I've been in the hospital for 10 weeks now and no one has answers.I was in a coma for 14 Days and woke with a treach. (Voice box) and unable to walk or talk. I, doing a little better now but it looks like I have a long road ahead of me,if I don,t die. My dr.said I should not be here. I was on life support for 7 weeks and was not expected to make it. I am still on Vancomycin. I think this drug saved me from lyme. I can't talk right now i'm in to much pain to sit here in my wheel chair trying to hold my head up. I'll try to update everyone when I can.
Al
Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
Jenny Umphress and a few others have had Lyme induced comas- they are usually caused by anoxic encephlaopathy- Jenny Umphress ended up coming out of her coma and out of her wheelchair (and then relapsed & died years later but she went off abx) and walked again!! It does happen, I am glad you made it!*)!! I hope they put oyu oon IV Rocepihn or seomthing similar if it was caused by Lyme!!! Some people end up on the Memorial pages because they don't come out of it- I am glad you did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Best wishes, Sarah
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
al,
so sorry to read your story of being in the hospital this long, and no one knowing WHAT IS CASING WHAT TO GO WRONG!
thanks for updating us; you're now in our thoghts and prayers. i too AM GLAD YOU SURVIVED THIS FIERCE BATTLE! Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :
Al,
My best wishes for your continued recovery and better health. I am hoping that you pull through this well and get better. Vancomycin sounds like a good abx for lyme.
Best wishes.
Posted by Beverly (Member # 1271) on :
I am so sorry you are going through this, but I am glad you came out of the coma and Vancomycin is working for you.
Keep us posted and I hope you will be feeling better soon.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Hang in there, Al! We'll be praying for you!!!!
Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :
I am so sorry that you are going through this, but glad you
Are able to write about it. Do you still have a trach?
If so, see if you can get a Speech Therapy consult for two things.
One, a passy muir is a device that can help you speak with a tracheostomy.
Second, are you eating or drinking by mouth?
May want to get a Modified Barium Swallow Study to make sure you are not aspirating.
They can do a blue dye test bedside, however, they aren't that accurate.
Sending you positive thoughts and prayers.
Hugs,
Geneal
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
Al,
Yes, Lyme can cause comas as Sarah has stated. Really, for this type of neuro involvement, IV Rocephin is the treatment of choice in most cases.
I am thinking of you and praying for your continued improvement.
Best, Rhonda
Posted by LuLuFlorida (Member # 12066) on :
You are in my prayers Al. Hang in there! Vancomycin can be a very powerful and wonderful drug in late stage Lyme disease.
Lindsay
Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
Prayers for you*)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let us know how you are doing when you can!!!
Posted by canbravelyme (Member # 9785) on :
We're sending you healing thoughts
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
Thinking of you. Hubby is not in quite as bad shape as you are in, but I can definitely relate to your statement "no one has answers".
Find the best LLMD you can afford -- someone who is on your side and believes in chronic Lyme and tickborne illnesses. Gather your friends and family around you and rely on them to help in this time of need.
Don't be afraid to ask for help. It is a sign of a strong person and not a weak one to let others do things you can't do for yourself.
Best wishes.
Bea Seibert
Posted by schnuddelka (Member # 8031) on :
AL,
Healing prayers coming your way. Glad you woke up, and hope that your docs are lyme literate. If not, fight to find some to help you.
If you meditate or practice any relaxation or guided imagery, imagine yourself healed and walking. You will get there!
God Bless, Jenn Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
Al,
Hoping ad praying you get better soon!
Posted by lymeladyinNY (Member # 10235) on :
Al, you sound like a fighter and I wish you all the best.
Your situation touches me deeply. I will pray for your continuing improvement.
God bless - Julie
Posted by eliza85 (Member # 13630) on :
Just wanted to say Im sorry for your troubled times.
I will keep you in my prayers.
Remeber it is the time for miricles. If anyone deserves one you do.
God Bless, Beth
Posted by dontlikeliver (Member # 4749) on :
I believe I read somewhere that Dr B was also in a coma for something like 10 days when younger, from Lyme.
Posted by canbravelyme (Member # 9785) on :
Whenever I open my mailbox, I see the few saved messages from Al, relating to me about seizures.
We're thinking of you, Al.
Best wishes, Posted by canbravelyme (Member # 9785) on :
How is our friend Al?
Wishing you well,
Posted by Larkspur (Member # 5131) on :
You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Posted by canbravelyme (Member # 9785) on :
How is our Al doing? Has anyone heard from Al?
Al, we are all sending our most positive thoughts to you.
Best wishes,
Posted by canbravelyme (Member # 9785) on :
Does anyone live near Al, who could check up on him?
Best wishes,
Posted by joalo (Member # 12752) on :
I hope you are continuing to improve. I'll be looking forward to another update from you. You are in my prayers!!
Posted by Al (Member # 9420) on :
Update from Al !
Hi and love to all of you; I came home today after almost 4 months in the hospital. I still have a long way to go. I'm learning how to walk again and talk ,and eat. My trache is out and I can eat soft food and now my voice is back to almost normal. I can't walk yet and breathing is hard . I CAN'T THANK EVERYONE ENOUGH FOR ALL THE SUPPORT AND PRAYERS BUT I WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW YOU ARE IN MY THOUGHTS! Now that i'm doing better I will write more often as I feel up to it. Your Friend Al
I'm happy to hear you are home. I'll keep you in my prayers.
Peggy
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
YEA AL!!!! That's awesome!!!
Merry Christmas! Posted by canbravelyme (Member # 9785) on :
Al,
I'm so relieved you're back!
Best wishes to you!
CBL Posted by Doomer (Member # 11013) on :
Al,
I'm happy to hear you are home from the hospital and improving.
Sending you hope and healing thoughts as you recover.
Doomer
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
WELCOME BACK AL! wow, 4 long months without you here, and you were in the duck's motel; so sorry!
but they dismissed you for good for Christmas with your family/loved ones.
here's hoping 2008 brings back the health prior to being hospitalized, and the BLESSING THAT YOU MADE IT WHEN THEY THOUGHT YOU WOULD NOW!
Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
Welcome home!!!
Melissa
Posted by CaliforniaLyme (Member # 7136) on :
Dear AL!*)!*)!)!
Jenny Umphress had to learn to walk & talk and all that again after a Lyme coma- and she did!! She got back almost entirely to normal after that (ended up relapsing but she went off antibiotics prematurely). It takes SO much work but you can do it!!! You HAVE a strong will, I know that from your postings!!! You are in my thoughts, and will be. Very sincerely, Sarah
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
Al,
So happy to read that you are home! Hoping that your Christmas stocking is filled with strength, love, and hope.
God bless you friend!
Rhonda
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
Al, I just got to your post and story this Christmas Eve morning. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I was glad to see later in the thread that you are home and going thru therapy to work on walking and talking and of course eating.
You go get them! You will win this war. I refer to fighting lyme & company as war. Sure felt like it until this last year, now they are just battles. Go Al. Go Al. I'm doing a cheer.
Pam
Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :
Happy holidays Al! Great to see that you are going home and back on-line. My best wishes for your continued recovery!
Posted by groovy2 (Member # 6304) on :
Hi Al
Glad you made it home and are feeling better-
I have not heard of anyone going into a coma from Lyme but I do not see why it could not happen-
I had complete body parallelized 2 times and I would think if Lyme can do that- a coma is not that much different --
AL Everyone Here is Pulling for you --Jay--
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