Pneumococcal Menigitis

[Tez99]

Hi, my brother has been in ICU now with Pneumococcal Menigitis. They’ve stopped his sedation and he still has the tube down his throat - clearly if his brain function was on the mend His response would be to become stressed at the tube, but there’s no response other than occasional reflex spasms in his hands. Does anybody have any experience of PMenigitus, whereby they have come off sedation and not responded to having the tube down their throat?? Does anybody have experience of PMenigitus and how long were you or the people you know on life support for?

My brother is 53 years old.

Thanks

[ignoreit]

I had meningococcal & septicemia and was in a coma too. When I awakened, a doctor & nurse were standing at my bedside and told me I had been in a coma and might have a slight sore throat from the tube that had been down my throat. I remember that there were several medical instruments on my chest and that I was unable to move. My point is that I didn't awaken on my own or pull the tube out, in a panic. So I'm assuming (& it's only an assumption because I don't know) that the doctor brought me out of the coma, after removing the tube. I felt no panic whatsoever.

[ShannanLouise]

Get the hospital to test whether he also has staph or MRSA. Often co-morbid with pneumonia and meningitis. I wish him well and am thinking good thoughts for him, you and all his family and friends.

[hystyk28]

I am going through this as well with my mom. Vitals are good, eeg is good, but she is non responsive. She is still intebated and has been for 14 days. She is still on antiseizure med phenylbarbitol.They are doing a trach and peg tomorrow. I don't know if there is any way she can come out of this...does anyone have any experience with this? Sounds similar to th OP. Thanks to anyone that can help us out. This is tough to go through.

[Nicolab123]

Hi, my dad had PM at 56 years old and 7 weeks on has just gone back to work (half days for now) but has fully recovered with no life changing after effects. He went into hospital on 2nd Jan, had an EVD drain inserted into his brain, due to the fluid, early hours of 3rd morning and had the oxygen tube out on 6th because he was biting it. On the 3rd and 4th he was very out of it still, he was responding better on 5th but even after he had the oxygen tube out on 6th it took a couple of days for him to be able to speak a few words. He sounded very croacky as the tube pushes on your vocal chords and was so sore. Give him time, it may take a while but don't give up hope. My dad was in ICU and HCU for a week and in hospital for 2.5 weeks but they said it could have be weeks / months. Positive thoughts are with you and your family x

[Vcoop]

My mom had pneumococcal bacterial maningitis was getting better them took a turn for worse and was In the icu for 10 days. Spent another 15 on the neurological floor first 7 days after the icu unresponsive, would open her eyes but not follow directions, it was/is a very slow recovery process. Prognoses given to us while she was in the icu was horrible like she would need long term nursing care. Well after the hospital she went to rehab facility for about a month and is home now,earning to live with sequeles like no movement on right arms and hand, relearning to walk, but about 90% back mentally and personality wise. We feel it’s a miracle! Per doctors the maningitis caused a lot of brain pressure and cause several strokes so now she needs help with everything but is improving every day. Don’t give up hope! As long as they are in the correct antibiotics and spinal tap comes back clear, you can get the brain mri to sort of know what possible sequelas you can potentially be expecting. It’s a long long recovery process for most. Sending love and prayers

[sdjohnson231]

I had bacterial pneumococcal meningitis at the age of 56, 3 years ago. While I was not officially in a coma, I was nonresponsive for about 5 days. I couldn't speak, have no memory of those days, etc. It took time for the iv antibiotics to start working, to bring the brain swelling down, for me to come around. Give this time. Keep talking to your brother, as if he is awake and understands you. You don't know what IS getting through to him! Have a family member stay with him at all times. Keep music or the tv going in the room. While coming out of "my fog", I had horrible hallucinations. I've read that most people have them. The sound of the tv helped bring me back to consciousness. Music would have probably worked, too. Best wishes to your brother.