Induced coma

[BJ12]

My partner's been put in an induced coma twice now. This time round though he's far worse than what he was before. He keeps hallucinating, lashing out etc. Just would like to know what to expect from now as he's now off his oxygen and drip, but still acting aggressively and not making much sense when he talks. He's also been getting up and walking around and managing to eat/drink. So was wondering if it could possibly be the sedation drugs they're giving him??

[LeopardGecko]

It's hard to say as everyone is different. Have you looked into Delirium? It is very common for ICU patients.CCSN have information in their page: cc-sn.org/information

[BJ12 in reply to LeopardGecko]

I haven't no. I will do. Thankyou

[LeopardGecko in reply to BJ12]

CCSN also have a supportive Facebook group and run a relatives Zoom meeting on Tuesday evenings which I found to be incredibly helpful.

[BJ12 in reply to LeopardGecko]

Thankyou

[Sepsur]

Most people intubated in ICU will experience ICU delirium- there are to types hyperactive - where the person is very agitatated. Hypoactive delirium leaves the person totally passive

[Hidden]

Sounds like he has ICU delerium. It is very common. I had it both stays in ICU last year. The first time was not so bad, but the second when I was on a ventilator and had a trachy it was bad. Very vivid dreams often violent. However once I came round and was no longer on sedation, the dreaming stopped. I also had reassurance from my ICU nurse and I was given an anxiety tablet which I took until I came home and my gp advised to stop taking. In my head I had been to different countries and at different times, some of the dreams or locations repeated. The ICU team are used to this, and it should go away once the treatments are eased up

[FamilyHistorian in reply to Hidden]

I was also in different countries during different centuries the strange thing was that although dressed appropriately for the century in some I was using modern day equipment.

[BJ12 in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou, this sounds a lot like what he's going through but he keeps having episodes where he like breaks out of it and he's now off his drip and can sometimes get up and walk, but then it only lasts half an hour or so and then he goes back to not talking properly and hallucintaing. How long did it take for them to take you off of sedation if you don't mind me asking?

[Hidden in reply to BJ12]

I was sedated for about 4 to 5 weeks in the second period of ICU when I had Covid. In the first period of ICU I was on strong medication for about 10 days. I can remember opening my eyes and the nurse saying "ah you are back with us then"......

[BJ12 in reply to Hidden]

Bless you. See my partner's been in 5 days now. They woke him up on the Saturday and he's been awake since then but it's as though he breaks out of it for a little bit and then just goes back to not being able to talk or sit up properly. It's just so heartbreaking to see someone you love in that state.

[Hidden in reply to BJ12]

Once of sedation , it took me a while to recover. I was immobile and was transfered to a community hospital for 4 weeks physio. Speach returned quickly, and the dreaming stopped. I was on an anxiety tablet until finally out of care. This experience was quite haunting but by focussing on the positive I have come to terms with being in hospital care for a 7 month period. I have found ICU steps forum a great way of sharing experiences and realising many others have experienced the same.

[FamilyHistorian]

My son (just under 40) got very upset when they put gloves (mits) on me to try and stop me pulling out the tubes etc butb I didn't know anythng about it. Even if we speak (talk) we dont necessarily know what we are saying or the effect it might have on someone.

[CLM68]

ICU Delirium is incredibly common. You either come round feeling under threat as your fight/fight really kicks in as you have no idea what these strange people are trying to do to you. I was the total opposite of being incredibly mellow which I don't think ICU was used to! Your brain is not meant to be switched off and it can take a while to reset and for all the drugs to leave your system. It is also very common to be diagnosed with PTSD