induced coma - how long can it take for a loved one to come around?

[tkelum]

My sister had a sudden septic infection last week. She was in hospital when it happened for another condition. She has severe form of gastroparesis and was admitted because of a flare up. It’s 8 days today since she was put in induced coma. She has been given rounds of antibiotics. She is currently on a ventilator, dialysis due to complete kidney failure caused by the sepsis, so many wires everywhere and machines. We are all worried sick and its breaking my heart to see her like that.

Currently is stable and her care team have now started to slowly decreasing the amount of sedatives and opiates to try wake her up and get her consciousness to gradually return and I was just wondering how long can it take for her to come around?

thank you

[FamilyHistorian]

All patients are different so there’s not one rule the fits all. In my case I had had open heart surgery, pneumonia, sepsis and a trachy and whilst I was expected to come round reasonably quickly it was nearly 2 months before I had properly woken up. At this time your loved one is being cared for by their medical team so it is really important that you care fire yourself.

[tkelum in reply to FamilyHistorian]

Thank you for your reply

[Hidden]

Sending prayers and positive thoughts for you all. Acute kidney failure can be reversed so don’t worry too much . As for coming around it’s a slow recovery. Everyone is different and the body needs time to heal. I know of a close friend who had scepticemea and is now walking around, working etc and being normal . She was in ICU 3 months and most of it in a coma . Mentally she’s exactly same no brain injuries or anything. She’s her normal self .

Physio is very important so once your sister is taken to HDU please get on the physio department to gently to start sitting her up and for you and your family start gentle massages and touch therapy as that keeps the connection to the ‘ brain ‘ stimulation . Hot cold ( within comfort ) different texture ( feathers ) on feet few water drops on cheeks all help with awareness. Smells ( waft under nose , lemon peel , coffee granules etc or her favourite perfume etc ) foods smells . Play sounds ( familiar, traffic, rain , dog’s barking or iPhone ringing tone )

Look into binaureal beats , alpha theta wave’s music for brain healing. These we played consistently throughout the coma hospital + stay.

My husband was in a coma’s 9+ months this is what we did .

We are 5-6 years on from TBi so talking about experience. Unfortunately he encountered many other problems ( medical ) so he’s End life care now . But each story is different and we can only hope .

Just lots of patience, praying ( the positive energy of the universe if you not religious) ( seriously that helps a lot for everyone to keep hope & positive)

[tkelum in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your detailed reply and assurance and I am sorry to hear about your husband. She woke up on Thursday but but has been in a very confused state. She’s very agitated, scared, confused, sometimes even angry believing the staffs are hurting her and making her sick on purpose with so many wires and machines so they can continue keeping her in hospital.

We were told by the doctors it’s something called icu delirium & that most patients who have been on life support get it. They are hoping should hopefully clear in couple of days as sedatives leave her system and she comes around more but it is very upsetting and heartbreaking seeing her distraught like this.

At the moment we are just trying to assure her she is safe & comfort her but it’s really upsetting. Like last night was just horrible for her she was very anxious and scared like she’s seeing things crying despite me and our elder sister being there with her. Her heart rate kept shooting up, in the end they resorted to give her something to make her sleep so she can rest. Thank you again

[Catdancer01]

In 2019 I was on ECMO in induced coma for 3/4 weeks and it took me 2/3 weeks to come around and make sense what was real and what were delirium dreams. I did have some sense of who was in the room with me and where I was when in coma because of where my dreams were set sometimes and who was in them!

My consultant insisted my kids come into the room to help persuade/force me to wake up and it worked I think! Part of my brain knew I had to wake up for them, they were 8 and 10years old at the time!

[tkelum in reply to Catdancer01]

Thank you so much for your reply. She is a mother of 2 too. Her kids are currently 12 years old and 5. We haven’t brought them to see her yet as we are scared maybe it might traumatise/upset them seeing their mother with wires everywhere like that. She has been awake for almost 2 weeks now but for the most part she is not aware what is going on and still in delirium state. Some days are worst than others. Thanks again for your reply. We are keeping faith with her recovery and I know we have a long journey