Son in hospital in a coma

I feel for you. I hope things go well.

One step at a time to the right result, thoughts still with you and the family

He’s getting a bit better. The ICP remains low, and the O2 is down to 35%. They tried warming him up a bit on Monday but that didn’t work, but on Tuesday they had another go and he’s now a touch over 36C. As a result they’ve now also been able to turn off the paralysis drug (which was to stop him shivering it seems) and they’ve also turned down the adrenalin.

Really upsettingly though, another pupil at the same school he went to (but in the year below) has done the same thing (albeit at a different place) and this time been successful.

I had to force myself to reply.. it’s a horrible thing you’re going through and I can only echo the words already expressed. I’m really pleased to hear the progress your son is making, long may it continue, my thoughts are with you.

I’m sorry to hear about the other lad, I don’t know what else to say

All progress is good news.
I keep dropping in for little up dates, when you have the time and or need to say something.
Love and hope mate.

I’m sure there’s lots of us following the thread and popping in for updates but don’t really know what to say 😕

oldnpastit, thoughts with you, your boy and your family.

Op thanks for the update, terrible news about the other lad. Possibly this may help you see that in your lad’s situation there is hope.

I’m pleased to hear there is some progress. All moving in the right direction.
The good thing about you posting is I’m sure it has got a lot of people talking, not just online but outside too. For a subject which is kept so quiet and behind closed doors, it can only be a positive.

I was talking to a lovely new nurse today. It’s just chilling though when they tell you how it’s going to be.

Me: “So, do you think he’ll be out of the coma sometime next week”.
Her: “Oh no, I expect he’ll be in it for quite some time.”
…
…
Her: “Your lives are going to change. Not as much as his, but they’re going to change.”

I’ve now got a kind of sick heavy weight in my stomach and my legs don’t seem to work properly anymore.

Deep breath. And breath out.

oldnpastit – You are very brave and I wish you all the luck in the future for the whole family.

What an awful shock for you.

bunnyhop x

I simply cannot imagine the pain you and your son and family are going through. Thoughts from my whole family to you and yours and i hope that the situation continues to improve bit by bit.
Ash

I’ve now got a kind of sick heavy weight in my stomach and my legs don’t seem to work properly anymore.

I know the feeling very well. Don’t get ahead of yourself. It’s impossible not to think about what the future might bring but try not to dwell on either the positive or negative scenarios. Taking little steps only when they’re needed makes things a bit more manageable.

im quite lost for words on this thread, and I’m sure there is nothing new I can add.

My thoughts are with you, take care fella.

Look after yourselves, what a massive thing to digest. Take care.

Best wishes

I’ve now got a kind of sick heavy weight in my stomach and my legs don’t seem to work properly anymore.

I know the feeling very well. Don’t get ahead of yourself. It’s impossible not to think about what the future might bring but try not to dwell on either the positive or negative scenarios. Taking little steps only when they’re needed makes things a bit more manageable.

I can only echo muppetWrangler. Take care of yourself oldnpastit.

I wish there was something useful I could do, but obviously there isn’t.

Thoughts and ears are with you, but as the many here who don’t know what to say, we are here if you ask the questions.

Man hugs etc x

We invest so much time/love/stress/emotion in our kids, i can’t imagine how it must feel when life dumps this on you.
It sounds like you are doing a great job in impossible circumstances – stay strong and take each day as it comes.

As for recovery time – you need to start thinking in months rather than days/weeks i’m afraid.

I love the staff that work in neuro intensive care units, or indeed all intensive care units. They have a wonderfully no nonsense way of telling you how things are going to be. If only the rest of the world worked like that.

Just seen this thread for the first time. Know you are a long term poster on here, and though I don’t know you I have always known you were one of the regular people who make STW the special, opinionated and knowledgeable place that it is.
I don’t have anything useful to add, other than the thoughts and best wishes that any other parent would send to you, your son and your family.
Best wishes from Leeds.

All my hopes O.P.

Not been on the forum for a bit so missed this when you posted it oldn. What can I say – ****…

My thoughts are with you I hope you get all the support you, you son and the rest of your family need and deserve.

My wife has just come back (I’ve been attempting to work today). Had a long very scary talk from the consultants. They’ve now turned off all of the sedation and are attempting to get him to respond to stimulus, which he does to some extent.

GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale, which I didn’t even know existed until a few days ago) is now put at 3.

About to go in.

Best of luck fella, thinking of you and yours…

Good luck to you and your boy.

I’ve now got a kind of sick heavy weight in my stomach and my legs don’t seem to work properly anymore.

Deep breath. And breath out.

&

about to go in

I hope your family is going to seek out some professional help. There are many very good support foundations out there more than qualified to help and advise. Talking through your Sons background to one foundation will invariably lead to another support foundation that can help you and your wife out.

I sincerely hope you talk soon to these people, no matter how disturbing it all is right now.

The very best of luck.

Yup, what bullheart says.

Keep posting on the thread if it helps. Don’t if it doesn’t. Use the people around you, family, friends, colleagues and even us misfits on here whenever necessary.

Do whatever you need to do to keep on track.

You are already demonstrating true strength of character by your posts on here, and I can glean that just from reading text on a screen.

Keep going.

Still don’t know what to write, can’t write anything meaningful that’s for sure. But you sound like you’re getting some comfort from your posts, so keep it up as long as it helps.

Love to all

Wishing you all the best at what must be a very difficult time, healing vibes.

Hope there are some positive signs from your son. They won’t mess you around in the ITU. They are used to giving people information as it is. This from someone who’s sister was in a seven-week induced coma. Take each day as it comes.

Thanks for all the comments, and thanks for putting up with me writing this stuff, it does help deal with it.

Just got back from visiting him. He’s in a sort of half-coma: he actually squeezed my hand at one point, and he sort of half-opens his eyes, and half rolls them back in his head. He also seems aware of the intubation tube on occasion, and yawns sometimes.

Tonight there was a very helpful nurse on who I hadn’t met before. I asked him about my son’s current GCS score, but I probably should not have done so. I also asked him where the original words about “catastrophic” came from. It seems that the consultant – with many years of experience – has only seen a handful of cases as bad as this. A lot of badness showed up on the CT scan (he had a long word for the badness but I’ve forgotten what it was).

It’s just as well this forum has a swear filter.

MRI tomorrow, should give us more information.

My wife just sat with her head in her hands while I was asking about this.

Keep going bud, nothing I can say, meaningfully. Remember to look after yourself and your wife too. Good luck.

We are rooting for you, your son and the rest of your family!

It must be a great positive that he squeezed your hand.

If you have medical questions, ask to speak to the consultant. No disrespect to the nursing staff, but it is the consultant who is leading the care and is best placed to answer the questions.

he actually squeezed my hand at one point

It’s a bit dusty in here tonight @oldnpastit

I keep looking at this thread and thinking: you’re doing really well sir, keep on.

Sam

All love from the BSN family, thinking of you and your family. Sheesh, what a thing life is. xxx

Hang in there, oldnpastit, and more good wishes to you all.

Small steps oldnpastit, all good stuff 🙂