How long does it take to come around after coma?

[JBean123]

Hi,

My Dad has been in an induced coma for 11 days and then had a huge heart operation. They started to reduce his sedation day 4 post op, and he opened his eyes and blinked a little on command; then squeezed my Mums hand. They explained and they need to fit a trachi on Monday night, it’s now Wednesday night and we’ve gone backwards a little, he’s had no Propofol or sedation for 48 hours now and we’re not seeing any response really, maybe a little eyebrow move but not even blinking since the trachi has been fitted. They did have to resedate him and paralyse him for the trachi fitting but I’m really concerned that we’ve not had any movements or signs that he is coming round at all. I understand the need for patience; we’ve been in ICU now for over a month but I’m getting concerned and trying to have faith and stay positive. Everyone in our waiting room seems to have their loved ones coming round from sedation within 24 hours or so, but the doctors don’t really seem concerned about his timings. If anyone has had any similar expieriences with coming around from induced coma (total time frame of 17 days) would be so greatly appreciated. I’m terrified.

Thanks

[Sepsur]

try not to compare your Dad with other patients- we are all unique!! Everyone has a different reaction & tolerance to sedation - you don’t know how much was used on him and whether he needed to be sedated to a deeper level for his body to synchronise with all the life support machines either. After a 57 day coma - it took me 11 days to come around properly- during this time I was fighting my way through acute ICU delirium

[JBean123 in reply to Sepsur]

Thank you for your response and words of advice from your personal experience, yes you are totally correct they were using a lot of Propofol to keep him sedated to sync his breathing but this was stopped 2 days ago. At the moment he is on minimum oxygen support (25) and his Peep is around 6 I think; he has come off dialysis and has no accute kidney injury and other organs are no longer in failure, just waiting for him to wake. The Drs have said it can take time and they expect to see more by the end of the week but the waiting is so terrifying for us all. He has had open heart surgery 6 days ago, and they did keep his chest open for a few days after so he was heavily sedated for 3 days to avoid any movement until they closed his chest. He’s always been so strong and healthy (no prior medical conditions and never taken any medication) so it’s just so terrifying to see Dad like this. Thank you for your response means a lot and I will certainly take advice so as not to compare with other patient stories from the waiting room xxx

[Sepsur in reply to JBean123]

dialysis & renal dysfunction will slow down how quickly he rids himself of sedatives too

[JBean123 in reply to Sepsur]

Thank you Sepsur and for taking the time to respond from your own experience, you are doing such a huge kindness in helping so many family members on these threads and offering your own experiences, it means so much I can’t tell you.

He was on dialysis for 2 weeks, but removed about a week ago with no damage to kidneys now present, Urea and Creatinin in normal range and passing good amounts.

Will keep speaking to him on visits and praying for him to wake in his own time. He’s defied a lot of medical odds so far so having faith he just needs time to wake

Xxx

[FamilyHistorian]

we are all different. I had open heart surgery and had sepsis and pneumonia. I also had a tracky. My family were initially told a couple of days then a week and eventually they said he’ll come round when he is ready. They were also called in twice because I wasn’t expected to make it. So for me nearly 2 months. Then you have to start to recover

[JBean123]

Thank you for replying FamilyHistorian, your journey sounds incredibly tough and a testament to your own inner strength and that of your loved ones who went through this with you.

We’ve had the ‘chat’ 3 times during our journey, and been called into say our goodbyes which is just horrific (this was before his surgery though). His organs fully recovered whilst in induced coma and meant he was strong enough for the surgery, they didn’t wake him up before surgery, and the surgeon is pleased with his operation, no complications post surgery and they closed his chest on day 2. He’s been in a medically induced coma prior to surgery for 2 weeks and then woke a little with reduced sedation, then since the trachi we’ve had no response and now on day 3 lost trachi insert. Dads always been good at endurance sports, I’m keeping faith that he is preserving his energy ready to turn a corner into his rehabilitation phase which I know is a very long journey but just want to see him wake up with some movements to offer the reassurance that we all so desperately need. Thank you for providing that through your personal experience. Xx

[Lux95]

As others have said, it can take longer for some patients than others - that seems the most common aspect of sedation - completely different times to wake up from person to person.

I think it took me 4 days to come around after 11 days under sedation and a tracheostomy at the end of that time. I was in the ICU for pneumonia. I can imagine after open heart surgery it could take even more time, as it sounds like your Dad was under more significant sedation. It could also just be that his body knows it needs a little more time to heal before waking up.

Spend time just being with him, reassuring him even if he can't really hear you yet (hard to say, sometimes we do seem to hear some of what goes on). It means so much to us as patients to know our families are there when we try to wake up and then finally do; and then to know how much you were there when we were out of it. I remember trying to wake up a few times before the last day. I couldn't respond to much, and nothing looked normal, so don't be alarmed by open eyes but no other significant responses. Just talk to him then.

[JBean123 in reply to Lux95]

Thank you Lux95 for taking the time to respond with your own personal experience, I said it my last response to Sepsur that you are all doing a great kindness to all of us distressed and worried relatives on these threads so really Thank you.

You are absolutely right, we’ve been told patience, one of his doctors has even said ‘hopefully by the end of the week we will see something’, so there is no concern from them at this time, it’s just so difficult not seeing him really on any meds now and minimal medication support and not awake, but I will have patience, we are day 3 now with no sedation and not awake. I’ll keep you updated thank you again x

[Lux95 in reply to JBean123]

You are most welcome. This site was a huge help to me too. I will be praying for your dad, you and your family. Yes, please do keep us updated. You are not alone!

[Austinrreneau]

it took me months to get out of rehab, but like someone mentioned we’re all different. If he’s squeezing your hand that’s awesome, he’s aware. He’ll be confused for a while, it’s totally normal.

[JBean123 in reply to Austinrreneau]

Thank you Austinrreneau for your reply and reassurance. He’s now much more alert and trying to has movement in arms and legs which is very reassuring to see, with the trachi he’s unable to talk but did mime yesterday that he ‘wanted to get going’ and seemed very upset again when we told him he needs to stay there to get better, im now getting worried he has ICU delirium a little (he’s been in ICU 4 weeks prior to coma and think he’s just fed up of being in there and probably still a little confused. Doing everything we can to reassure him, I hope you have good health and thank you so much x Z

[Misterpaulwood]

I was in a induced coma for eight weeks it took me a fortnight to come round to some sort of normal thinking and response, it can take time but trust me he will bounce back, it's worse for the family. Don't worry.....

[JBean123]

thanks Misterpaulwood for your reply, Dads about a week out now and he’s had a day where he has been really tired, we’re on a rollercoaster of a journey but just wanting to see him with more strength and can see how frustrated he is. He’s very active so lying there not really able to move and he can’t speak with the trachi in is really confusing for him, I’ve had to explain several times where he is and can see sometimes he’s abit shocked to learn what he’s been through. I’m worried about ICU deletion as he’s 7 weeks in ICU now and think it’s taking its toll mentally. We are keeping faith with his recovery and know we have a long journey; some days are harder than the others and today was one of them. Hope that you are in a good health now after your experience and thanks for sharing xx