Aa
Coma
My daughter is 7 years old. The doctors who tried to reach a diagnosis for her case in the past stated that she has muscle atrophy (Muscle Biopsy Result), ataxia and ptosis. She is generally a healthy child except for her clumpsy like walk. On the 24th of January 2011, she suddenly became very weak and pale and had to be rushed to hospital because her heart stopped. The doctors managed to resuscitate her. She has been in a coma since then and she is depending on a mechanical ventilator to breath. The doctors discovered that she had Pneumonia and she has received treatment. She is now in NICU , the doctors are unsure as to why her heart stopped, but suspect that her lungs are too weak to support her. Any trials to wean her from the mechanical ventilator have failed and they have now carried out a tracheostomy for her. I would appreciate advise on, what could have progressed to lead to this? Any information on anything that can strengthen her lungs or help her to breath on her own again. Although she is in a coma but we feel that some days she can respond to very simple orders from her father or me.
I would truly appreciate any advise that can help us.
I would truly appreciate any advise that can help us.
I cannot say much about the spasms.
I would say get some ayurvedic supplements - Divya Medha vati tablets (good for the brain) and Divya swasari ras(good for the respiratory system) to help the body from inside.
Continue all the pressure points on hands and feet.
For yourself, do the anulom vilom pranayam, while you are sitting there.This will help to relax you and you will feel the benefit generally.
I would say get some ayurvedic supplements - Divya Medha vati tablets (good for the brain) and Divya swasari ras(good for the respiratory system) to help the body from inside.
Continue all the pressure points on hands and feet.
For yourself, do the anulom vilom pranayam, while you are sitting there.This will help to relax you and you will feel the benefit generally.
Dear Hava,
I have tried the excercises you gave me for a few days and I am not sure it was a coincidence or not but her spasms slightly reduced. However, since last week her spasms have changed form, they have become more evident, they are no longer one long-term spasm (her muscles were almost permenantly contracted). The spasms are now making her whole body jerk with up to 30 or more spasms a minute. She becomes uncomfortable and the doctors try their best to keep it under control, which means she is almost always under sedation.
Can you offer me more advise, what does this change in spasms mean? is it better or worse? is it life threatening? what can we do? is there tests we can do to identify the severity or the cause of it?
Your advise is truly very much appreciated.
Thank you
I have tried the excercises you gave me for a few days and I am not sure it was a coincidence or not but her spasms slightly reduced. However, since last week her spasms have changed form, they have become more evident, they are no longer one long-term spasm (her muscles were almost permenantly contracted). The spasms are now making her whole body jerk with up to 30 or more spasms a minute. She becomes uncomfortable and the doctors try their best to keep it under control, which means she is almost always under sedation.
Can you offer me more advise, what does this change in spasms mean? is it better or worse? is it life threatening? what can we do? is there tests we can do to identify the severity or the cause of it?
Your advise is truly very much appreciated.
Thank you
Do all the pressure points I described on February 25 ,2011. In addition press the tips on thumbs on hands and big toes on feet about 40 times (brain points).
Pull each finger of hand firmly - you may hear a click. Do the same for toes.
Spasms - Press the tip of left hand little finger firmly for 5 seconds. Massage the hands.Between the base of thumb and index finger there is just skin first, and beyond is some fleshy bit - press this fleshy bit very hard once, with your thumb, once on the back of hand and once on the palm side of hand, on each hand.There will be a lot of pain, and you might see a strong physical and vocal reaction from your daughter(sorry). Note if there is any difference to the spasms.
When she stretches give a pen or something to hold in her hand, and see if she grips it.
Massage the arms,back of hands and legs and top and bottom of feet and all over the head - keep touching, so she knows you are there.
Try and get Medha kwath(to make a liquid drink) or Medha vati tablets - this is good natural supplement to help the brain.
Do talk and say 'move thumb or toe or eyelid', although you know she is not responding.
I am not trying to give any hope - just small ideas to try while you are with her.Keep repeating all the ideas I have posted.
April 25, 2011
Pull each finger of hand firmly - you may hear a click. Do the same for toes.
Spasms - Press the tip of left hand little finger firmly for 5 seconds. Massage the hands.Between the base of thumb and index finger there is just skin first, and beyond is some fleshy bit - press this fleshy bit very hard once, with your thumb, once on the back of hand and once on the palm side of hand, on each hand.There will be a lot of pain, and you might see a strong physical and vocal reaction from your daughter(sorry). Note if there is any difference to the spasms.
When she stretches give a pen or something to hold in her hand, and see if she grips it.
Massage the arms,back of hands and legs and top and bottom of feet and all over the head - keep touching, so she knows you are there.
Try and get Medha kwath(to make a liquid drink) or Medha vati tablets - this is good natural supplement to help the brain.
Do talk and say 'move thumb or toe or eyelid', although you know she is not responding.
I am not trying to give any hope - just small ideas to try while you are with her.Keep repeating all the ideas I have posted.
April 25, 2011
Dear Hava,
I have been monitoring my daughter's progress over the past 90 days, there has been nothing really new in her condition. She still remains on mechanical ventilation, one recent trial at weaning her failed after 4 hours on her own. The oxygen level on the machine is on 15.
She has a sleep/wake cycle, she clearly responds to pain by crying without tears (I dont understand why without tears?) she can stretch after sleeping for a few hours, she yawns a lot. She does not respond to any kind of order but her eyes do seem to follow movement sometimes. Her pupils can sometimes be dilated but respond to light. I have noticed recently that she seems to move her eye balls a little faster than she used to. I am not sure this means anything.
My daughter has continuous spasms since after the incident, which she has been taking medication for and intensive physiotherapy. I dont see an improvement in the spasms, they kind of make her involuntarily shrug her shoulders up and she seems to find it hard swallowing her saliva.
Can I please ask your advise on anything new I can help her with, keeping in mind she does not respond to any orders we give her, is there anything i can do to help her naturally with the spasms, I am willing to try maybe massaging her with natural oils if they would help? Is there any kind of tests I can do to help in diagnosing what kind of brain damage might have happened? I am so desperate for advise, I appreciate your help in advance.
I have been monitoring my daughter's progress over the past 90 days, there has been nothing really new in her condition. She still remains on mechanical ventilation, one recent trial at weaning her failed after 4 hours on her own. The oxygen level on the machine is on 15.
She has a sleep/wake cycle, she clearly responds to pain by crying without tears (I dont understand why without tears?) she can stretch after sleeping for a few hours, she yawns a lot. She does not respond to any kind of order but her eyes do seem to follow movement sometimes. Her pupils can sometimes be dilated but respond to light. I have noticed recently that she seems to move her eye balls a little faster than she used to. I am not sure this means anything.
My daughter has continuous spasms since after the incident, which she has been taking medication for and intensive physiotherapy. I dont see an improvement in the spasms, they kind of make her involuntarily shrug her shoulders up and she seems to find it hard swallowing her saliva.
Can I please ask your advise on anything new I can help her with, keeping in mind she does not respond to any orders we give her, is there anything i can do to help her naturally with the spasms, I am willing to try maybe massaging her with natural oils if they would help? Is there any kind of tests I can do to help in diagnosing what kind of brain damage might have happened? I am so desperate for advise, I appreciate your help in advance.
all my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family and your little girl,again if there is anything i can do,or you just want to talk il be here
all my best wishes love lisa
all my best wishes love lisa
Lisa, thank you for replying to my post. As mothers we all share the same feelings of hurt and determination to help our beloved children in any way possible.
It hurts me so much to see her lieing in bed unable to give me a hug or a kiss. I miss her beautiful little happy face and ever so talkative self. She is my only child and cant believe I am actually going through all this. Everything happened and is happening so fast I sometimes find it difficult to focus on anything.
I thank you for sharing with me your story and for giving me the time to express a little of what I am feeling. I wish you and your daughter all the best and hope that she will continue to be healthy.
I will let you know what happens with my daughter and again, thank you for listening.
It hurts me so much to see her lieing in bed unable to give me a hug or a kiss. I miss her beautiful little happy face and ever so talkative self. She is my only child and cant believe I am actually going through all this. Everything happened and is happening so fast I sometimes find it difficult to focus on anything.
I thank you for sharing with me your story and for giving me the time to express a little of what I am feeling. I wish you and your daughter all the best and hope that she will continue to be healthy.
I will let you know what happens with my daughter and again, thank you for listening.
you are forever in my prayers,your daughter and your family..,my experience was so different to what your going through,but i can absolutley relate,my daughter was four years old and went into alderhey to close up an asd hole in her heart,she never recovered but also went into in coma for two days.she had many other complications which at the time we didnt know about and only found out in the postmortem.this was almost 15 years ago and the syndrome she had was so rare she was one of only 15 in the whole world,i have a daughter who is 16 who to has the same genetic syndrome,she was 2 when i lost my eldest daughter and she has kept me going....but although she has problems she doesnt have the same complications as my little girl i lost.i dont mean to burden you with my problems at such a difficult time your going through,im so sorry,im terrible with words and tend to ramble,i guess im trying to say is everybody and every experience is so different,your daughter is a fighter,and your a mum who will do anything to fight for her daughter..i guess im trying to let you know your not alone and i understand what your going through. i know im not a doctor but im mum. your mentioned muscles and ptsosis and ataxia.my girls also had similar conditions,probably none of which are relevant but if there is anything i can do,or even just to talk or offload...anything at all please dont hesitate.again im sorry if iv rambled..with sincere best wishes and forever in my prayers
with love
lisa
with love
lisa
Again, thank you, you are very kind. Please keep us in your prayers. She was a beautiful, happy little girl. I am praying she will survive this.
i cant put into words how sorry i am,im just reading over posts,im so sorry i cant give you medical advice but i cant tell you how much love an hope i have with all my heart that im thinking of you and your family.thinking of you at such a time,with best wishes
There are different levels of coma, known as Glasgow coma scale. Your daughter is better than the worst state, but still referred as coma. Record whatever she does/can do, and you will know her progress, when you review the activity over time.
Some pressure points:
Press the calf muscles.
Press several times, tip of ring finger on both hands.
Also press tips of all fingers on both hands and press both sides of thumb(on either side of nail).
Press the depression on both sides of head(on side of forehead), using thumb and finger in a circular movement.
Press the depression on both sides of head(on side of eyebows),using thumb and finger in a circular movement..
Press the bone on top of nose(between the eyebrows),using thumb and finger in a circular movement.
Press the back top of head(the back part of top of head) and then the forehead, with palm of hand.
Press the medulla points on lower back of head(behind bottom of ears).Feel the depression and press in a circular movement.
Get oxygen into the brain:(Do only whatever is possible)
Lift both legs up and bend them so the feet are on either side of head. Keep the head flat on bed, not on pillow.Hold for a few seconds, and repeat 2 or 3 times.
Keep talking, and tell her to point the thumb up, when she likes something you do.
Give a pencil/pen to hold.
Some pressure points:
Press the calf muscles.
Press several times, tip of ring finger on both hands.
Also press tips of all fingers on both hands and press both sides of thumb(on either side of nail).
Press the depression on both sides of head(on side of forehead), using thumb and finger in a circular movement.
Press the depression on both sides of head(on side of eyebows),using thumb and finger in a circular movement..
Press the bone on top of nose(between the eyebrows),using thumb and finger in a circular movement.
Press the back top of head(the back part of top of head) and then the forehead, with palm of hand.
Press the medulla points on lower back of head(behind bottom of ears).Feel the depression and press in a circular movement.
Get oxygen into the brain:(Do only whatever is possible)
Lift both legs up and bend them so the feet are on either side of head. Keep the head flat on bed, not on pillow.Hold for a few seconds, and repeat 2 or 3 times.
Keep talking, and tell her to point the thumb up, when she likes something you do.
Give a pencil/pen to hold.
Thank you for your email and advise. I will try the suggestions you gave me and see how she responds.
I have noticed she turns her face (like a sad, crying face) when we rub her feet or try to talk to her sometimes... Only sometimes, its like shes complaining to us but of course is not too strong or alert to properly communicate with us.
I am no longer sure she is in a coma... I did not think anyone in a coma can try to cry or open their eyes or move their mouth. Is that possible??
I have noticed she turns her face (like a sad, crying face) when we rub her feet or try to talk to her sometimes... Only sometimes, its like shes complaining to us but of course is not too strong or alert to properly communicate with us.
I am no longer sure she is in a coma... I did not think anyone in a coma can try to cry or open their eyes or move their mouth. Is that possible??
Talk to her and if she responds (in whatever state she is - coma,semi-conscious...), tell her to:
1) Hum like a bee - see if air is coming out from nostrils (Hum to her to so she copies)
2) Clear the throat - that is breathing out, while tightening the throat
3) Do 2) in reverse - that is breathing in, while tightening the throat
4) move the eyes only up and down, left and right, in a circle - you will see the movement, even with eyes closed
5) Blow the cheeks out
6) make an angry face
7) Roar
I am hoping it is possible to breathe through the nose in addition to the ventilator.
Pressure points - the tips of all fingers(hands and feet), palms, base of feet - press all these areas several times.
A little at a time...
1) Hum like a bee - see if air is coming out from nostrils (Hum to her to so she copies)
2) Clear the throat - that is breathing out, while tightening the throat
3) Do 2) in reverse - that is breathing in, while tightening the throat
4) move the eyes only up and down, left and right, in a circle - you will see the movement, even with eyes closed
5) Blow the cheeks out
6) make an angry face
7) Roar
I am hoping it is possible to breathe through the nose in addition to the ventilator.
Pressure points - the tips of all fingers(hands and feet), palms, base of feet - press all these areas several times.
A little at a time...
Thank you for your quick reply. My daughter is in a coma, I sometimes feel she hears me and maybe even vaguely sees me, should I try to do this when I feel she is a little alert even if shes in a coma?? Or do I have to wait for her to wake up from the coma to do this?? She also has a tube in her nose, for feeding purposes.
Today I am going to try and do as you suggested and see what her response will be.
Today I am going to try and do as you suggested and see what her response will be.
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Anulom Vilom pranayam –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril
then -keeping the left nostril closed deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 15 to 30 minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.
February 16, 2011