My brother is on day 5 off sedation but he's still not waking up.. Is this common?

My brother has come so far after severe Covid. He has been on ventilator for 3 weeks with, pneumonia, sepsis internal bleed in bowel and kidney failure. He finally got his tracheostomy fitted and the medical team began taking him off sedation 5 days ago but he has not responded. We are so worried that he won't wake up. His brain scan was clear so is this normal? Has anyone else had the same experience?

[FamilyHistorian]

People are effected differently but it can take time to be weened off. A year ago Nov’19 - March’20 I was in hospital and over 2 months of that time I was in icu I was ventilated / sedated had a trachy following heart op pneumonia sepsis and a range of other infections. It was just under 2 months before I started to come round this was despite numerous attempts to ween me off. I kept getting agitated and had to be re-sedated.

It’s good that his scan is clear.

[Sepsur]

Yes - I took 11 days ( not recovering from Covid) Covid patients seem to be taking longer to wake too.

[HeatherAz in reply to Sepsur]

Hi i was wondering if during those 11 days were you responding to pain or showing any purposeful movements?

[Sepsur in reply to HeatherAz]

Yes I did - but it all depends on the paralysing agent & sedative used / some mean the person is much less responsive & takes much longer ( proportionally speaking) to wake.

[Miltch]

Hi, my dad is still in icu recovering from severe covid, he’s just starting to come round, it’s taken over 4 weeks, covid patients are taking a lot longer than the ‘normal’ time to wake up.

It’s such a worrying time, but don’t panic he will wake up.

[Rach2Sym]

I was hyporesponsive for a week after icu - very worrying for my family as they knew the possible implications. I then had a period of delerium. The clear scan is really good news. Give it time. It's a year today that I caught Covid - I'm doing well - the virus and icu are frightening.

[Miltch in reply to Rach2Sym]

Hi, how long did the delirium last?

My dad has woken up and he thinks he’s in a hotel room on a Caribbean cruise.

Pleased he’s thinking that rather than the shock of him knowing where he is.

But I just wondered how long the delirium lasts?

[Rach2Sym in reply to Miltch]

I was sedated/intubated for two weeks, then two weeks in high dependency, unresponsive for the first, gradually 'awaking' to delirium during the second. Not everyone experiences delirium; for those that do, some have OK experiences, for others it can be horrible. Everyone is different. Wherever you are in delirium is absolutely real - don't try to talk them out of it - just be with them - it's difficult to explain if you haven't been there. For me, delirium was a roller coaster of powerful emotions, distorted memories, being in whacky places, feeling my body to be bizarre shapes etc etc. Normality will gradually return as you get back into familiar surroundings and get out walking.

[Hidden in reply to Rach2Sym]

The doctors are now looking to do an MRI scan. Too

[Copse77]

Please don’t worry. I know hard this is as I saw my brother on life support unconscious with sepsis pre Covid times . It can take weeks to wake up and respond. I remember a kind ICU consultant shouting loudly directly down my brothers ear calling him my his name. His eyes flicked open momentarily. That was a wonderful moment as his scans revealed bleeds on the brain that did resolve. Three years on my brother is well and recovered. I hope the same for your brother. It is really good news his brain scan is clear. Remain hopeful is the best advice we were given along with keeping a timeline each day to record the positives for when he and thus we had bad days. It helps to reflect on the small positives and hopefully keep building on them.

[Copse77]

I also sent you some private messages. If you look at the top of the page in the chat function you will find them.

[Kitty109]

Yes it's very common. Give him some more time. He will wake up eventually.

Wishing a speedy recovery for your brother.

[stevegnfd]

Hi my wife took 2 weeks to wake up, it is worrying but this seems to be normal, she had internal bleeding, and shadows on the brain scan,she is at home now learning to walk and trying to get well.This is a long process to recovery.

Try not to worry he will wake up.

God bless... Steve