Brain Injury Support Group
Traumatic brain injury occurs when a sudden trauma causes brain damage. TBI can result from a closed head injury or a penetrating head injury. Symptoms of a TBI can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of the damage to the brain. Outcome can be anything from complete recovery to permanent disability or death. A coma can also affect a child's brain.
My husband suffered a severe TBI. We aren't sure how it happened, a neighbor found him at the end of our driveway.
Today marked the two month anniversary of my husband's coma. There has been no improvement in his condition other than they were able to wean him off of the ventilator about a month ago. Otherwise, he's basically unresponsive. He does respond to painful stimuli by withdrawing. When you tickle his feet he tries to move them away a little bit. And if you rub his lips with a cold cloth he grimaces and tries to move his face to the side. But that's about it. These have been his reactions all along and there's been no further progress. His pupils are very sluggish to unresponsive.
I'm so confused and scared and lonely. This week he'll be moving from the LTACH to a skilled nursing facility. The doctors keep telling me to consider hospice. When they first suggested this, I was like, "But he's not on a ventilator, there's no plug to pull, what are you talking about?!" And they're response was, "Discontinue the feeding tube and fluids and let an inevitable infection take him." WHAT?!!
Honestly I wish they would just shut up! I'm not ready to give up on my husband.
Has anybody else experience anything similar to my husband's situation and, if so, what was the outcome/has the outcome been so far?
Thanks for reading.
Kiki
Today marked the two month anniversary of my husband's coma. There has been no improvement in his condition other than they were able to wean him off of the ventilator about a month ago. Otherwise, he's basically unresponsive. He does respond to painful stimuli by withdrawing. When you tickle his feet he tries to move them away a little bit. And if you rub his lips with a cold cloth he grimaces and tries to move his face to the side. But that's about it. These have been his reactions all along and there's been no further progress. His pupils are very sluggish to unresponsive.
I'm so confused and scared and lonely. This week he'll be moving from the LTACH to a skilled nursing facility. The doctors keep telling me to consider hospice. When they first suggested this, I was like, "But he's not on a ventilator, there's no plug to pull, what are you talking about?!" And they're response was, "Discontinue the feeding tube and fluids and let an inevitable infection take him." WHAT?!!
Honestly I wish they would just shut up! I'm not ready to give up on my husband.
Has anybody else experience anything similar to my husband's situation and, if so, what was the outcome/has the outcome been so far?
Thanks for reading.
Kiki
http://dannysjourneyback.blogspot.com
chasann, I ordered "The Catastrophe of Coma" yesterday off of Amazon. Thanks eversomuch for the recommendation!
wildflower, how beautiful that you would sing to your husband! And btw, I spent a lot of time tickling Roger's feet in the hopes that he would wake up and tell me to stop it. :-p
I've been giving some thought lately of taking my violin in and playing that for him. I'm not that good (only been playing a year) but he always used to listen to me practice so it might be more like home to him.
I've also only picked it up once since he was injured and that was very painful for me. He gave me my voilin this past Christmas. I've reached for it a few times but it just made me cry. It's been a while since my last effort so maybe I'll give it another try.
Re The catastrophe of coma. I was not aware of this book when I could have so done with it over 10 years ago yet reading it now I have drawn comfort from it. Dr Freeman gives a most important message and that is the family must be the catylyst for change...to be there inspiring our loved ones to return to this world, to maybe change our loved ones environment and the importance of faith, hope and love which I think everyone here is very much aware of. I would even recommend this book to families who are well past the coma stage but still have an interest in brain injury.
I know it’s been a few years since your post and I pray you had a positive outcome for your husband. I have a relative in a similar situation and I was wondering how everything worked out for your husband. Please any reply would be helpful, thank you.
You have all my support.
You will know what is right for you when it is time and not a minute before.
Give yourself every kindness. This road is long.