My aunt had a heart attack and is now in the hospital.
About 3 days after the heart attack the doctor was testing her for any responses and when he pinched her collar bone she made a face in reaction to the pain but he said she was in a vegetative state. Is this correct? They have intibated her and the nurse said she has to give her something to calm her down because my aunt simply won't let her change the tube and do what she needs to do for her. Also, she was biting on the tube and when her daughter-in-law told her not to bite it she stopped.
Is this really a person in a vegetative state?
2006-07-30 22:10:35 · 11 answers · asked by mamabunny 4 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
NO!!!!!my grandfather recently had heart surgery..i dint know what drugs they put him on, but this story sounds exactly like his. he was out for about 2 months. when i would talk in his ear, he would kick his feet. he grabbed out when they were changing the tubes and he would mumble sometimes. my grandmother and aunt were fighting the doctors allot and slowly he started to come out of it.
during his recovery, his mind was relay messes up too. he would tell me about his "trips" to Mahobey (where ever that is) and he told me how the water there is crystal clear, and it was the best water he ever tasted. like i said he was put on ALLOT of drugs during his time in the hospital, and if you ask me, he was acting allot like someone who just got home form the Vietnam war. .....I DON'T KNOW WHAT DRUGS HE WAS PUT ON BUT IT SOUND TO ME LIKE YOUR AUNT WAS PUT ON THE SAME DRUGS!
2006-07-30 22:19:00 · answer #1 · answered by jenisisgrafix 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The vegetative state is defined as the condition in which a patient cannot, at any time, manifest or regain consciousness due to the loss of function of the cerebral cortex caused by head trauma or the cessation of blood flow to the brain. In the vegetative state, the brain stem continues to work maintaining the body's involuntary functions such as heartbeat, breathing, and thermoregulation. Although often confused with brain death in which all functions of the brain have been lost, the vegetative state differs in that the brain stem continues to carry out vital functions.
According to the definition of the vegetative state by the Japan Neurosurgical Society, a patient is in a vegetative state if the following conditions have persisted for at least three months. The patient is incontinent, unable to move or eat without assistance, communicate or interact with his surroundings, and have a visual perception of things. No international medical criteria have been established for the diagnosis of the vegetative state due to various
interpretations concerning the patient's perception of things. The vegetative state is persistent in the vast majority of head trauma cases unless a patient regains consciousness within the first twelve months. This is also true where there was a cessation of blood flow to the brain. A persistent vegetative state will develop, in a majority of the cases, if a patient does not regain consciousness within the first three months.
There have been cases reported in which the condition of a patient was mitigated after careful observation of and speaking to the patient
http://webdoc.sub.gwdg.de/ebook/aw/1999/INFOCOMP/metis/infolit/step4/tutorial_doc4_C3.htm
2006-07-31 05:15:46 · answer #2 · answered by daddysboicub 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
QUICKLY! Get a second opinion. This does not sound like a vegetative state and the doc is either lazy and doesn't want to test further, or is too inexperienced to know what's going on. If she's responding to verbal commands, she's not in a vegetative state and the doc of all people should know this. You and your family have the right, and moral obligation, to get a second opinion.
2006-07-31 05:25:05 · answer #3 · answered by Lucianna 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont think so!! She may not be responding to many stimuli but ahe answers to some.. I had a relative of mine in almost the same state after a paralytic attack and he later told us that he was hearing about the plans after his dealth while lying on the bed. The only thing was that however he tried, his organs were not responding to show the response!!
2006-07-31 05:29:42 · answer #4 · answered by THE WORRIER 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually a person who reacts to pain and fights the ventilator is NOT in a vegetative state, but you might want to contact the doctor to clarify.
2006-07-31 05:14:31 · answer #5 · answered by curiositycat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Too much response to outside stimuli. No, not vegetative, but moronic doctor.
2006-07-31 05:16:01 · answer #6 · answered by Lonnie P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I doubt it, too much reaction to stimuli.
2006-07-31 05:15:31 · answer #7 · answered by thebushman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm sorry to hear that .i feel it's too short to diagnosis.But there are diferent standards in the world.
2006-07-31 05:28:36 · answer #8 · answered by cotton w 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Doesn't sound like it to me.
2006-07-31 05:12:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no not if she responds
2006-07-31 05:14:23 · answer #10 · answered by sicivic05 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋