has energy and grunts or groans .
Before his injury was healthy fit young man.
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Hi, how are you? I'm so sorry that you are going through such an awful time. We are 2 years into life following my husband's hypoxic brain injury in 2016. Everyone's story is so different... life is definitely very different for us now. My husband was an active bodybuilder who worked hard at his job from when he was 16 as well as renovating our home. I won't go into too much detail but if you have any questions etc just get in touch. Take care x
Hi it must be awful for you seeing him like that.My husband had a cardiac arrest resulting in a hypoxic brain injury.He was in a coma 3weeks.Every time they tried to bring him round he kept fitting so had to keep putting him back under.When he eventually woke he didn't respond to stimuli.Prognosis not good.When awake he flailed his arms and legs about.We thought..this is how he's going to be forever.However 2years on he is home.Walking talking but obviously not the man he was before.Before he was very fit.Never sat still and thought nothing of cycling 100miles.He can't cycle any more and just walks a bit.Everyone is different.Have you got any family with you to support you?I don't know what I would have done without support.Sending you hugs and good wishes for you both.xx
It’s really tough. To see him like this brings my eyes to tears. He like most young men was always busy never sat still. Fit as a fiddle.,full of life smiles etc.
I have family support. But you know how it is . No one can be there all the time. One month two months friends rally around. After that ppl go back to thier normal life. Which is understandable.
Hi yes that’s so true! Friends and family rally around and then everyone goes into the dark. I have talk to his own mother or 7 siblings in months sad to say they don’t even call. It’s rough but I have my family rallying around me, I love them because they understand his brain injury. A couple things it’s actucally normal at this stage for him to be pull tubes out be a fall risk almost restless. I remember my husband leg was on my shoulder that’s how restless he became. Ambient has worked in helping him and I didn’t know about high dose fish oil perhaps that can be something to discuss with the doctors. My husband suffered cardiac arrest and he was the life of the party. My best friend. It’s hard almost like he’s starting over from the womb. I had to lie to the doctors to get the ambien tell him that he had trouble sleeping but it actually woke his brain up. So no brain injury is alike at this point you have to give it time. But don’t be afraid to voice concerns at one point me and the doctors created a plan that’s how involved I was. It’s been a year and it is like watching grass grow, therapy, vitamins,herbs,nutrition will be the key and you have to take care of yourself. Prayers and peace for you and him
When you say ambient is it a sleeping pill? Il have to try that one for him.
We are week 9 . When did u give it to him?
I can imagine the change in your life. And that feeling of ‘ why him god’
I’m so dreading it too . At moment it’s touch and go medically to see if he survives all the body issues.
When did you partner wake up? Said or grunted his first acknowledgment of you or family?
Did he stare at walls and then zzz for hours? Not saying anything or responding to qs? It’s so frustrating! We know he has brain damage but how much and to what extent is baffling.
Yes it’s still a why God moment in my head he is such a great person you know but life happens it is tough. It’s an ambiguous loss. He started off blinking, I would ask a question and he would blink once or twice by command. Then when they trached him I heard him say yes. The doctors didn’t believe me smh. He started talking like about 9 weeks his speech is affected still due to Ativan. He still has those moments where he stares in space. Physically he’s not there, but he’s in there, I can ask him anything and he knows it. I didn’t find out about ambien until a year after. What happen was they gave him Ativan because he became angry and Ativan helped him to relax but also helped circulate blood flow in his brain it was a good time then he was almost back to himself but then it became up and down problem after problem and I thought what drug would act like Ativan without all the side effects the ambien. I gave it to him and in 30 minutes he was asking why his hands wasn’t working and what happened to him. I hope and pray for brain injury research to come up with something more substantial because it only last for a few hours so I’m shuffling the two. It’s gonna take some time though. And the doctors are built for doom and gloom I remember like three days in the doctor said (while chewing gum) I don’t know how’s he going to be when he wakes up. That’s hard to hear when you had a normal life 36 hours ago. Right now what to look out for is they are going to try different meds on him look for side effects the less meds the better. You are going to have to be his advocate. If you feel a med is not working causing more harm then good let them know start looking for awesome rehab centers. My husband didn’t say a word when he did was at this awesome rehab called Tirr. It’s in the states Houston Texas I’m forever grateful to them.
I’m not surprised they had an excuse they ususally do. I’m was told he didn’t have any brain damage but he caught two strokes on the right and left side of his brain while with no oxygen. I will try the fish oil look into some nootropics, and herbs and vitamins also clinical trials
Also on the ambien it’s like he wake up and he starts talking but with dysphasia. He wants to stand up go places eat and drink a lot. It’s wakes his brain up. I hope I see more improvements on it
How long was it before he made sense or communicated? His first acknowledgements . Mine just stares at wall phased out . Only just recently I think his eyes are following nurses or me.
Hi it was at approx 12 weeks before he said words you could decipher.Just single words.He spent a lot of time just laying in bed.I played him music(his passion) on headphones which he seemed to like but really didn't communicate properly till after that.When he woke up properly about another 4weeks after that he thought he had always lived in hospital.He knew I was his wife cos I nagged him to do exercises etc but his memory has gone from before his accident.He says things about his past but it's only me repeating all the time that he knows these memories.When I tell him now about playing the music 3rd he doesn't recall that.Hugs.xx
Ok thank you for that. I’m by his bedside. He’s listening but groans only. Can’t lift limbs as either he’s weak or not following command. So that really gives me hope as in terms of his ability it’s probably early weeks .
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My partner is currently in rehab after suffering hypoxic brain injury 7 weeks ago.
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