DR says following commands is not a response but reflex

[Angech]

I see positive response, Dr says no. My sister who they say has an anoxic injury has been making improvements. If you touch her she moves and you know she knows you are doing something. It has been 3 months and she has had 2 crashes while in hospital that made her worse. She got through septic shock, 2 cardiac arrests in hospital, fugemia, ecoli, pna, mrsa 2x and is suffering with illeus after her peg and trach was put in and her blood keeps falling. All inspite of being so sick she started holding and squeezing our hands and now she is following commands to blink 2x in a row. I have it on video. The nurses have witnessed it and yet the dr. Says there is no improvement and no response. You don't have to pinch her to get a response just touch her and she starts moving around. The neurologist won't do any treatment for her and won't help me transfer her to a brain rehab or brain injury place in NYC. It boggles my mind that even the nurses say she hits their hand away sometimes while taking blood. I feel like i am in the twilight zone. They keep having pallative care call to discuss her options and want us to remove her from support. Meanwhile the neurologist says continue supportive care. Tell me. Her blinking in succession 2x in a row when i ask her to is not a response? Am i crazy?

[Pairofboots]

I don't think you are crazy. If the nurses support your interpretation of your sisters responses, then insist on a independent second opinion. Build up a body of evidence, record resposes, video responses, ask the nurses for testimonials, and for them to ensure that responses are clearly documented.

[Loveandcats]

I went through the same thing. Some of what my partner did was reflex but I know some of it wasn’t. I put an Xbox remote in his hand and he started pressing the controllers as though he remembered how to use it which showed it was more than just reflex. He pressed the buttons and rotated the gearstick perfectly. He was a heavy gamer before so I guess I was lucky with that. Maybe try something that she would usually do before injury. Hair brush or tv remote? I guess those are harder to use and less instinctive but I hope something like that works for you. You’re in my thoughts x

[Loveandcats]

Hi, another thought, encouraging her to pull at the tubing. My partner pulled at his breathing tube to show it caused discomfort. They will have to record that as it’s one of the things on the Glasgow coma scale. He made several attempts while holding my hand as though he was asking me to do it but this was ignored. I think over a few weeks his arm that moved got stronger and he found the strength/ courage to grab it on his own without me which had to be recorded x

[Angech in reply to Loveandcats]

She did last week grab a tube, but i wasn't sure if she meant to do it. But i notice she keeps rubbing her neck against the pillow like she is trying to get the trach band off. Good advice thanks!

[Kezza72]

Hi, I’m an ICU nurse and yes some movements like squeezing a hand can be a reflex, an innate response, like when you a new born grabs a finger. Ask your sister to stick her tongue out, then you will know it’s purposeful. X