In May of 2018 after a prosthodontist appointment to review like oral surgery it was discovered I had a serious infection and was sent immediately to the nearest ER center in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. My neck was swelling with infection and my breathing was in jeopardy. I was in ICU for 6 days and in the hospital for 3 weeks before being transferred to a rehab facility for 4 weeks for the sole reason of continuing to receive IV drips of antibiotics. I was told the antibiotics work over five thousand times more powerful than penicillin. My had developed serious sepsis that had penetrated every organ and Bone. During that stay the hospital restring my arms at first manually and then sedated me with the powerful drug propofol a controversial drug if used more than 3 days. The deep level o of sedation was medical, that induced very serious and powerful nightmares. When I awoke I realized in a short time I had lost all memory of even getting to the hospital as well as other memories and a significant decline in cognitive skills. A second accident occurred eight months later where the injuries were so severe that the shock trauma team at Penn Presbyterian hospital in Philadelphia likened my injuries to a car accident falling down a flight of steps or being beaten. I had no recall whatsoever of having an accident despite being admitted for 8 days in the shock trauma hospital. I had to wear chest brace, arm sling and neck brace sore 1 months afterwards. I was given at-home physical and occupational therapy. The doctors speaking on anonymity we're very concerned that the drug propofol could have blocked all memories of this accident. After almost a year of physical therapy I know I'm undergoing an MRI and CAT scan to determine where and how this significant damage occurred. Has anyone else been sedated which is really medical coma with the drug propofol at a high level for 7 days? What were your results?
Propofol drug given for medical coma: In May of... - ICUsteps
Propofol drug given for medical coma
I am so sorry all this has happened to you. It will get better. If you had sepsis, your brain may have swelled some. Mine did. Sepsis causes the body attack itself. It went after my spleen, kidneys, brain and heart. It all resolved when the antibiotics kicked in. Propofol is one of the drugs preferred to induce a medical coma. I was on it too for almost two weeks, when I was in the medical ICU with septic shock, pneumonia, empyema and a collapsed lung. I had horrid nightmares and hallucinations - ICU Delirium. Sepsis is awful. That alone causes so many issues medically, psychologically and emotionally. Powerful antibiotics, IV pain medications, sedatives, etc., plus all the body is going through to fight the sepsis - all can lead to the nightmares, forgetfulness, problems regaining strength, walking, climbing stairs. I couldn't even remember getting sick when I finally woke up in the ICU. I forgot a good week of my life before I was admitted. I lost weeks of memories. When I got home it was weeks of therapy at home. But, they were happy with how fast I was recovering. But, after 3+ years I still have problems with strength, mainly in my legs, and I still have nightmares. I was diagnosed with complex PTSD and PICS (post icu syndrome). I haven't regained my memory but my brain scans have shown no issues. Have you seen a therapist? Ones trained in the practice of EMDR can be extremely helpful and healing. Also, have you thought of getting your medical records from the hospital? I got mine and going through them helped a lot. Just being able to see what happened to me day to day, the names of the people who took care of me, seeing the medications I was on, all of it helped me a lot.
Thank you for sharing your story the causes are different the result is much the same. Yes 2 years later I have memory loss and cognitive impairment. what I would also say is my pain specialist from a previous surgical accident shed propofol watch and should not have been used there were better drugs available and he named them. I do have a therapist and time does heal. Regretfully I am no longer the athletic person I was it is taking a lot more time to recover. I wish you the very best as well. It truly sucks
Like you both - had severe hypoactive delirium after 57 day coma. This link really helped me to understand what went on :
I hope this link may help you and the person below who replied. This is from an ICU Patient who was a trustee of ICUSTEPS.
It also includes an interview with a psychologist who explains they are still learning about the effects of sepsis on the brain. If you look at my post to another similar story of someone who had been in a medically induced coma I mentioned I saw my brother going through ICU delerium with sepsis which was traumatic for me as I was with him every day for over 60 days of Critical and intensive care. Wishing you all the best for your recovery.
I'm so sorry you went through the first part and then even worse the second part that you can't even recall how it happened. Ugh. I was sedated with Dilaudid for 17 days in a medical coma and I distinctly remember waking up from it twice in my "medical coma" and thinking oh no this is a terrible nightmare, I hope no one is going through this. Since I woke up, the nurses bringing me back from a CT caught my throat tubing on a desk when they were turning a corner with my bed and yanked it inside of my throat cavity and did damage and I've never gained my full voice back in almost 2 years, my memory is wrecked, my cognitive processes are slow, I have to go back and correct typing mistakes and I say words wrong. I had to earn to walk again and now my gait is off and my ankles are killing me. So many new things. It seems neverending.
You have a malp malpractice case but it must be filed within two years of the incident however deck gate would be the end date of your hospitalization. I know from personal experience having had a surgical error and a full written admission of it from the surgeon what it's like to go through a malpractice case. My firm belief is the hospital's insurance company will settle almost 90% of cases do. You should not have to pay for their mistakes. Your case was mishandled and you suffered damages. everything is in your medical files as it must be legally documented and you are entitled to a full copy as well as your lawyer. I say this because after 16 years from my first accident I desperately needed that money to pay for medical expenses
My dad was extubated on propofol, and died.
Tbi - ICU for 1 week
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Healing Post Induced Coma
