If
you have read my site, you know that I was in a coma
for a few days. Besides going through an incredible
long list of tests, a collapsed lung and a stopped heart, no
reason for the coma was ever found or given. But one of the
things that bothered me the most was the definition of coma.
A
coma is a medical condition identified as "decreased
consciousness". It does not say anything about
not knowing what is going on around you. That is all
what a coma is, decreased consciousness. Even though I
have a big disagreement with this term, there is nothing I
can do about it and from experience know that I didn't
suffer decreased consciousness. I lost all
consciousness!
A
coma can be brought about by any number of physical
conditions and we will be talking about them later. A
coma can last from hours to years, and if you think that
after being in a coma for years you or anyone else, is going to wake
up and be normal, I have news for you. It doesn't
happen. If a person happens to wake up after years, or
even months of being in a coma,, it is going to have serious
brain damage, organ failures and another host of
complications.
But mainly, the person is going to be suffering from brain
damage.
There
are many different causes for a coma, some of them are head
trauma, seizures, heart failure, diabetic coma, ketoacidosis
(A complication of diabetes
that results from by-products of fat metabolism (ketones)
when glucose is not available for a fuel source in the
body), extreme fatigue, sleep deprivation, stroke,
arrhythmia, hypoglycemia, and drug intoxication. It
can be caused by consuming analgesics, prescribed
drugs, illegal drugs, alcohol, insulin, lithium,
barbiturates, and antidepressants.
When
in a coma, hospitalization is required and a series of tests
are going to be ordered to determine what caused it.
The nervous system is the first thing that will be tested,
blood work, CT scan, ECG (Electrocardiogram), EEG (brain
wave monitor), head x-rays, x-rays of the chest, of the
kidneys, MRI, spinal tap and any other test the attending
physician may suspect to be the cause of the coma.
A
coma is very individual, it may vary based on gender, age,
condition, unlikely diseases and medications, and on
the specific characteristics of the symptoms. I know
it is sounding as something that is very complicated,
and it is. The main thing to keep in mind is that a
coma can become permanent or be a preamble to death.
If
you take any kind of medication be very careful and do not
take a greater amount than the dosage prescribed by your
physician. If you suffer from diabetes, make sure that
your insulin is the right dosage for you and you are not at
risk. As for seizures, head injuries, heart attacks,
and arrhythmia, check with your doctor what medication you
can take that will keep these situations from happening.
Of course the head injury is not something that is totally
under the control of the individual. As far as
the lack of sleep is concerned, check with your doctor to
find out what is the best course of action for you to take
and be well rested.
If
you suffer from seizures, heart problems and diabetes you
need to ensure that you will have adequate home care and the
proper medications to prevent any complications from the
physical condition.
Always
remember that anything that has to do with your health needs
to be discussed with your physician. It is recommended
that you have a physical every year and that you
discuss the results with your physician.
Don't
be afraid of asking him questions or taking up your time,
you are paying him, he works for you, the least that he can
do is answer your questions instead of spending five minutes
with you and charging you or your insurance not less than
$160.00 for those five minutes. I pay that amount of
money every time I go see my doctor, but he will not leave
the examining room if he has not answered all my questions.
