Hallucinatings after CA: Hi, My mom had a CA two... - Headway

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Hallucinatings after CA

Maithalouni profile image
10 Replies

Hi,

My mom had a CA two weeks ago at home. CPR was performed immediately by family members for 5 minutes until EMT arrived and resuscitated her to a pulse. She arrived at the hospital kicking and pulling tubes and had to be sedated. She was moved from the ICU to the normal unit 2 days ago and is currently awaiting the pacemaker installation.

What worries me is that for the past two days she dosent remember anybody including herself. She cant sleep nearly at all and is constantly mumbling things from the past. Please let me k now if anybody had any similar case and what should be done.

Unfortunately due to the COVID situation we cant always be at the hospital and the hospital has been very poor in communicating with us.

Thanks,

MM

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Maithalouni profile image
Maithalouni
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absa profile image
absa

I was without a pulse for 26 minutes after a cardiac arrest.

I was in a coma for 3 days. Even though I was brought out of the coma, it would be another week before I regained awareness.

I know it is hard, but try not to worry too much - as things will seem VERY bleak at the outset.

Charlie90 profile image
Charlie90

I used to hallucinate very strange things like seeing people who where not actually there such as members of my family it could be the injury to the brain or a side effects of medication or a combination of both I remember my neuro surgeon was not concerned fy and said it was normal at such an early stage speak to the medical team they may be able to change some of the medication to one that doesn’t have a side effect of hallucinations lots of rest will help allowing the brain to rest I had to take sleeping tablets temporarily after my bleed as I could not sleep they helped me back into a routine sending my well wishes to you both

Maithalouni profile image
Maithalouni in reply to Charlie90

Hi Cwar90,

Thank you for your response. I'm so glad that you are doing well. I got so many questions if I may ask...but will only ask few of them. Just looking for answers that may be related to my mom.

How long did you have the hallucinations for? Were you also unable to sleep most of the time? Signs of frustration and memory loss?

Best,

M

Charlie90 profile image
Charlie90 in reply to Maithalouni

Hulu. Honestly as me As many questions S you need to as I know what a worrying time it can be speaking to some one who ha been there makes a massive difference so ask away if I can help in any way I will do ask away I. Annoy see any questions at the moment but if you send me them I will answer them

Thanks

AndrewT profile image
AndrewT

Dear Maithalouni,

Yes, very hard, indeed! I don't quite, quite what, has happened to your Mum but perhaps I have some ideas.

Lack of Oxygen, primarily to the Brain, can have some Short, and Long Term, effects. It seems that she might, be having, an Amnesia episode. This COULD be Longer term- I can't lie to you- but could also, Very Easily, be a Short duration event.

I'm afraid that TIME, Love and Patience are the 'Keys' here. I think you description, of her, 'Kicking and Screaming' is a good sign. Rather like a Family Friend, who had had a Stroke- they put him in a Ward overnight. When, the Doctors, went in to 'Check' on him, they found him.... Showered, Shaved and Dressed! Now, I'm not suggesting, that your Mum's Recovery will be that Spectacular but please Don't Lose Hope Maithalouni.

I know that, All our Thoughts, Love and Prayers are with you. Look after yourself

AndrewT

Maithalouni profile image
Maithalouni

Thank you all for your responses. Certainly helps a lot. Update: she now knows who she is and can remember two of her siblings. However, she is still very very drowsy and very confused. She is awake at night but once again super drowsy at day. The hallucinations are still there and still cant remember anythings else.

Hopefully all will be good. Please let me if anybody can relate to this.

Thanks,

MM

Lisers profile image
Lisers

My dad had a cardiac arrest 21years ago sadly I didn’t know what I was doing . Paramedics. Came and brought him back but he had suffered some brain injury through lack of oxygen . He suffered 3 more CAs in the time he spent in hospital . The brain injury caused him to imagine he was living nearly 40 years ago still and even forgot his his parents has died and he was still with his first wife . Sadly there was nothing they could do for him as he had heart failure and died about 8 months later . It’s good your mum is getting a pacemaker to regulate her heart . As for Hallucinating hopefully that will calm down over time and will get help with any problems she is left with . In the meantime speak to her Doctors and see what plans they have to help with her brain injury .

cat3 profile image
cat3

Hi Maithalouni . I was shocked hearing about my disruptive behaviour in ICU after a brain haemorrhage : not recognising family, pulling out tubes and swearing etc., and 6 months later I returned to thank the staff and to apologise for my bad behaviour.

It was an eye opener ! I was greeted and hugged by the whole team and assured that I'd been one of the LEAST difficult patients. They described typical antics of brain injury patients in their first weeks and, whilst I found the stories disturbing, they just smiled and explained that aggression, hallucinations, self-harm and ripe language were 'normal' in the early stages.

At two weeks post-Bi, your mum's brain is still struggling to make sense of the simplest things ……...but she's already shown signs of progress which is really encouraging, and it's very early days as yet, so please try not to expect too much too soon.

Stay in touch m'dear.

All best wishes to you and your mum.....Cat x

Maithalouni profile image
Maithalouni in reply to cat3

Thanks Cat3,

That's definitely a relief and I'm very glad that you have recovered and is doing well.

Though I'm now also wondering about sleep problems. Mom is almost not sleeping at all though she is very sleepy and drowsy - hardly sleeping few minutes per day. Wondering if you have experienced this?

Best,

MM

cat3 profile image
cat3 in reply to Maithalouni

During long periods of resting, sleep patterns can be seriously disrupted owing to nights and days merging into one big blur, not to mention the brain's 24/7 struggle to readjust after injury.

I've seen sleep issues mentioned here many, many times and had my own experience of erratic sleep patterns after the bleed for months afterwards. It's nearly always a waiting game m'love, but I hope you'll keep us updated with your mum's progress as the weeks pass. And look after YOUR-self in the meantime...… x

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