Rehabilitation ward worries

[Emmyn91]

Hi my dad has been in ICU for 19 days, 15 on a ventilator. Due to an oesophagus bleed. He has liver cirrhosis.

Today he has been deemed well enough to go to the rehabilitation ward. Which I great I know it’s a step in the right direction, but I can’t help but feel so so worried. When I visited him this afternoon before he left, the anaesthetist come and spoke to us and explained they had put a DNR on dads file, which scared the life out of me! And is probably the reason I’m worried about him going onto the ward now.

He is still unable to talk, he is on oxygen through nasal cannula and still being tube fed. He sat up in a chair for the first time today. I just feel this is all happening very quickly and really worry he won’t have the level of care he’s getting in the ICU.

Am I being silly? I feel so so worried.

Thanks for reading, any replies or experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Emma.

[DavyGravy]

Hi Emma

I worked in a hospital for 18 years and I can tell you the level of care will be just as good, regardless of where your father is in the hospital. Nurses really care and nothing makes them happier than seeing their patients get well and go home.

Perhaps if you spoke to the doctor, they could give you a general idea of your fathers current health. I do not want to raise or dash your hopes, your father may well improve and go home soon, but it may depend on whether your father has any fight left in him.

This is extremely stressful and you are in the last month of pregnancy. I know you are your fathers little girl but I guarantee, if he could talk, he'd ask you to be 100% focused on baby.

Is there anyone else who can visit and check on your fathers progress? Just until baby is here.

Wishing you well

Dave

[Emmyn91 in reply to DavyGravy]

Thank you Dave,It’s really comforting to hear the level of care should be the same no matter where he is in the hospital.

I have spoken to the doctors and they are happy with how he has improved. His liver nurse is back of holiday on Monday so she will be very honest and upfront with me (she’s absolutely lovely) and she knows dads liver past too.

Dad is only 54 and a very very stubborn man so I’m hoping he’s ready to put up the fight needed.

Unfortunately due to him going on a ward I doubt I will be able to see him 😕 I think this upsets me the most.

Thank you again for taking the time to reply to me.

Emma 😊

[Aotea2012]

Yes Dave is absolutely right. The staffing levels in an ICU are 1 nurse to one or two patients, your dads needs whilst still high, are lowering. He is not attached to a ventilator for example. The reason levels are so high in an ICU is because patients are attached to high tech equipment which needs constant monitoring and because their condition is unstable and apt to change dramatically very quickly. He is now not in that position. He will have been carefully assessed to determine what level of care he now needs and will be discharged to an area which is staffed accordingly. Hospitals are very careful on making sure that patients needs are closely matched to staffing. There are heightened restrictions on visiting at the moment because of omicron, but hospitals hate doing this and assess the restrictions frequently in order to take a proportional approach, so things change quickly. Check to see what the restrictions are. It’s likely you will be able to visit, but it will be restricted. Hold onto the fact that your dad is improving. Hospitals are safe places with dedicated and highly skilled staff. The media jump on all the things that go wrong, when sadly they forget to mention all the thousands of patients that are successfully treated every day. He’s in the best place at the moment and I don’t think it will be long before you are posting for advice on discharge to home. Take care.

[Emmyn91 in reply to Aotea2012]

I think because it all happened so quickly it was a bit of a surprise! I’ll feel much better after my morning call to the hospital to see how he has settled in. They actually put him on the gastro ward, which I guess is a good thing as his liver is the main reason behind all of this, I’m sure he’ll see his liver nurse soon too and he is familiar with that ward so that’s a plus side 😊 Thank you for taking the time to reply, it really means so much to me.

Emma 😊

[Hidden]

Hi,I'm sure you are very worried but if it's any help, in march 2020 I was admitted with upper GI bleeds,I was a patient for 14 days,just as the covid appeared,so no visiting allowed,luckily I can cope alone,! It was a bit of difficult time,I had varices banded on arrival after A&E. I was re admitted again in June for further banding,I was very ill,DNAR was also implemented,but I'm sorted now fully compensated,and alcohol free well 3 years this month,I did drink but alot of problems stemmed from other issues ,medication, infections,but recovered from the bowel cancer, I truly feel for you,helpless,worry,I have never liked hospitals so to avoid them I am going to keep a closer eye on my health,wish you all the best,hope things go well for you your father and your new arrival,take care. I too was 54,hope this helps ,somehow I always seem to put my foot in it.

[Emmyn91 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you,No you have definitely not put your foot in it 😁 I know everyone is different but reading real people’s positive stories, I find it very comforting. And it helps me to try and be positive 😊 it’s hard for us at the moment because now he is on a ward, we are unable to visit. And the nurses are not really giving updates other than oh he’s fine. 😩😕 but I know they must be super busy. Hoping for a more detailed update today 🤞🏻Because all I can Invision is him laying in a hospital bed with no one helping him 😂🙈 even though I know this is not the case.

[Hidden in reply to Emmyn91]

Hi,hope things are going ok !! I was stuck in hospital for near 3 weeks,no visitors,I'm sure things will be ok,just a little story to share,! I was so annoyed to find out one day when i asked a nurse if I could go to the toilet unaware how long id been asleep,she replied just go ! I then realised I had a catheter fitted,it was so annoying !! Grrr,so that night I tried to remove it myself ! With no luck,the following day nurses came to remove it and I said that I'd tried to and it won't move it's stuck!! Which she replied that's the idea it has a balloon internal so not to come away, I laugh now,and sure they all did.good times and not so good,but they are there to help.i was told I'm in the best place to get better,! I disagree a beach in Hawaii would have probably worked.keep your chin up,it reminds me of my daughter's anguish when I was in,all my best.