Son in hospital in a coma

He’s kind of better, and yet not better. He’s still in the rehab ward, and he can sit up, feed himself, talk, move around. His memory is still pretty poor, though he’s remembering a few more things. He still thinks it’s 2014, and for a while he thought he was in a dream. He’s eating more.

But for the most part, he’s pretty reluctant to talk, and is pretty much refusing to engage with the therapist people (even though he must know it’s for his own good). I don’t really have any idea how to deal with this: it’s like he just doesn’t want to have anything to do with the world. I’ve known one other person who was like that, and I tried telling him to pull his socks up, and got precisely nowhere.

He’s likely to be moved to a different unit where they specialize in motivational problems (or something like that). Not sure where it’ll be; they were hinting it would be out of the county. Maybe it’ll be a nice bike ride to get there.

Blimey, sounds like you are having it a bit hard at the moment.
Never having been in this situation, it’s hard to know what to say but from all you’ve said so far, it sounds like you are coping really well.

I guess there is going to be plateaus, low points and moments of frustration along the way, but as long as the general trend is upwards then you’ll get there in the end.
It sounds like he is getting the care that he needs.

There’ll be people with far more eloquence and wisdom along soon to improve on my mutterings…

Best Wishes….

I don’t really have any idea how to deal with this: it’s like he just doesn’t want to have anything to do with the world.

Have you tried talking to anyone about this yourself? Through quite a few of your post I get the impression that your son at times in the past has frustrated you, and indeed does now. Perhaps if you can understand more about your sons perspective, his mental/psychological make up, then it will be beneficial for you both?

ive been following your thread from the side lines, overall your son is making amazing progress 🙂

I guess everything must seem as if it’s progressing very slowly oldnpastit, too slowly and frustratingly slowly for you I’m sure, but it’s only been two months. And you posted this back then :

oldnpastit – Member

Had a chat with the doctor today, who was hinting in the nicest possible way that there’s a long way to go. Quite likely to find that if/when he comes out of the coma that everything is going to have to be relearned from scratch.

Posted 2 months ago

It’s still very early days. But he’s still on the road to recovery, however slow that might be 🙂

Hard difficult and exhausting times for you no doubt. Take care of yourself, and all those close to your son.

He’s a bit more responsive but with that has come some quite serious behavioural issues. He’s likely to be sectioned tomorrow on the basis of that, and his refusal to take the treatment and therapy he needs az he still thinks it’s a dream and not real. My darling wife is taking it fairly hard.

The staff on the ward are completely amazing, btw.

Being sectioned can be hugely beneficial, which of course is why it’s done. Difficult times for you and your wife but keep the positive thoughts, so much has happened since those early dark days. This just represents another small step on the slow road to recovery.

I’m pleased to hear he’s physically much better, and i hope very much that he will make a similar improvement in the mental stakes.

Lots of love from Bradford [of all places]

He’s a bit more responsive but with that has come some quite serious behavioural issues. He’s likely to be sectioned tomorrow on the basis of that, and his refusal to take the treatment and therapy he needs az he still thinks it’s a dream and not real. My darling wife is taking it fairly hard.

The staff on the ward are completely amazing, btw.

Sorry to hear that, does he have many friends visiting him?

Can we do anything, a fundraiser to help him get on his feet when all this has blown over….maybe for any future education etc? That you can keep a secret until he’s better???

For what it’s worth I was sectioned twice. Once in UK and once in Vienna.Both times for very similar reasons to you boy. I’m lucky I didn’t hurt myself so bad during my attempts. .
It was the best thing that could have happened to me at the time.
I was very strongly against any treatment and refuse to accept I was ill. How wrong I was.
With the constant treatment and therapy I completely changed my outlook on life.
I came out much stronger.
I am now studying a psychology and counselling degree, have the most amazing lady who I love so much and look at life in a completely different perspective.
If you ever need to talk my mail is in profile.
It seems bad but I promise you, it will definitely get better b

I’ve, for want of a better term, lurked on this topic, reading updates and keeping track.
This is an incredibly brave thing for you to do, to post this, and it does make me realise how lucky I am but how fragile life is.
I sincerely hope things continue to improve and your will, and that of your family, stays strong.
All the best from Hailfax.

@Ernie:

Being sectioned can be hugely beneficial, which of course is why it’s done

Yes, you’re completely right, it’s the best thing for him at this time for all sorts of reasons, but it’s still hard as a parent when you see your child like this.

@Tom

Can we do anything, a fundraiser to help him get on his feet when all this has blown over.

That’s a really kind offer. I think though that what he _really_ needs is to get better, and to be able to see himself and the world properly.

@iolo: thanks – it’s good to hear.

We all all still thinking of you, your wife and of course your son. I am always touched by how open people are on here, a tough but uplifting post @iolo.

There are many on here with remarkable insights and experience of mental health issues, from iolo’s first hand testament to close family member’s experiences and ongoing struggles.

Feel free to contact if you want.

He’s a lot better today!

He knows what’s going on, and he can talk coherently about how he used to be compared to how he is now. He’s taking the medication they give him and generally being co-operative. I even got a hug out of him (of sorts).

He’s very bored, and they’ve kind of forgotten he exists as he’s sort of in limbo now until he goes to this other place.

I actually raised a wry small from him by reading him jokes from old STW joke threads!

reading him jokes from old STW joke threads!

Hasn’t he been through enough already?

😉

Nice! Where’s the bloody ‘like’ button?!

I’ve just got back from and bloody great ride, and I’d have said I couldn’t have felt much better……… but I’ve just read your up date.

Bloody great 😀

Read him Picolax . Makes me howl with laughter even when i have a bad day.
Glad to hear the drugs do work.

I keep popping by and your updates are great…. All the best both of you…

😀

Pleased to hear things have picked up again after what seemed like a bit of a dip. Keep your spirit strong!

He’s a lot better today!

Smart.

Some lovely posts on here from folk from STW and from some unexpected places

Good to see the direction of travel is positive and look at how far your son has come since yoor first post
The road to recovery is a long and slow road but , thankfully, you are all travelling it.

Pleased for you all and everyone likes a story with a happy ending.

Glad to hear the positive news there 🙂

Yes no yes so that’s all good then. Very strong. 😉

Well, I had a pretty amazing time with him today!

He’s now in a specialist brain injury place in Northampton. He doesn’t really like the regime much, and it’s quite a hard place for a teenager to be, but he’s cheerful, easy to talk to, and just generally myself and my sister had a fun couple of hours with him.

The best bit was showing him the new car. Last week I bought a 13 year old Mazda MX-5 from munrobiker of this parish (looks great, but is slightly falling to pieces :-). He now wants me to leave it to him in his will, and was really happier than I’ve seen him possibly in years. He was waaaay more positive about the car than his younger siblings, who dismissed it on the basis that the one on Need-for-speed isn’t as fast as the Nitrous-equipped RX8.

Good visit.

Its been some journey you have been on and its all so much better than when you first started posting on this thread

Pleased for you and your family and its lovely to keep getting updates and ones that are positive to boot

All the best.

Great stuff. Slightly jealous of the mx5 too!

🙂 😀

Great times

Sounds like he’s (s)miles better 😀

Thanks for the update, more good news not least that your son is thinking about the future, ie being around for it.

Great News!

Good news 😆

great to hear mate, ive been following this with interest and hope, im pleased its all coming good.

What a great thing to read in the morning.

In case you don’t already know, Jalopnik.com is in love with the MX5 and this may be a good place to read about them for you and him too.

Well, I had a pretty amazing time with him today!

Wow! Flipping brrrilliant. 😀

Awesome news 🙂

Well, he’s still improving, memory still not brilliant but better every day. He’s *very* bored, and would dearly like to get out before the summer is over.

A ligament went in his knee the other day, so he’s gone from being unable to walk at all, to walking falteringly, and now back to almost unable to walk, but for different reasons.

And I finally managed to make good on my promise to bring over a curry yesterday, which he very much appreciated (but wanted something a bit stronger next time).

Glad things are still improving,can you get him out and about at all with the knee problem?