Coping With ComaThis section is a place to share stories about Coping With Coma. Below are entries of those who have already shared their stories. We hope that you find their experiences helpful to your own situation. You may also Help others by sharing your story. To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Life in and Out of a Coma 
In August 2007 I suffered a massive heart attack - minutes after arriving at a hospital went into cardio and respiratory arrest. Followed by multiple organ shutdown resulting in total life support, including dialysis for the kidneys, intubation, feeding tube and a radical attempt to keep the undamaged part of my heart operating. The coma lasted 42 days. Please know that, for me and possibly many others, mental life does go on, although quite bizarrely, in a coma. My “reality”, now referred to as dreams, was wild and exciting, terrifying, paranoid, delusional, and often acted out by family and friends. And now a year later I can finally recall times I thought I spoke - when of course it was impossible. Telling lots of people about my ‘adventures’, feeling pain from my scalp and calling out “please don’t shave my head!” and hearing voices talk about my pelvic bleeding and me saying “I’m past menopause, this shouldn’t be happening!” 3 months later I was home with 24 hour care. And now, in October ‘08 I am almost on my own, mobile, able to read and write again. My cognitive skills are impaired, as is a significant part of my memory. I still confuse my dreams and real life. I will never teach again - but I am doing well, accepting that a different life awaits me. But it is a life. Thank you all for writing and I hope this helps someone. Keep the faith in a similar situation. I wasn’t able, but my dear family and friends were.
October 2008
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