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38 year old stroke victim

My 38-year-old nephew suffered a hemorrhagic stroke on March 4, 2009.  He had brain surgery to remove an aneurysm that night, and another surgery on March 7 because the place where they removed the aneurysm was filling with spinal fluid.  His BP was 290 over 199 on the night they took him in, and every time they try to bring him out of his coma, his blood pressure again rises to dangerous levels.  He was very healthy, and the father of 3 beautiful young boys (11, 7, and 1).  His middle son is autistic and so has added that extra bit of his stress for the past 7 years.  He owned a mortgage company and a home construction business, so you can imagine what that's been like.  I'm not sure he even realized he had high blood pressure prior to this event.  Needless to say, the family is in turmoil; they are all in the Chicago area, and I am in San Diego.  I am hoping that, as a librarian, I can at least do my part to bring them some information.  Since he is still in an induced coma 10 days after the event, and the doctor's are not releasing much info, I am relying on those who have been through this for help.  He's been intubated since March 4; they took the tube out on March 13 and he stopped breathing.  He now has a tube in his throat so I hope that will allow him to heal from the intubation before he comes out of the coma.  Can anyone give me information on what to expect?  How long will they keep him in a coma?  Does the fact that he couldn't breathe on his own mean that his muscles are not working?  Any and all comments are greatly appreciated.
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Avatar universal
Exactly ritabook, never give up..
If the doctor were able to control the situation, I would say the he would wake up.. just be patient and always talk to him and read for him.. Many of my patients told me the at some points they were able to hear the surrounding, just like a fetus in his/her mama's uterus. You have no idea how that could be helpful !! Also, physical therapy at the recent time is important, but you should see and learn and do what the physical therapist does, that is always very important.
Let us hear the good news, be strong..
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Avatar universal
my  brother (at 37 yoa) suffered a stroke (Basil Ganglia) August 19, 2008.  He too was in a coma for 2 or more weeks.  they wanted to put the tube in his throat without first seeing if he was breathing on his own.  we protested and demanded that they were certain he wasn't breathing on his own. The tracheotomy never happened. he indeed was breathing on his own. he has suffered with the left side paralysis. it is a long journey but do not lose faith. his memory is sharp. he's a little off balance because of the side affected but for the most part, he's recovering. the docs seem to believe he will have a good recovery but maybe not a full recovery. that's their prognosis. they didn't expect him to wake up. when he did, they told us he would be a vegetable. when he wasn't, they told us he would never walk again. All Praises to God, he's standing and taking baby steps. DON'T GIVE UP.  
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Avatar universal
Hi,
   I am really sorry to hear about your nephew...
Based on what you are saying, all what we can do now is pray for him. But let me tell you something about hemorrhagic stroke. This kind of stroke is almost of the worst types because of its life threatening conditions. But as a physical therapist, I never give up, and the one who know better about your nephew's condition is his physician. Also, there is so much we can do as health care team/physical therapist and you as a family (talk to your physical therapist and discuss that with him, he should know). Coma following a stroke could happen, especially if a specific area of the bran, the reticular formation, is affected. So until the brain decides that your nephew is safe, he would wake up. Just wait and have faith, it is gonna be a long journey.
I will keep praying for him..
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