Coming off sedation : I wonder if anyone can help... - ICUsteps

ICUsteps

7,846 members•2,474 posts

Coming off sedation

I wonder if anyone can help me. 9 days ago my boyfriends mum suffered a heart attack and cardiac arrest at home. We called an ambulance and I started giving cpr until they got there they took her to hospital where we found out that she had 3 blocked arteries and 5 stents were inserted. She has been in icu since then on sedation and a ventilator and they have been gradually trying to bring her around this morning she came around and she pulled the ventilator out herself we were told her son (my boyfriend) could visit it may do her good. When he got there she was in a bad way making weird movements telling my boyfriend to shut up and screaming the doctors have told him they are worried about her potentially having brain damage and they ate concerned but aren't these things she's doing also a side effect of coming off all these drugs and medicines I feel like they haven't even given her a proper chance she only came around today. I was just wondering if anyone had been anything similar or could offer any advice my boyfriend is so upset as you can imagine and I can't really find anything reassuring online. I've told him we need to be strong for her and there is always hope🙏

Written by

Moomoofunk

To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .

14 Replies

•

FamilyHistorian3 years ago

Hi you can see more about me in my profile.

How amazing you were to successfully perform cpr what better gift can you give some one.

I’m not a medical person but what you describe happened to and was caused by delirium & hallucinations . It took me a long time to be weened off the drugs. I was regularly pulling out drains, wires tubes etc and didn’t know what I was doing. I wasn’t particularly pleasant to family and staff.

I had a trachy fitted. I had my heart op before Xmas ‘19 and a coma for the rest of December, January and part of February

You may find that doctors are pessimistic rather than optimistic which is what you want to hear. You find that they might have to resedate her and start weening her off again and again

Moomoofunk• in reply toFamilyHistorian3 years ago

Hi there

Wow I had a look at your profile you've certainly been through alot! And you've come out the other side what a fighter you are! How are you feeling now?

Many thanks for reaching out to me I was not in a good place the last few days so reading everyone's comments has helped alot and reassured us. We went to see her today and she knew who we were as the visit went on she got abit rude swearing and telling us to shut up again but I guess this could still be delirium I guess it doesn't just go after a day or two ?

FamilyHistorian• in reply toMoomoofunk3 years ago

It’s 16 months since I came out. My physical strength is getting better but my balance is crap. The hallucinations don’t bother me at all and I can remember them all in detail. My sense of humour has changed it was wicked and now it is evil. My personality has changed and my brain doesn’t control my mouth and whilst I wouldn’t want to offend anyone I’m not bothered. There’s plenty else to worry about as I now have pulmonary fibrosis and sleep apnea and I’m n ok t too bothered by that either. Just get in and make the best of things.

Take care

Nmonroe20163 years ago

This could absolutely be ICU delirium. I had it and it’s awful. It feels all too real. Prayers for your family 💕

Moomoofunk• in reply toNmonroe20163 years ago

Thankyou so much for reaching out your words meant alot at this horrible time 💞

3 years ago

It is possible she has ICU delerium, which is common for ventilated patients. ICU steps has a section on ICU delerium, or you can just put that in your google search. I had the delerium when in ICU.

Turtle02093 years ago

Hi. My husband was under heavy sedation after sepsis in the last 3 weeks. I too had the same warnings, "he may not be the man he was" was what the doctors said to me. Initially he suffered from delirium, like the others have mentioned, when they brought him round. He was extremely confused and was having hallucinations. This lasted a good few days. The medical staff did the same with me; brought me into the hospital a couple of times to see if it helped him settle. He doesn't remember me going in the first time even though he was awake and talking. I have learned since that the doctors are deliberately brief at times using terms like "critical but stable" as they don't want to mislead relatives; people will improve and deteriorate but what I can say is the staff I saw did everything they could to treat my husband. It can be a bumpy road, you will see progress then inexplicably your loved one takes a step back and it can be difficult to deal with.

I'm pleased to say my husband is now much improved. He is in a side room on a normal ward now and the sepsis pretty much dealt with. He has rehab and recuperation to do but all being well he may get discharged next week. Two weeks ago I didn't think that would be possible.

I have to say that the first couple of visits I had were really distressing but they did seem to make a difference. I came out of the ward and sobbed. It is hard to stay strong but I had a thread on this forum asking advice and I found it really helpful and comforting.

I hope that your boyfriend's mum continues to improve. What I found was that having people around me was a great help too (at the age of 45 I moved back in with my parents for 2 weeks) and it seems like he has a fabulous support in you.

Moomoofunk• in reply toTurtle02093 years ago

Hi there turtle!

I'm sorry about your husband that must of been so scary for you im glad to hear he is on the ment sepsis is a horrible horrible disease

jld853 years ago

Hey there! Hope his mother is doing better! It all takes time. My father has been on a ventilator three times since March, due to covid/pneumonia/blood clots. Every time he has come off of the ventilator he has had delirium. Also just being in that environment is very traumatizing and it really does something to your brain. My dad is off the vent now for a few days and he has delirium. He is very hateful at times and he sees things that aren’t there. The other times when being on a vent or coming off the sedation, he has had agitation as well and has also pulled things out. He has pulled out IVs, he tried to pull his catheter out, and he’ll take his pulse ox off. So yes, this is very common. After some time, it goes away. It’s a combination of medications, the environment, and just overall what they go through. My dad has had to be put on a few different types of meds for anxiety and things. They can of course do a CT scan to make sure her brain is ok, they had done that with my dad a little while back and it was ok. But yes, the way she is acting is very common.

Moomoofunk• in reply tojld853 years ago

Hi there!

I'm so sorry to hear you're having a tough time aswell how is your dad doing?

jld85• in reply toMoomoofunk3 years ago

He’s doing good! Thanks for asking. Taking one day at a time! Definitely a slow, tedious process. My dad has been hateful today as well. He’s done this everytime and it goes away. It’s usually not a couple days. Some may get lucky, but it takes a week or two maybe. I can’t remember how long exactly it was before but not a real long time. Hers may subside in a few days or so. But it will get better! Just hold on! Hope she’s doing better today!