Confusion about Ventilating and Sedation

[Lilypad246]

Hi Everyone,

Unfortunately, after a routine stent and coiling procedure, my dad had a seizure and a stroke and has been induced into a coma. It has been 5 days now. My family and I are very confused and concerned. His main doctors are more hopeful, but we are getting so many mixed messages. One thing we’re concerned about is that the hospital keeps sedating him when he coughs because of the ventilator. However, the doctor tells us that they want him to be purposefully moving in order to remove his ventilator. But he can’t do that if he’s so sedated on propofol. Looking for any insight for anyone who has been in the same situation. When have you all been told that it’s time for you or your loved one to be taken off the ventilator or weened off of sedation? Did the doctors tell you what they were looking for? Isn’t he supposed to be coughing when he’s on the ventilator? We’re worried that his hands are weak from the stroke and he just can’t show purposeful movement.

Any insight would be appreciated.

[Sepsur]

I don’t know that there is a specific moment that someone is weened, we are all different. I would suggest that he is not managing to keep his breathing going unaided & that he is also not synchronising with the life support as efficiently as they would like, hence re sedating him. 5 days feels like a lifetime to you, I am sure, but many of us were sedated for much longer without any catastrophic effects long term

[Lilypad246 in reply to Sepsur]

Thank you for your insight! That's great to hear about your experience as well. My dad had a good day today and was able to be weened off of sedation and extubated. Fingers crossed he has another good day tomorrow. It definitely feels like a lifetime has happened, but it's really been so helpful to hear all of your experiences.

[BabyRhino in reply to Lilypad246]

Hi Lilypad246

I'm so glad to hear that your Dad has had a better day. Try to bear in mind that healing does take time. My husband was on and off sedation for over 2 weeks. It nearly drove me crazy, but I can see now that he just had an awful lot of healing to do!

[FamilyHistorian]

lily pad

I would just say this. As Sepsur said we are all very different but

The doctors tend to be pessimistic and that doesn’t help you.

You loose so much muscle no wonder you are weak. I’m right handed and couldn’t lift anything including a pen. A phone was out of the question. Once I was home one of my goals was to be able to make a pot of tea safely! Which I achieved. Also don’t forget that loosing the strength of your muscles effects every part of the body. I lost approximately 5 stone and that wasn’t just fat as I am 6’ 3”

The physios used to work on me when I was in a coma - I have no idea what they did

[Care4]

Hi, First of all I am so sorry you are going through this and am sending out prayers for healing. My husband just got home from 8 weeks in the hospital with pneumonia. He was sedated in icu and placed on ventilator. He has heart disease and even though he was on the vent, it was to ease the stress on his heart which may be the reason the doctors have him on it. He was on for a couple of weeks and sedated with propofol. They took him off sedation and it took a couple of days before he could respond to commands like squeezing the hand. But he is fine now. Keep up the faith. Some people take longer but healing is taking place. Hope this helps.

[Kit10 in reply to Care4]

Care4

I remember your post when your husband was sedated - I'm pleased to hear he's getting better. Sometimes people post once and then don't post ever again, and I always wonder what's happened. Hope he continues to recover

Kit