Septic Shock

[niksofly]

My mother went into septic shock and has been fighting for the last month plus. The doctors denied certain treatments and told me to DNR her so she can "die with dignity". My mom is surviving. I'm trying to figure out the next steps.

[Hidden]

I'm so very sorry to read of your moms struggle for life. You must be distraught. The ICU staff (that I have met) want every patient to survive, so I wonder what else is going on. Have they told you everything?

Is she in a major tertiary hospital? What treatments have they denied her?

You are welcome to ask me about things they say that dont make sense to you.

My thoughts and hope are with you and your mom. 🍀

[niksofly in reply to Hidden]

i was denied CRRT when she was first said to be going into renal failure. The doctors deferred approving blood until she waited nearly 12 hrs before a transfusion. They dehydrated her for two weeks. It's been rough

[Hidden in reply to niksofly]

That is terrible!! You sound like you know what she needs. Dehydrated, not dialysed.... no wonder you're upset. Sepsis needs fast action!

Why would anyone in medicine do this?!@!?? I wish I was there 😠 I'm angry this is happening in 2016!!

I hope you're being the most annoying, loud, pushy visitor ever and getting what she needs, if not please try it!!! Mention the law that usually works....No hospital wants an investigation!!

[niksofly in reply to Hidden]

That's my next step, to seek counsel. I've talked to admin to no avail. I've begged and pleaded. They made their minds up from day -1. It's infuriating.

[loveans]

I am so sorry to hear about your mom. I don't find that to be professional or sympathetic in anyway towards you. Is it possible to switch her to a different Hospital? I will be praying for you and your family.

[niksofly in reply to loveans]

Thank you. Prayer is what we need. They have no sympathy. The case management tried to over ride my rights as a Medical Power of Attorney. I want to move her, but she is critical.

[histeacher]

I am so sorry to hear about your mother. My husband had gastric sleeve surgery on October 5th and spent the last 2 months in the ICU fighting. He was discharged to a long term rehab facility on Dec 6th only to end back up in the ICU with an infection. This is the longest and hardest journey I have ever encountered. What type of treatments are they denying her? I have found that doing research and asking specific questions about treatments/medications can help. Although I became a serious pain in the doctors behinds, if they rounded when I wasn't there and there was something specific they wanted to do or try I made them come back and explain it to me. You know your mom best and know what she would want. I ended up having to ask for a patient advocate (nothing against the nurses they were fantastic) it was the Dr's that I had major issues with. I felt like they kept him sedated for far too long and often times did not do things fast enough to speed up his recovery. The leak from the new sleeve caused him to go septic. They put a stent in and flushed it out. About a week or so later they did a cat scan and found he had 4 abscesses that needed to be drained. Scan was done at 7:30 pm but by 1:00 pm the next day he still didn't have the drains put in. I had to get patient advocate involved several times. I encourage you to ask questions, research medications, and most of all don't let them push you to make a decision about her care. Also know that the ICU life is an emotional roller coaster that most people can't relate to. One day you can be filled with such hope and be so optimistic and the next day crushed. If you have any questions or just want to chat I am here.

[niksofly in reply to histeacher]

Thank you! It is. I saw my mom improve. Then I saw the pulminologist tank her. I've asked for certain things-Automatic no. I've been up and down with hope. The doctors evaluate her when she's sleepy. Never at her best. They haven't did a scan except for the head after I requested it. They don't want to explore what could be causing it.