Doctors wants to stop dialysis (NHS): My Dad has... - ICUsteps

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Doctors wants to stop dialysis (NHS)

RSJohn profile image
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My Dad has had a bleed on the brain.

I suppose I should start from the start so you understand...

I actually posted a topic on here in January because his heart stopped while on dialysis.

He has kidney failure. They also tell us his heart is weak. Which we have to believe because of it stopping while on dialysis.

Now in February he made a full recovery. He was no different from before he had the heart arrest.

The reason for the heart arrest was (as we've been told) was that his blood pressure dropped which slowed the heart to a stop.

At the end of February he went unwell and we rushed him into A&E. It turned out he had a bleeding on the brain. They drilled into his skull to release the blood pressure.

While on dialysis a couple of weeks later his heart "slowed" it didn't actually stop completely but it would have.

This was about 2 weeks ago. He was taken into critical care.

The consultant who was very harsh on us. said outright that he didn't think he would last 2 days. it's now been more than 2 weeks and he's actually doing well.

They found he had a clog in his dialysis line, so his dialysis seems to run much better now, before hand it would also be setting the alarms off on the machine.

Now as far as his stroke side goes he's doing well in my eyes. When he's awake he can talk on the phone although he does struggle with talking. He basically has better days than others.

He can actually have a day like today where he can't open his eyes. will not respond other than squeeze your hand.

He lost his right hand side. However over the past few days he's started getting back his right hand.

He has always from the start been moving his left leg, but can't control it yet. but it'll come I'm sure!

Now because he's not sitting their talking to the doctors like a normal person would they are trying to write him off.

When he was A&E they kept being out new doctors to give us the talk of where we are going.

They have refused to use machines to keep him alive. No ventilator or blood pressure machines.

Now they are also trying to stop his dialysis.

He's been moved to another ward from the intensive care because the Doctors their have said we disagree with what they are saying!!!!!!! like what they are saying is they want to end his life. no give him any treatment plan.

Most days you can get him to answer in yes and no's. he'll happily sit and listen to music, humming along also.

But it's just every so often he's unresponsive.

But they are saying him saying yes and no's isn't good enough.

However, I have him on video on the phone asking questions and talking in sentences. Which although they have seen they like look at it like it's all fake.

(he's sitting holding the phone by the way)

He's been put on a ward with his own room. The consultant of this ward says they need to see big improvements within a week or they are going to team up and stop his dialysis treatment.

Surely this can not be right???

I know in time he would recovery (although he might have the off brain problem) to a good level to live a life.

(last saturday I thought I had him back, but then went tired and he hasn't been like that saturday all week)

We are pushing for home dialysis but they say he's too weak to have the tube fitted in his stomach. as with home dialysis we would care for him at home.

If a person without kidney failure had a stroke like he has they would be giving months if not years.

They want him to recover in a week? (yes it's been 1 month in total)

A nurse has said this is down to money (nhs)

I'm in the UK by the way. This is on the NHS as we can't afford private.

After what I've seen I'm signing up for health insurance.

Can anyone help with advice on this?

Surely they can't just stop his dialysis?

I'm thinking legal path? is their one? I need help!

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RSJohn
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Sepsur profile image
Sepsur

I don’t want to be inflammatory but maybe this article will highlight other options, second opinions etc. I’m sorry that you have had this experience with NHS.

amp.theguardian.com/lifeand...

RSJohn profile image
RSJohn in reply to Sepsur

Well he's been moved to a new ward as I've said, the new ward consultant said that he was looking at with a fresh pair of eyes.

But kept going back to what the other "experts" are saying.

He has said outright that if he doesn't sit and talk to the doctors they are going to stop his dialysis.

Today he's actually responding again. he's whispering rather than talking normal. but I've had this before with him. once he gets tired he'll go back to being unresponsive.

All the NHS doctors are saying the same thing while ignoring what we are saying.

I really don't trust them because I can see they are working together. one actually said that once one agrees to something unless it's out of ball park they all stick with whats been said.

Apart from getting a private doctor to look at him. but that's going to end up with private care that we don't have the money for.

My dad's life shouldn't come down to how much space they have or how much money they are trying to save.

If they need to save money they should take a pay cut, not doing away with people.

A Doctors job is to save a life.

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