How long it take to wake up from sedation effect - ICUsteps

ICUsteps

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How long it take to wake up from sedation effect

Avaco profile image
25 Replies

Hi All,

I’m so glad to find this app so we can share our experience of our loved ones my mom is in ICU critical on ventilator today is day number 31 she is fighting my concern is how long it take to come out of the sedation effect.Its very heartbreaking to see mom going tube inside the mouth for that long :(

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Avaco profile image
Avaco
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25 Replies
Sepsur profile image
Sepsur

Good morning

What has your Mom been admitted with into ICU, I posted a piece on why Covid patients are taking longer to wake at present about 6 posts behind this one. I’m assuming there will be the same issue with shortages of paralysing agent no matter why you find yourself in ICU at present. It would appear that the virus also causes extensive kidney function disruption so the sedatives used take longer to leave system, kidneys clean blood of toxin inc. sedatives.

The staff are having to resort to sedatives that cause more side effects, delirium, neuropathy, myopathy because of shortages of preferred sedative. They are also proportionately having to use more to keep them paralysed while proning and getting them to synchronise with ventilator.

All of these factors are slowing down the waking process. I took 11 days to wake from 57 day coma

Avaco profile image
Avaco in reply to Sepsur

Thanks Sepspur it’s very reassuring

Avaco profile image
Avaco in reply to Sepsur

Hi every one,

Another thing I want to know when patient came out of the sedation in delirium phase eyes are not tracking it’s still but blinking that’s what my Mom is experiencing right now? Any comments and review in this phase? And how long it takes to be out from vent setting as they are giving her some try of spontaneous breathing but my mom respiratory rate gone up and she has to change the seething and give her sedation. When normally lungs start getting ready to be out from vent setting it’s so painful to see mom with tube going on 24/7

Sepsur profile image
Sepsur in reply to Avaco

Hi Avaco

I don’t quite understand your question but does this piece help?

icusteps.org/assets/files/i...

Marcita profile image
Marcita

It took my mom around 20 days to show signs of conciousness. Before she only had her eyes open and was unresponsive. But they removed her ventilador around day 25th even though she wasn't awake.

She's making baby steps towards recovery. She does something new everyday. It will be a long road for her. But she can communicate.

Chanlib profile image
Chanlib

Hey! My dad has been in ICU for 8 weeks now and took him around 21 days to ‘wake up’ after sedation and 28 days to respond ‘yes’ and ‘no’ through the speaking valve on his trach. He’s making progress, but really, really slowly. Just have to keep positive and take each day as it comes!

avnipiro profile image
avnipiro

Did your love ones have good days and bad days during that period?

My dad yesterday was able to open his eyes and was been wean of the ventilator, today he been sleeping and they didnt try to wean him off as they wanted to give him a rest. They concern so they done a brain scan to make sure they havent missed anything.

Avaco profile image
Avaco

Hi every one Thanks for the reply

Another question I would like to know how long it take for lungs to recover fully? The disaster which corona made in lungs?

Marcita profile image
Marcita in reply to Avaco

To FULLY recover from Pneumonia (not Covid induced) alone might a year or even years.

Your dad might be able to leave the hospital fine and good but the recovery will take a long while and he might not be able to walk too much and things like that.

Covid is a new thing. We are just learning. We don't have all answers yet...

Avaco profile image
Avaco in reply to Marcita

Thanks Marcita for reply

Sepsur profile image
Sepsur in reply to Avaco

10-14 days for every day you are in hospital

Avaco profile image
Avaco

Hi every one,

I’d it normal when patient cane out of the sedation in delirium phase eyes are not tracking it’s still but blinking that’s what my Mom is experiencing right now? Any comments and review in this phase?

Marcita profile image
Marcita in reply to Avaco

Yes. It will be SLOWLY.

My mom first tried to open her eyes. And then another 2-3 days to fully open her eyes but kept looking to the empty space. And then another 2-3 days to start tracking people. And then another 2-3 days to nod her head. And then another 2-3 days to move her fingers. And then another 2-3 days to say "yes" and "no"...

Slow, slow and steady for us.

Avaco profile image
Avaco in reply to Marcita

Thanks Marcita for breakdown the time line it’s very reassuring

In my mom case she was awake but her lungs are not healed enough to be ready for breathing tube to be out she was tycipnic respiratory rate gone up so dr gave her desertion to make her calm and sleepy.

How long it take for lung to heal enough any rough time line?

Marcita profile image
Marcita in reply to Avaco

Fully recovery will take a long time. We are talking about months here.

Being good enough to be weaned off it's different for everyone. There's this famous actor who is 41 years and is still on a ventilator for 6 weeks. He had a tracheotomy recently.

For my mom who is 55 years they extubated her after 25 days and another 5 days using a face mask to breath. And after that she was breathing on her own. She never needed a tracheotomy.

Avaco profile image
Avaco

Thanks Sepsur

Avaco profile image
Avaco

Hi All

Just came to know after taking with RN on phone for Mom update regarding my Mom still positive for COVID they test yesterday

She is been in ICU on ventilator today is day number 35 we thought COVID stays 2-3 weeks. Does any one know how long I stays in the system. I ‘m worried that COVID might not do more disaster.

Chanlib profile image
Chanlib in reply to Avaco

Hey - not sure how best to answer you. My dad has been in ICU coming up to 9 weeks. He’s still COVID positive... and that’s 9 weeks from when he’s been in hospital, he was ill before he went into hospital, so could be longer! Our dr said a lot of their other patients are still testing positive after a long time.

My mum also has covid and she tested positive up to the 6th week...!

HopefulA profile image
HopefulA in reply to Chanlib

How is your dad doing? x

Chanlib profile image
Chanlib in reply to HopefulA

Thank you for asking! After the most awful 9 weeks, we are finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. It took my dad over a month to fully wake up and only this week he is speaking. He still can’t move his legs...but the physios work with him everyday. Hopefully on Monday he’ll have his trach out.

But now that he is fully awake he doesn’t remember why he is in hospital and why we haven’t gone to visit him. He keeps calling us (getting the nurse to call) and to ask if we’ve left the house to collect him 😞 he’s also constantly talking about food and asking us to help him and get him food and drink. Hopefully this only lasts a short while...

How is your dad? I really hope you have good news coming your way xx

HopefulA profile image
HopefulA in reply to Chanlib

That's great to hear and gives me hope.

Bless your dad, he is clearly missing you all but hopefully soon the delirium wears off and then he will be ok. Getting the trachy out will be great🤞🏼

Doctor called and said he is still requiring between 50-65% oxygen and they think he may have a chest infection on top of already very damaged lungs.

They have added another antibiotic and steroids yesterday so I really hope these kick in over the weekend and pray he turns a corner. 6 weeks on sunday since he has been in ITU x

Avaco profile image
Avaco

Thanks Chanlib for your reply

So it’s common my mom is not alone

Is your dad on ventilator?

My mom is on vent very hard to see her tube going on in mouth 24/7 from

Last 4 weeks here they don’t perform trac on COVID positive patients.

Chanlib profile image
Chanlib in reply to Avaco

My dad came off the ventilator around 2 weeks ago...

We had a delay in the drs giving my dad a Trach as they hadn’t learnt how to operate on covid positive patients, but then a week later they had been taught and he got it straight away.

We just got our daily call and again the dr said they are seeing covid patients who have been on the ventilator for some time to still be testing positive due to viral shedding; its taking longer for their body to get rid of the secretions. Ask your dr if that too is the case for your mum...

Avaco profile image
Avaco in reply to Chanlib

Hi Chanlib

It’s good and your dad is lucky that they perform trach over here in Canada they found my mom is covid positive so they are not trying to perform this procedure i gave them UK example but they don’t have this policy here we are stuck now.

What yo do?

Marcita profile image
Marcita in reply to Avaco

My mom didn't need a tracheotomy. They never even considered it. She spent 25 days on a ventilator.

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