Dad in hospital with brain injury

[cockapoochoc1]

Hi.

i guess i am posting on here for any kind of advice or experiences. my dad was assaulted on the weekend & ended up with a bleed on the brain which was operated on. he is still sedated they have tried to bring him round three times now but his heart rate went up so they have put him back under sedation. today he squeezed the nurses hand when she asked him too. i live a few hours away so tomororw is the first time i’ll see him the doctor says he has left side brain damage but he’s been making purposeful movements. can anyone give any recovery stories or families give any advice on dealing with this uncertain time?

thanks

[cat3]

Sorry to hear of your dad's injury. Many of us here learned, later on how frantic our loved ones were in the early days of our brain injury. But we're here (12 years on for me) to tell our stories of survival.

A few days on from the injury, your dad's brain will be needing complete rest. The brain is an amazing organ in working to reroute to new areas from those damaged by the trauma and the bleed. Signs of progress take time, and this is really early days for your dad. But comments from his doctors are promising and I hope your presence will help comfort him.

On regaining awareness after a brain haemorrhage, I asked my son if he'd massaged my hands whilst I was still unresponsive (I felt it had been a comforting dream). He said he always did during visits, and it was an attempt to 'reconnect' with me.

So physical contact, a familiar voice, or favourite music, can help orientate the brain. But please do let us know how your visit goes today m'love. Seeing a loved one in a hospital bed, unresponsive, is always upsetting ; it'll be a long process and one day at a time. It was a 3 month stay for me and I showed noticeable progress after the first few weeks.

Sending all best wishes for your dad's progress, Cat..

[cockapoochoc1 in reply to cat3]

thanks for your reply, it’s been an emotional rollercoaster of a week since my dad got his injury. it was a shock first seeing him in the hospital bed that way I am realising this is going to a journey but dad has made some good progress & is a fighter. he is now managing to breathe on his own, has been moving his hands around alot & yesterday opened his eyes a few times (felt like winning the lottery) & today they sat him up in a chair but he was very sleepy . what sort of progress did u see after a few weeks?thanks for replying it brings me comfort xx

[cat3 in reply to cockapoochoc1]

After about 4 weeks I regained some cognition of where I was and why, then I transferred to an intermediary ward for assessment. I could then feed myself and manage to communicate with staff and visitors, but was still immobile.

But after a final transfer to the physio ward at around 6 weeks I managed a few steps (was shocked how useless my legs felt & couldn't understand why).

But one day, as my son was arriving, I was tentatively making my way to the bathroom. As I returned to the ward he was waiting to film me on his phone and quite emotional at seeing me upright again and taking steps unaided.

It really is a long process, and way more stressful for loved ones witnessing the incapacity than for we with the brain injury.

Good to hear your dad is showing more progress. Please keep updates coming when you can m'love... Cat, x

[cockapoochoc1 in reply to cat3]

thanks for your reply Cat. it really helps me hearing other people’s experiences. my dad has had a good couple of days, been really awake & smiling at people he recognises. he’s also started trying to say a few words but struggling atm. how long did it take for your speech to come back? do u remember when u first woke up in hospital? i just wonder what he’s thinking. i guess i need to remember to take one day at a time it is still very early days & he’s doing really well xx

[cat3 in reply to cockapoochoc1]

I've no memory whatsoever of ICU but, once I was home and my family & I were ready to offload to one another, I was told I'd been highly agitated for the first 2-3 weeks ; not surprising as I'd smoked since my teens and had been going through withdrawal (never smoked since..)

It's worth remembering that owing to the uniqueness of each individual's brain, their responses and behaviours can present very differently, as can speed of progress.

As to what your dad is thinking, I can only recall feeling sleepy, but cherished and very safe ; not at all troubled. It bothered me for a long time how I was left with only pleasant memories whilst family had been through hell.

Your dad's progress is promising m'love..... 🙂

Cat. x

[cockapoochoc1 in reply to cat3]

Hi Cat, thanks for your response again, how long did you end up in intensive care in the end? & how long till you eventually returned home.my dad does seem to be showing good progress every day. he’s started putting some words together & yesterday said ‘i’m tired’. He’s in a hospital 3 hours away atm where the incident happened so i’m looking forward to seeing him at the weekend as apparently he’s looking much better and is on a ward. i’m a bit worried for the future but just trying to take it day by day.

[cat3 in reply to cockapoochoc1]

I think it was 3 weeks although I've no memory of ICU whatsoever. But I went back to Salford Royal 6 months after discharge to thank the staff properly (& with custom made chocolates).

I was recognized immediately in ICU (despite new hair & makeup) and after lots of hugs and laughter I was shown to the bed I'd occupied, but none of it looked remotely familiar. And sad to say I'd no recollection of any of the nurses, even the one who'd apparently been my personal companion throughout.

But they were genuinely pleased seeing me walking, talking and coherent, saying their only memory of patients is in a poorly, confused state so, for them, I guess it was living proof of 'A job well done' ?

I like to think that could be your dad in the not too distant future ; he's proving pretty resilient so far.

My best wishes to you both...xx

ps...I'm abbreviating your username to 'Cocka' .....(friendly northern expression 😐)

[cockapoochoc1 in reply to cat3]

Oh really, that must have been such a strange feeling having no memory of it. i hope we can return and thank the doctors and nurses as they have been amazing. My dad is doing well still, he’s started eating some soft foods. He just seems very confused in himself, i guess this is normal for the injury he’s got. was you like this initially?

haha i put Cocka as me and my dad both have cockapoo dogs was a bit random. He’s actually in hospital up North where the incident happened but we live in tbe mjdlands x

[cat3 in reply to cockapoochoc1]

Confusion is more or less universal among brain injury patients. Once I was home, and thinking clearly, my family related countless stories of my ramblings whilst in ICU.

In a pristine, state of the art unit, I claimed I'd be scrubbing the 'filthy' ceiling once I could find ladders. And I thought my daughter was a neighbour : calling her by the neighbour's name and thanking her heartily for her visits. ...and so much more. It was weird hearing I'd even been speaking at that time.

Your dad's brain is working constantly, piecing together fragments of information, whilst searching for new pathways around damaged areas in search of clarity. So it's a relearning process.

At our 'reunion', staff admitted that my confabulation had been hilarious, and that laughing about was ok, knowing it was all part of the rehabilitation process.

I'd guessed you're a Cockapoo owner (& chocolate fan !)....

Nice talking with you Cocka !

Cat. x

[Ideogram]

Hi, sorry to hear that.

There's a booklet on the Headway website with advice for families on what happens when your loved on is in hospital. Might be worth a read.

You can also call their helpline if you want advice or even just to listen.

[Dogsabighelp]

hi,so sorry for what happened to your dad.much knowledge here to be found,and support too.we all have our stories,some of us years of them.encouraging though so soon for your dad?talk to him,let him know you are there.please keep us informed and stay strong,much lovexx