comment by cgod

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comment by cgod

cgod · 4840 days ago · link · · parent · post: Locked-in syndrome: rare survivor Richard Marsh recounts his ordeal

"All I could do when I woke up in ICU was blink my eyes,"

Then how did people (his wife) not realize that he was conscious? This is either sloppy inaccurate journalism or this guy isn't telling the truth.

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mk · 4839 days ago · link ·

I agree that they are either playing up that aspect, or that he had extremely terrible care. I previously did stroke research, I didn't practice medicine, and I knew about locked-in syndrome. I'm sure any neurologist worth his/her salt would check for a blink response.

+discuss+discuss

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blimpy · 4839 days ago · link ·

Perhaps his blinking response was involuntary at first. Could be that after several days he managed to control it.

+discuss+discuss

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mk · 4838 days ago · link ·

I honestly don't think that's possible.

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b_b · 4838 days ago · link ·

No? People often regain use of limbs days or weeks after a stroke or traumatic brain injury. Eyelids? Why not?

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mk · 4838 days ago · link ·

In those cases their limbs are paralyzed and they don't move. This guy was blinking. I suppose eyelids could be paralyzed, but I would assume they wouldn't move then.

+discuss+discuss

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blimpy · 4826 days ago · link ·

Is it possible that blinking is an automatic response but that controlling your blinking for the sake of communication exists on some other level? breathing and speaking are similar functions but are controlled differently, right?

+discuss+discuss

thenewgreen · 4840 days ago · link ·

I agree, it does seem strange that it would take several days before someone thought to ask him to blink to confirm his mental acuity. I would think this would be one of the first things I did, especially as a spouse.

Doesn't add up.