Well my darling husband got admitted to hospital last month with an irregular heart rate which was going I to ventricular tachycardia, he had an ICD that rectified it.They didn't give him any of his heart medications when he went in, just potassium and a diuretic, and started him on Amiodarone. He felt sick and he couldn't drink. They said he'd give him IV fluids but they never did until the end when it was then too late.
That night he had a big cardiac incident because they gave him too much potassium. It caused his heart to go into VT again and also caused some kidney damage.
He came round and it was then a case of watching the kidneys.
He was doing ok but then the next day he had another VT episode. At this point they said the amiodarone wasn't working and that they would now be turning off the ICD and putting him under the care of palliative nurses!!!
I / we asked about Ablation as that was mentioned early on but they said he wouldn't survive the operation.
When I asked about his heart medications and why had they stopped them for a week at this point, they just said about the kidneys, but the kidney function had improved and they hadn't given him them before the potassium incident.
He sadly passed away after another week without medications and his heart racing at about 200bpm , eventually being sedated and pumped full of morphine and me hearing the fluid build up in his lungs.
I feel traumatised and have so many questions.
Why would they not have tried him with him original heart meds that kept him alive for so long?
Amiodarone can take 2-3 weeks to work , so why write it / him off so soon without waiting??
Is this normal practice? Was it the right thing to do? I just feel angry at the way they did it all π’ and I miss him so much π
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KirWil
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What a dreadful time for you right now. The death of a loved one always leaves us with questions, but in your case the only people that can answer those is the team that cared for him. If you want to have answers then phone the PAL's team at the hospital. They can arrange a discussion with the appropriate medical staff. Try to be focused and write down the questions you need answers too. I hope you can resolve these and feel the care he received was appropriate for his condition. Best wishes.
Hello my dear, first of all I am sorry for your loss. Please π take care of yourself and talk to Pals and doctors get another opinion please. You are in my prayers.
I'm so sorry for your loss.I would agree with the others about contacting PALS, but if you feel up to it I'd find out when they have a drop in session and go in person.
Oh no what a horrendous situation. I am so sad for you, your husband and wider family. What a shock and what a worry. I will echo what others have said about PALS. Ask a friend or family member to go with you to meet them and be insistent.
Is now the right time to meet with them when you are in the thick of grief or later when you perhaps feel you can cope with getting answers. Only you know when is best for you but making that initial contact sooner than later is wise.
My friend was widowed young a while ago and needed answers about her husbands sudden death and medical condition. Like yours her grief was unbearable. She took a while to meet with relevant medics and it did help her understand and accept somewhat better as there was so so many previously unanswered questions, reasons, what ifs etc. So sorry for your loss. Sending virtual hugs your way. X
I am so very very sorry for your loss of your dear husband. And in such awful circumstances too.
I would advise you write down everything you can possibly remember of the whole awful experience.
Then put it to one side and allow yourself time to deal with the coming weeks, funeral arrangements etc.
When you feel a little stronger contact PALS at the hospital and make an official complaint.
Hopefully you will be invited in to meet his consultant to discuss his care (or lack of it).
Also worth talking it through with yourown GP if theyare supportive.
If you do attend a meeting ensure you take someone with you.
I supported my mum through similar when we lost my dad. She found it all draining but really worthwhile. Having her voiceheard helped and she felt she was speaking up for my dad.
I am so sorry for your loss and feel your pain as similar happened to my late husband. I tried the PALs route and, in my area, they were useless. I have now given up as there is nothing that can bring my husband back so I have stopped fighting. I do hope you can get some answers.
I am so sorry about the way your husband was treated . What happened is appalling. And after all you went through him dieing is just awful. The hospital had a duty of care for darling man and they failed him and you . Like some have said get in touch with PALS . I know it won't bring you husband back but someone must be made accountable and this doesn't happen to another family .
My heart goes out to you and all your family and you have a rocky road to travel . But please don't hold your grief in you only hurt yourself if you do. I was widowed 21 years on the 6th and thought I had to be brave I was a fool but I was 45 and knew nothing about bone crushing grief. Your grief is made all the worse because of the lack of care your husband got I would raging at the injustice of it all.
I hope you have family and friends who can help you . You have been very brave writing about what happened but you have helped anyone going through the same thing . And writing at such a difficult time your husband would be proud of you for telling people what happened. πΉ
So sorry for your loss .. its so sad to hear .. You need Answers and someone with you to help you ask about your husbands Treatment and Medications .. .. Again so sorry for your loss π
I am sorry to hear about your loss and can understand how you are feeling. I can only suggest that if you intend to pursue this with the hospital you will need an independent medical opinion on the circumstances to give you guidance on whether you have a strong case or not. As a first step you could try the BHF Heart Helpline nurse who may be able to provide you with that opinion and then you can take it from there.
I'd like to add to the condolences so well expressed by others.
Once the dust has settled a bit you might like to contact Action Against Medical Accidents (AvMA - avma.org.uk). There is a lot of useful information on their website and they are very helpful.
If you decide you want to make a claim, you have three years to do it - so there is a limit but you don't need to rush now.
I am so sorry for your loss and what sounds like a dreadfully traumatic experience. I would register an official complaint with the hospital detailing everything you have just told us. They will be obliged to investigate whether correct procedure was followed re your husbands care. I would also contact the clinical commissioning group for your hospital to express concerns re the steps taken and whether any decisions made lead to his death. Could you have a family friend or someone you know in the medical profession take care of this for you re making complaints and enquiries on your behalf? Given you are going through grief right now and might not have the energy for all of this.
HHH2017 have given very good advice. Write everything down or record yourself talking through it if writing is too difficult. You can request medical records as well.
I hope you get the answers you deserve but there is a chance you might not. Iβve made complaints before and the responses have been even more infuriating, but itβs still important to raise these things because when hospitals get audited they need to report on complaints and even if they refuse to admit blame to you they might make changes to protocol in response to your feedback.
Every single reply on here has made me well up. You are so so kind, bless you all.I have decided to contacts the hospital PALS , I have written everything down.
I just don't understand why they just wrote him off. With his medications and the new drug, amiodarone I honestly think he'd have had at least more time. He wasn't that bad before he went in.
However they are specialists, so I feel silly to question people who studied for many years. But I'd like answers at least.
Thank you all and I hope you all have good health with your issues β€οΈ You're all very kind to reply to me
So very sorry for your loss We went to my wife's inquest last week 15 months after her death The coroner said if the GP had followed procedure she would be alive today We are now taking them all the way Be strong and demand answers x
So sorry for your loss. My lovely husband died 12/04/24 very suddenly eat home. Had 111 just been and put it down to flu. Advice they would send his GP in the morning. Within ,2 minutes of them leaving Jerry had a massive HAMiss him and mourn him every day
We had just celebrated our Golden Wedding
So glad he didn't suffer at the end
Please take care of yourself,accept all offers of help and company. Rely on family and friends as it's a very lonely journey
Firstly I send you all the biggest hugs in the world. π€ My husband had a similar experience concerning his cancer treatment. Thankfully I didn't lose him. I made a official complaint to the hospital, I got answers, to what had happened, but also it highlighted that other cancer patients were also not receiving there required treatment.
I can only imagine how you feel, but if there were errors made, and they are brought to there attention, it could save someone's life. Then just maybe you may feel your loss was not for nothing.β€
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