Hi,
My dad was moved to a rehabilitation center another hospital per day a week ago, since then he was in a room but then taken to the icu where he is now today when I call they tell me my dad has been trying to pull his tubes out has anyone dealt with this with a loved one. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
I did exactly that when I was in ICU and they had to bandage my hands to stop me from doing it again, though I don't remember anything of this time. I was told later it's a normal kind of 'fight or flight' response. As distressing as it must be for a relative, I think it's quite likely he won't remember this. Our thoughts are with you and I hope this might be of some relief.
Not sure what your dad is currently going through, but my heart goes out to you. My dad tried to pull at his tubes as well and thrashed a lot. Very scary to me, but I’m told it’s quite common and in my dad’s situation it was considered a pretty good thing, since it showed range of movement and purpose. Tubes are very uncomfortable, so it’s natural to want them out for mental and physical reasons.
Hi and thank you for your response He had covid he was transferred to a smaller hospital last week. He is intubated and off of the sedation currently on seroquel. This is heart wrenching to me I keep picturing him restrained. 😥😥😥
According to my nurse, they have to restrained me as I keep pulling out all my tubes and even removing my gown. I don't have any memory of it, though.
I wish him a speedy recovery. x
Thank you for your response. I understand a little better after some research. I’ll try not to panic and think rationally and be calm this is so hard 💔
My husband did the same, they put huge bandaged gloves on him. He thrashed about, kicked all covers off the bed and continuously tried to get out. He was a nightmare to the ICU staff and frightened me and my family. We could see those tubes being stretched to the limit. Home for over a year and never a word about his stay there - cannot remember a thing. As I recall many patients were wearing the gloves so it is very common. You know your dad is in the very best hands, it takes time but he will get there. Good luck to you all x
Thank you so much for your response and sharing about your husband. I am happy to see that he is better. I keep thinking about my dad and being restrained. I know it’s for his safety but definitely hard emotionally because I kept picturing him like that and with tubes. I was able to see him three weeks or four weeks ago because we were told he was looking pretty bad now he is in a smaller hospital but still in the icu this whole thing has been a nightmare and it hasn’t gotten easier the only rest is at night forgetting about it but waking up every few hours scared that the hospital will call me. Thank you for reassuring me. I do appreciate it.
I don't remember if I pulled out tubes in reality, but when I was in ICU I had very detailed nightmares under sedation. They were many and varied and in one of them I had been kidnapped and was being held in a weird, dark hospital. I was so determined to escape that I kept pulling out the cannulas from my arms. This really angered the chief of the kidnappers (who was pretending to be a nurse) and so, in my delusion, I stopped because I was frightened he would harm me.
I don't know if I really did pull out the tubes, but I was probably trying to!
Apparently this is very normal and, as others have said here, actually a good sign that your dad is fightng.
When I was in icu apparently I pulled out different tubes and was made to wear mitts which I apparently also tried to get off. Fortunately for me I wasn’t aware of this as replacing them isn’t very nice especially the feeding tube. This was also traumatic for my family as they saw it happen. Now at home, since middle of March, and behaving. You will see from other posts that your father has a lot more to go through one of my daughters said that it was if I had a brain transplant - different person.
We will all try and support you where we can
Hello, it’s really common for this to happen as you can see from everybody’s response, my husband did the same thing, I was told he’s ‘fighting the ventilator’ which later transpired into ‘tube pulling’ he also frequently pulled out his feeding tube 😖 it’s coinciding with the dreams they’re having and although it might seem alarming they have no recollection of doing this so please try not to worry, all the very best to you xx
Welcome @varmenta83
Thankfully I only pulled out my feeding tube whilst heavily sedated because I have no memory of having done so. Reinserting the tubes is not the most comfortable procedure - so best done whilst heavily sedated.
Apparently, one of the ICU nurses told me, they put mittens on me for a day or two. Many ICU patients suffer ICU delirium causing ‘us’ to believe and see things which simply aren’t there. There are 2 types of delirium, hypoactive & hyperactive.
Your Dad may have delirium ( which can pass very quickly - it did in my case, although I can still remember most of the dreams/delusions vividly) please follow this link to a information page where there is a pdf on delirium
icustepschester.org/informa...
You may find this really helpful to understand the dynamics of delirium. I’m not wishing your Father all the worst aspects of ICU, it’s just worth being aware of potential what lies ahead and the issues these throw up - weight loss, muscle waste, fatigue, weakness, chronic forgetfulness. All of these are normal results of critical illness & the resulting care.
Recovering from critical care is a long haul - please have a look at our website for all the FREE services we offer patients & their families.
Yes, really common with men. I was in icu next to a guy I was conscious the nurses used to say put your hands down Andrew. I used to watch him as I had nothing else to do so would tell him put your hands down Andrew whenever he raised his hands to his tubes. He generally did as I said.
🤣🤣🤣 - seriously is it really more common with men? That is so strange. Come to think of it, I’ve never heard anyone ask about their mother, sister, daughter, wife, aunt or grandmother tearing out tubes
Yep it’s common. My Dad was in Icu for a lengthy period.
He pulled his NG on multiple occasions and they had to reinforce it with a bridle.
He also pulled his catheter out unfortunately.
If your loved in is quite a fidgety person, my advice would be to request a bridle and mittons (little boxing gloves) so that they don’t repeatedly do this.
Of course, they are doing this unwittingly, often as a result of icu delirium, but it’s a tough course between sedating them and preventing them from doing this and reducing sedation, so that they can actually start the weaning process and come off the ventilator.
Wishing you and your loved one all the best!
Ps keep reminding the icu staff of your concerns, the Rota Changes and nurses will have different thresholds for doing the above.
My husband has been doing the same thing. He pulled out his feeding tube and his condom catheter. They have put restraints on him. He is experiencing the ICU delirium, he has kicked the nurses, told me they are trying to kill him, told me I needed to call the cops because he was being held against his will in the parking lot, he has actually even fallen out of the bed from trying to get up. Thank God he didn't injure himself when it happened. They have given him a "sitter" now. This is a very difficult journey and there are many ups and downs unfortunately. Stay strong for your dad! Praying all the best for your dad and family!🙏
I think you can see by now, it's quite common, my husband did the same, he was pulling his tubes out, they put mittens on him to refrain him from pulling his NG tube and med tubes - He pulled the mittens off and the tubes, generally at night time . All of this was whilst he had ICU delirium .
Wishing you all the best .
As a nurse on surgical units, I’ve seen this pulling of tubes, lines etc very often, particularly by people experiencing confusion, delirium. As a recent patient on ICU (induced coma, intubated), my husband informed me that I became very agitated whilst being weaned off the ventilator and that I frequently tried to pull out my endotracheal tubing. Thank goodness I wasn’t conscious enough to be aware of this and that I have no memory of it either. So, yes, it’s quite common and, fortunately, patients aren’t oft aware of it. It can, however, be very distressing for loved ones to see.
Wishing you & your dad well 🍃
First time experience of Loved one in ICU
Consciousness, new here
Still confused after a month
Post induced coma recovery 
