My dad went in for a hernia operation and had a cardiac arrest during the operation - this happened 6 months ago. His heart stopped for approx 8 minutes and it has now been said that he wont ever be conscious again and continue in a vegetative state for the rest of his days. I was wondering if anyone has been or know of someone who has had a similar issues and diagnosis and managed to pull through?
many thanks
Hi Harnek98
I am so sorry your Dad adn you and your family are going through this. It all is pretty difficult.
If you look to the right there is a link to the Headway helpline.
It is a really good idea to call them as they can direct you to info and resources.
All I can say is that sometimes the docs are good guessers and sometimes they aren't, and no one knows til after the fact.
One day at a time, and call Headway.
My best to your Dad and to you and to your family.
And do keep us posted,
Leaf
Harnek, as suggested by Leaf, please contact the helpline for support. It seems no one here has direct experience of your dad's plight, but the Headway team can offer wisdom and support.
You can message them, or phone on freephone 0808 800 2244 during office hours.
All my best wishes, Cat x
Hi Harnek98,
Don't lose hope. Sometimes the doctors know what they are talking about and at other times they do not. Sometimes they are honest enough to say "we don't know" which is what happened to me. I was down for 15 minutes and my wife asked whether my intellect would survive. They said, "we don't know". An honest response but somewhere along the way they slipped in a DNAR form as if it had been discussed with my NOK and it had not. So, ask to see your Dad's notes.
When you visit your Dad, hold his hand and talk to him as if he was wide awake. I could hear the nurses talking about me though I could not answer and they missed my attempt to open a channel by biting down on my tubes. Loved ones can help the patient stay connected to this world.
When he wakes up, come back and we'll have another chat. In the meantime, all my very best to you, your Dad and the family.
Skulls
Hi Skulls, thank you so much. I appreciate that, in order to see my dads medical notes apparently we need to get court of protection and welfare which is under way. I will deffo chase up the DNR form because I hope they haven’t decided that on our behalf.
The doctors have said from the start in terms of my dads intellect, that he will be in this low conscious, vegetative state due to the severe damage. He was only out for 8 mins apparently. Can I ask how long it took for you to get past the point of not being able to communicate?
He opens his eyes, but thats about the extent of my dads movements. When you he looks at us, its like he looks past us, like he isn’t there. I really hope we can get him back to somewhat of what he was but as its been 6 months so far, its hard to stay hopeful.
Cheers,
H
They are obligated to discuss DNAR with the NOK. They cannot just decide to withdraw treatment. I was woken up after 17 days in an induced coma and I was speaking...in Spanish - a language I had never studied from a country I had never visited! According to a staff nurse it wasn't the only foreign tongue I was using (I do speak a few others however). I have no idea what I was saying (maybe the nurses were too embarrassed to tell me?).
My wife says my eyes would react to noise - they would move towards the source - but they were unseeing. I gradually regained my sight, firstly making out headlines in papers then some of the smaller text.
Sorry for the delay in response.
When they woke me up, I was speaking in Spanish - a language that was alien to me and family members. I recall being in bed paralysed and silent for some time afterwards though possibly only days. I did respond to my nurse when she asked where I thought I was. My reply: "Heaven"!
sounds like gross negligence by the surgeon and hospital
I had same took me a few years to pull through
Hi Felix, im glad to hear you pulled through. My dad has been like this for 8.5 months, no speech, movement of limbs just occasional opening of eyes, were in a similar situation if you don’t mind me asking?
Felix12 sorry could you please give some more details on this please
I would also love to hear about your recovery Felix12 . My husband suffered a cardiac arrest and is in a vegetative state however he has moved his legs and arms on commands in small movements. He can track with his eyes somewhat as well. Would absolutely love to hear more!
HYPOXIC BRAIN INJURY
Hypoxic Brain Injury
Hypoxic brain injury 
Hypoxic brain injury
