Liver cirrhosis and falling sodium levels

[Dagmara]

Hi there, my mom is in the ICU. The doctor told my sister to either keep her on a ventilator(which he advised against), continue with the ongoing medications or to take her home. He asked her whether she wanted to torment her by keeping her alive. My brother in law says she must have misunderstood and she thinks so too. That he was just being straightforward. I don't know. I don't trust this doctor. We decided to continue her medications. She was in a coma but her condition started getting better. Her infection lessened, organs started functioning normally and she has even regained some consciousness. She can understand what is being said to her. However her sodium levels are falling. My sister tells me mom is crying because of the pain. Can anybody tell me as to what I should expect? What should I do? Is it better to relieve her of her pain. Take her home?

I'm afraid she won't have any chance of survival if we do that.

[scampi2122]

You have some real dilemmas, which are difficult to answer, particularly if you feel a lack of trust with the Doctor. Perhaps you need to discuss likely outcomes of different treatments, I can only speak personally, but I would find it very hard to manage back home, with pain management and nursing. It is worth thinking about how you and your sister can cope, try and agree together what you think is in yr mother's best interest and what she would want. All the best x

[mncold]

Hi Dagmara,

Sorry to hear that things are not going well for you, your family, or your Mom.

If you are uncomfortable with the doctor, ask for a 2nd opinion - if that is possible- and if you can, one outside the same group.

Best wishes,

Mary