sleepiness or agitation

[Lunalg]

hi

My husband suffered a brain injury in a RTA on 24/11/3023. He gained consciousness about 2.5 weeks ago. He is still in ICU being weaned off his vent with an trach. Over the last 5 days he has been not sleeping through the night and therefore being very sleepy most of the day time. When not asleep he seems agitated and is trying to get of the bed and pull at his tubes. They are medicating him for sleep but it’s having minimal effect. Is this normal? Is so, how long does this last? Any advice greatly appreciated.

[cat3]

When regaining awareness after a period of nothingness, we automatically seek both visual and physical reassurance. So the presence of tubes joined to our body is just too alien, and the urge to remove them is surely natural.

Once I became compass mentis I learned that my son held my hands to stop me fidgeting and reaching for the tubes. But once he'd left, the nurse needed to bandage my hands to the size of footballs so I'd be kept busy for a few minutes whilst she attended to something else.

On more than one occasion I caused bleeding, but it was soon rectified and the nurses treated it all with such patience and good humour.

It's a confusing time for your husband as he finds his way back to you. So maybe don't be too phased by any unusual behaviour ; my daughter feared I'd lost my mind from all my odd ramblings. It's a complicated process for the brain as it readapts to the 'here and now'.

Best wishes to you both once again. Keep the updates coming m'dear.... Cat x

[skydivesurvivor]

I was very similar!? Apparently it’s a normal reaction. Y have a long hard journey ahead of y both. Thinking of y & please find advise comfort here from families & suffers the same. Come rant y frustrations at any time , we are thinking of y both at this trying time good luck

[Levishaggy]

Hi LunalgMy son was the same he had his accident in Spain where it is normal practice to strap patients to the bed which was awful for us he was sedated alot so he couldn't pull tubes out, it took a long time for him to stop trying. It's a long way back try and stay strong and look after yourself best wishes x

[Nafnaf87]

Good morning Lunalg

My moments in ICU (about 3 weeks of them I'm told) about 25 years ago were heavily sedated for exactly that reason.

When transferred to a normal ward they attached mentoring the floor to prevent me doing damage to myself and apparently used to knock me out quite regularly when I got too boisterous. Nevertheless I used to pick the staples out of my knees that were there to hold things together.

Good luck and very best wishes with your and your husband's journey back

Michael