My only brother has been in the ICU for over 1 month. I don't know how long he was down for. I was told that his oxygen level was 72 when they found him. The ct scan reveals many infarcs to the brain. Temperal lobe, cerebral, and basil ganglia. They put him on a ventalator and now trech with feeding tube.
He was on propafol and now he is on... ready for this...
morphine, klonpin,resperidol, adavant, versid and fentanol. He can not move his body, he is very sedated. I am waiting to have him transfered. I was told this little community hospital he is in is a "bump and bruise hospital" The staff tells me to have him moved. So I am waiting for 1 1/2 weeks for a ned in a Neuro ICU. My dad had a stroke 3 months ago from drinking alcohol.
Now my brother has been spiking high temps. They did a nuclear test on him and it showed no infection so it is coming from the brain "central fever"
He was making a lot of money and was a very hard worker. 4 years ago he had a car accident and has 5 crush disc in his back. They because of the drugs he fell and broke his shoulder. This is why he started to take the pain meds that lead to addiction.
Today I find out that they dislocated his bad shoulder and that needs repair.
What is he going to be like when he wakes up? Can he breathe on his own? They tried to wean him but he gets anxious and starts coughing. He couldn't handle loosing his ability to do construction because of his back and shoulder. I don't think he would be able to live with being brain damaged. I don't know what to do. I pray for a miracle everyday. The hospital is an hour and half away from me. I go everyday to be by his side. I have 2 small children and they love him so much.
I am desperate to find out information, any type of stories and just connect with those of you that understand. I don't think my husband gets it.
I come from a background of addiction. My mother was 46 when she died of lung cancer... cigarette addiction. My father is an alcoholic and now this. I on the other hand was a drug counselor! What happened to my family? I need a miracle. I want my brother to wake up and say..."what happened?" and walk away. I am in so much pain just knowing how much pain he is in to do this to himself.
Thanks for listening.
For my bro! (formybro)
Already a member? Sign in
Welcome to Inspire!
What - Inspire is a place where you can connect with people who share your health concerns and find information and advice in groups sponsored by organizations you know and trust.
Why - As a member you can use Inspire to let friends and family know how you're doing, contact others who share your health concerns, receive personalized updates and information about participating in surveys and clinical trials, and more.
How - Joining Inspire is completely free and usually takes less than a minute. Join now!
36 year old brother OD now has ABI----HELP
- By formybro
- Posted November 5, 2009 at 11:22 pm · 7 replies
- In Brain injuries
- Shared with the public
7 replies
- Oldest first
- Newest first
- By auntedede
- Posted November 6, 2009 at 8:23 am
- Report post
Hi
my nephew had similar back on sep 9th. U can read his story in discussions. It has been 8 weeks in and out of icu. Mostly in. He's is "storming"now which means heart rate goes up to 170-190. Scary for someone who just 8 wkd ago collapsed from ca with no apparent cause. He is extremely aggitated but alert and aware and now speaking pretty well with trache. He too had central fever for several weeks which can be treated and will go away. They finaly got him off prop.but it was hard. I am in recovery myself and worry about his potential for addiction too. He needs to get to rehab, but can't even cut it on a step down floor in hospital.
It is unbelievably sad for our family also. I have three little boys who idolize him and r feeling my pain I am sure. My husband is pretending to get it so I know what that's like too. It's just awful and I can only pray for a good outcome.
Stay in touch
auntedede
- By formybro
- Posted November 6, 2009 at 8:40 am
- Report post
Thank you so much for getting back to me. That is good to know about the central fever. I am trying to get him in a hospital that can help him better. My dad is useless to me. He just has been getting drunk. I can't even deal with that right now. I am so frustrated.
Thanks for listening. I will keep you and your family in my prayers
- By klively
- Posted November 22, 2009 at 3:40 am
- Report post
Almost 2 years ago my husband went into septic shock which, combined with an overdose of pain meds(which although prescribed to him for his disability, back injuries) caused him to be in a coma for 9 days. Due to the deprivation of oxygen for many hours during the night, this coma caused brain damage to the nerves for his hearing, and he has virtually no hearing now, it also affected his memory , his personality, emotions,etc...it is now like living with someone who has had a lobotomy. I am grateful, however, because when he arrived at our local hospital by ambulance he was non-responsive and they did not think he would live,. They life-flighted him to Portland, OR and he was in ICU and in a coma for 9 days. When he did finally come out of the coma he could not hear and did not know who I was. He has since regained most of his memory, but the psychological damage is sometimes hard for me to handle. I miss the man he was, and with the hearing loss he rarely speaks. Has anyone had experience with this?
- By jjame0113
- Posted November 23, 2009 at 10:35 pm
- Report post
hello, my name is jamie...I too am suffering the same pain and devastation as you! My mom, cristine, overdosed and no one knows how long she was down! She was on a ventilatior in the beginning, but eventually began to breath on her own! It's been a year almost and I still cant believe it! I know this is no quality of life for her, but I believe that I am not God and there was no way I could of pulled the plug on her! She has made some progress, she will squeeze my hand when i ask her to, she cried on her bday when we all sang to her, she definitely can hear! We are about to start the ambien with her, I pray to god it helps! I know how lost and helpless you feel, if you ever need to talk or just vent please feel free to contact me! I have been through it all, and would be more than happy to answer any questions you have. My prayers are with you and your brother. Jamie
- By formybro
- Posted November 23, 2009 at 10:52 pm
- Report post
Hi Jamie,
Thank you so much. This past weekend was the worst. I would love to talk with you. I will send you a private message and give you my number.
I feel the same way. My brother had a crazy day. His lung collapsed and then they found bleeding by the liver and now he needed a blood transfusion. I know that this is in GODs hands. He is still in ICU.
What kind of injury did they say your mom has. Is it diffuse or focal? I hope the ambien helps her. I spoke to the people that were conducting the study in Pennsylvania. They said that the person for the study needs to be 4 months post injury. (she qualifies) When you give the ambien you should sit with the person for 3 hours and try to stimulate her. That is all I know. I will you luck and will keep you and your family in my prayers.
Lisa
- By aNewBob
- Posted November 23, 2009 at 11:40 pm
- Report post
Did they say what caused your brothers collapsed lung?
- By jjame0113
- Posted yesterday at 8:40 am
- Report post
hi, yes that is who I am going through for the ambien, the study in pennsylvania! My mom has focal I think...im not 100% sure, I never really liked to meet with the dr.s when she was in the hospital because they were always so negative and not very helpful. I also think at that time I was just in too much shock and didnt want to face the situation! She was in and out of icu a lot, and also was spiking fevers, but the day she left that hospital and went to the nursing home she never had another fever! Yes, send me your number, it would probably be helpful for the both of us to talk! Hope to hear frm you!
Add to the discussion