subarachnoid bleed questions

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

DISCLAIMER, not seeking medical advice!

So without giving many details, 18 yr old. daughter in MVA with a bleed. Had a right to left shift. Luckily all is resolving and she has full use of all for extremities, glascow about 13, very groggy still but alert and oriented when awakening.

I've done neuro and researched it... but a care question for family...she wakes up, not knowing why she is the hospital each time she is awoken and asks how long she's been there.

I'm responding...."you had a car accident and hit your head hard, thats why you don't remember and give the day of the hospitalization... it's only been 24 hours, but this occurs each hour with neuro checks.

The nurses suggest I state what ever I feel is right....

In your daily practice, do you find it better to add on a touch of information each time? Is my repeating the same info not helping her? I know it's vague... but I'm certainly not going to say you have a brain bleed, multiple broken bones and what not just hours off the vent....

and then she asks..."who was driving?" and fell back off into her stuperous state.

Suggestions as to how you reorient your neruo trauma's as to not traumatize them?

I feel like we're doing circles, because we are... maybe it's because we're so early in and the bleed need time to absorb and I just need to wait it out and keep it up?

so reassurances and suggestions appreciated, and thanks

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I think that you are doing just what you should by answering her questions without giving any more information. Just keep answering her questions and hope that as she comes around they will become more complex and she will remember more (of what you have told her) or understand more.

You sound frustrated by this but I imagine that it is out of your care for her and want for her improvement. You are right to be patient with her and give her nothing more than she can handle. :yeah:

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Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.
I think that you are doing just what you should by answering her questions without giving any more information. Just keep answering her questions and hope that as she comes around they will become more complex and she will remember more (of what you have told her) or understand more.

You sound frustrated by this but I imagine that it is out of your care for her and want for her improvement. You are right to be patient with her and give her nothing more than she can handle. :yeah:

tysm... ahh day 5 in, I now understand the bleed was bad, the short term will continue and she retains a small piece each day and it adds on.

The headaches are hell, but we are soooooo lucky, so lucky and blessed, we're in rehab now in a brain injury unit that will give her PT with the pelvic fractures...

I am frustrated, but it is what it is... I'm in a new element and want to do what's right, thanks for reassuring me, and your right, I'm protecting her and giving more information each day if she can remember it. thank you, we're simply afraid, but learning

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