Community Forum Archive

The Epilepsy Community Forums are closed, and the information is archived. The content in this section may not be current or apply to all situations. In addition, forum questions and responses include information and content that has been generated by epilepsy community members. This content is not moderated. The information on these pages should not be substituted for medical advice from a healthcare provider. Experiences with epilepsy can vary greatly on an individual basis. Please contact your doctor or medical team if you have any questions about your situation. For more information, learn about epilepsy or visit our resources section.

Has anyone been put in a medically induced coma to counteract non stop seizures (status epilepticus)?

Fri, 07/24/2009 - 23:01
I was put into a medically induced coma 2 years ago when I went into status.  Although I made a full recovery, and my memory, verbal and cognitive skills are as sharp as they were, I still fill "funny."  I feel a great body self-consciousness and fear.  I can have flashbacks of my hospital stay - and I would instantly forget my train of thought.  I'm just wondering if anyone else has come from the "great beyond" of coma-land.  Will you share your recovery story?

Comments

Re: Has anyone been put in a medically induced coma

Submitted by VosWilliger on Thu, 2009-07-30 - 03:52

Hi Mimi,

My medically induced coma was 20 years ago when I went into status as a teenager. The problem was that I didn't come out of the coma for three weeks. Like you, I still have flashbacks of the hospital stay, but for me, the memories have more to do with the bars that were at the bottom of the hospital bed....I thought I was bound and gagged and in a jail.

Unfortunately, although I still score high on cognition and intelligence tests, my memory is poor and has been since my MIC (medically induced coma). I also lost much of my memory of my childhood, although little pieces continue to pop into my mind on a monthly basis (I'm remembering more about my childhood as I get older......weird, I know)

That's my story.

Hi Mimi,

My medically induced coma was 20 years ago when I went into status as a teenager. The problem was that I didn't come out of the coma for three weeks. Like you, I still have flashbacks of the hospital stay, but for me, the memories have more to do with the bars that were at the bottom of the hospital bed....I thought I was bound and gagged and in a jail.

Unfortunately, although I still score high on cognition and intelligence tests, my memory is poor and has been since my MIC (medically induced coma). I also lost much of my memory of my childhood, although little pieces continue to pop into my mind on a monthly basis (I'm remembering more about my childhood as I get older......weird, I know)

That's my story.

Re: Has anyone been put in a medically induced coma

Submitted by Mimi3 on Sat, 2009-08-01 - 05:08

Thanks, Vos.....

Strangely, I feel comforted knowing "I'm not alone" with the weird flashbacks.  I was too distressed to realize and accept that they are "flashbacks" .  I, with my histrionics  would rather believe I'm going psychotic.  I think I will be able to forget.

It's amazing that the mind can construct a story to make sense of a nonsensical event, isn't it?  Now I'm remembering other dreams - how I over-heard a woman on television telling her story.  When I became fully conscious I confused  this woman with my roommate.  Now I know why my roommate looked at me quizzically - she didn't know what I was talking about!  And I got increasingly angry with her for not wanting to dialogue with me, never mind the fact that she was recovering from seizures, too.

I was tied to the bed at one time.  For several nights after coming out of the coma I "dreamt" that the nurses were maliciously trying to kill me. It was a recurring nightmare.  One night I dreampt the needles were full of poison, another night I was pushed through the hallways to the street for a truck to back up over me.  It was like I was in a Creepshow episode.  Thank goodness I kinda knew I was dreaming, but these were the worst nightmares I've had since i was a child.

Yuck.

Thanks again, Vos.  I needed some company.  :-)

Thanks, Vos.....

Strangely, I feel comforted knowing "I'm not alone" with the weird flashbacks.  I was too distressed to realize and accept that they are "flashbacks" .  I, with my histrionics  would rather believe I'm going psychotic.  I think I will be able to forget.

It's amazing that the mind can construct a story to make sense of a nonsensical event, isn't it?  Now I'm remembering other dreams - how I over-heard a woman on television telling her story.  When I became fully conscious I confused  this woman with my roommate.  Now I know why my roommate looked at me quizzically - she didn't know what I was talking about!  And I got increasingly angry with her for not wanting to dialogue with me, never mind the fact that she was recovering from seizures, too.

I was tied to the bed at one time.  For several nights after coming out of the coma I "dreamt" that the nurses were maliciously trying to kill me. It was a recurring nightmare.  One night I dreampt the needles were full of poison, another night I was pushed through the hallways to the street for a truck to back up over me.  It was like I was in a Creepshow episode.  Thank goodness I kinda knew I was dreaming, but these were the worst nightmares I've had since i was a child.

Yuck.

Thanks again, Vos.  I needed some company.  :-)

I was found by police in the

Submitted by ianisnew on Sun, 2017-11-26 - 13:16
I was found by police in the street with a broken arm and a dislocated shoulder at 12.30am and put into a coma, after going into 45 minutes of status epilepticus, because all other treatments had failed and I have been on levetiracetam since I woke up after 14 hours. they apparently had no plan to bring me out of the coma, they put me into it and left me there to sort it out myself. that was 17 months ago. I have been able to write poetry since it happened and I feel very different in a range of ways. my memory has changed, I know I know things but cannot recall them as quickly as I did. 

Sign Up for Emails

Stay up to date with the latest epilepsy news, stories from the community, and more.