Hi, im new here just looking for others that can understand the emotional rollercoaster that is ICU.
My mum was admitted with a severe sore throat, that turned into epiglottitis, followed by double pneumonia, deep set mediastinitis and septic shock. The docs gave her 48 hours to live....devastated! She is still clinging on though. They have saod without surgery to drain around her heart she wont survive, but the surgeons have said the operation would kill her. Desperately trying to stay positive, but so hard when all the medical staff are saying otherwise. My mum is 62, non smoker etc. Does she have a chance?? Thank you x
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I entered ICU in April 2016 with Strep A, Influenza A, Double pneumonia & sepsis. Sepsis was already septic shock & I suffered multiple organ failure. Kidneys, heart & respiratory system failed. Near zero % chance of survival. I was put in a coma for 2 months. I overcame sepsis only to be struck down with severe ARDS. I combated this too along with MSSA, VRE, CMV & glandular fever. Each new infection sent me spiralling again. To top it all, they also discovered I had leukaemia. I left hospital Aug 2016 and have largely rebuilt my life.
The emotional rollercoaster my family went on still has ramifications today.
Thank you, your story gives me hope! I hope you continue to make a speedy recovery and your family stay strong together. Not a good day for my mum, they are struggling with her blood pressure ( too low) and the huge build up of fluid around her heart and in her lungs, but will hopefully keep fighting on
Be strong and stay positive for your mum. My dad was admitted to ICU in Feb (still there) and had a lot of similar problems - from after surgery complications, organs failure, aspiration pneumonia, septic shock, respiratory failure/lungs collapsed but still we pray and have a lot of hope!
Thank you, she had a steady night so thats a positive. Hope is all we have when you feel so helpless. i hope your dad makes a speedy recovery as well, such a tough situation for everyone involved, all the best x
Hi I was really sick in ITU in 2012.. I was 46 .. my children 7 and 3..we lost their Dad to a brain tumour 3 years before that and they were telling my family I might not make it. I had meningitis, encephalitis and septicaemia and was in a coma for nine days at the end of which they did some risky head surgery removing necrotic bone and I finally could wake up. I know they they said being physically fit means you have a better chance of surviving and so does does the will to fight back. I hope your mum stays stable and they are able to perform the surgery she needs x
Wow another amazing survival story, thank you for sharing! I do hope the surgeons review her case, other wise completely reliant on antibiotics and my mums will to keep going. Its great to find support when you feel isolated and the outside world just feels so weird at the moment x
Hi.. It's a bit like being in a parallel universe going through this experience.. I really hope they can operate for your mum.. they kept saying they wouldn't operate on me and were relying on antibiotics but it wasn't working and eventually they took a risk and did surgery.. so there is still a chance they will change their plan if it becomes possible x
In 2016 I was in ICU with septic shock, multi organ failure, pneumonia and blood clots in my lungs. My family were told there was no hope on numerous occasions but here I am. Healing thoughts and hugs.
I had swine flu, pneumonia, ARDS, then caught a ventilator acquired infection with a bug they couldn’t identify. I spent weeks in a coma hovering between life and death while they tried to grow the bacteria throwing every antibiotic at me they could think of. They told my family many times I wouldn’t survive the night. They had not factored in my stubborn determination to survive this.
Several years later I’m not back to normal but I’m still breathing.
Don’t give up on your Mum, she may surprise the doctors yet.
I hope you eventually make a full recovery, crazy what people go through and come out of the other side. I will never give up hope, were theres life theres hope, all the best x
Just adding another to the list of remarkable survivors on here. I was critically ill with a ruptured colon. Given a 1% chance of survival and family told to prepare for the worst. Three years down the line I'm still here. My physio told me I had a strong will; your mum's fighting a battle in there and with your love and support she can win. I hope all goes well for you; stay strong.
Thanks, great to hear you made a full recovery. My mum is very stubborn and was very healthy before, so I have faith she will do her best to come back to us. So hard when day after day there are no changes and the fear of the unknown, but trying to stay positive. Thank you, you all have given me a boost x
Update: they tried to reduce my mums sedation and see how she coped. unfortunately she vomited blood and her blood pressure crashed. Now back under, feel like shes never going to make an improvement 😟 x
So sorry this happened ...I know I had a different reason for my ITU stay and different symptoms but they tried to extubate me a number of times and I "failed" ... there is still a chance it can be successful when tried again and it might have helped with their decision making however distressing it can seem.. I don't remember being aware of the failed extubations so hopefully your mum wouldn't be aware of what happened x
Hi, I’ve just read your posts. My mum had a brain aneurysm at 70, 2 years ago and spent almost 2 weeks in ICU, with both her lungs and heart affected after the bleeding in the brain was dealt with, we went through a very scary time, with the doctors not being able to give us any positive news every time we visited her and we felt so helpless. I know how worrying it must be but there is always hope, stay strong and I hope your mum gets stronger and pulls through this. My mum made a full recovery and I just wanted to say that even though it may seem bleak at the time, have faith and keep going x
Hi, thank you for your post. Its great to hear your mum made a full recovery. I think we all go through the same emotions, it never gets any easier. They reduced my mums sedation a bit yesterday and it was great to see her open her eyes, a small thing, but meant the world to me, all the best x
Hi, none of can say your Mum can make it but you will see how many positve outcomes there are. Support your mum and let your family and friends support you - you need and deserve it.
Your Mum's stubbornness will help I am sure.
Do use ICUsteps as a resource and please keep us updated
Hi, many thanks for your reply. Things are not looking too good for my mum, we were told on Monday she hasnt long left. She has developed more fluid around the heart causing arrhythmias and the sepsis doesnt seem to be improving. Shes still fighting though, so still hoping and praying x
My thoughts are with you both. Undoubtedly your Mum is in the best place, with the experts who will be doing all they can. Use whatever resources to help you, lean on your loved ones, you will be amazed with their strength. You are doing a great job, though it may not feel like it. I am sure your Mum would be proud. Well done x
Hi all, i was hoping to post good news today that my mum was finally off the ventilator. She managed a few hours but then one of her lungs collapsed overnight and infection markers are back up.....always seems one step forward and two back. Tomorrow she will have been in icu 3 weeks....feels more like 3 months x
Unfortunately my mum died earlier today. she fought a good fight, but the sepsis was stronger.....heartbroken. Good luck to everyone on this bumpy road xx
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