Severe pain after open heart surgery. Week 6 in hospital.

[Melangel]

Hello. Mum came out of icu 12 days ago after a whole month. She had a valve replacement surgery with complications. Ct scan shows bilateral stroke. Once out of İCU, She started responding which was great. She is able to move her limbs, left side weaker. However, as she was sedated for a month in icu, her sedation started wearing off, which she then started experiencing pain. The pain has got severe for the last 5 days . Mum can’t cope with the pain. Doctors and nurses are trying everything they can but she isn’t cooperating. They also said she has mild delirium. She is constantly moaning and screaming. Will this phase pass? Has anyone experienced anything like this?? İm so scared

[cat3]

Hi Mel. Delirium usually persists for days rather than weeks and isn't uncommon after anaesthesia and surgery. It can be more distressing for loved ones than patients themselves. I hallucinated and talked gobbledygook for around a week and my family feared I may be permanently 'lost' to them.

I'm unsure about the source of your mum's pain, but I'm wondering whether her distress is more a symptom of the delirium rather than actual pain and maybe it's her inability to express the discomfort which is causing her to cry out ? I feel so sorry for you both in this predicament ; it still pains me thinking of my own family during the early days.

I do hope your mum's condition will improve day on day Mel, and that staff can help ease her discomfort in the meantime. It's such early days and there's scope for significant improvement. All best wishes for positive signs soon.... Cat x

[Melangel in reply to cat3]

Hi Cat , thank you for replying. You and your family must have gone through a hard time too. Once out of icu, mum started responding with nods, eventually words. The nurses and doctors were really happy. Shed have the pains moaning and groaning but would answer my questions on the phone with meaningful context and full sentences. İ think she recognised my voice but when i asked her to say my name, She wouldnt and eventually said i dont know who you are 😭. Saturday and sunday shed be restless unable to sleep , so doctors decided to change medication. Since then , her communication level has dropped, more moaning and groaning , agitated and now screaming . She wont open her eyes and she isnt cooperatıng with anyone :(. We are trying to explain to the New nurses and doctors that she wasnt like this prior to sunday. ( there was a changeover of hospıtals on monday). We feel so helpless

[cat3 in reply to Melangel]

Can you tell me Mel, where exactly are the pains. Are they related to the valve replacement or the stroke ?

I'd phone the hospital and ask to speak to the secretary of your mum's consultant, where you can explain your deep concern and the fact that the issue needs escalating as urgent.

Secretaries are extremely efficient at mobilising their bosses. Good luck and let us know the outcome. x