Covid-19, month in ICU with no underlying issues

[Zaaz]

Hi all,

I am so glad to have found this site! It has given me so much hope and courage to continue to fight for my brother.

My 37 year old brother has been in ICU for 30 days now with covid-19, and has not moved from an acute critical condition since being intubated. His improvement has been minimal for the past four weeks, and although his oxygen requirement was slightly improving at around 40%, as time went on it started to spike to 80-100%. He has also had several bacterial infections. In the early weeks doctors seemed a little positive, but for the past week I feel they've given up. We've been told several times that he has a very small chance of surviving. I had a very serious call from a consultant saying that they have tried their best, that he is using the limit of the ventilator, that his condition is looking very bad, he might not make it. What's worrying me is that the consultant said he will not continue proning. I know that this is the only procedure they have as there is no treatment so I am confused as to why they would stop if it means he has even a small chance of improving. The consultant also said that in the event of severe deterioration, they will not do CPR. As you can see, all this sounded to me as though they have given up on him entirely. He is young, fit, and generally healthy with no underlying conditions. His heart and kidneys are completely fine, only the lungs are affected. I have been losing hope as of course I would think the doctors know his condition better than me, but am I wrong in wanting them to continue to do their best and continue proning given his condition? Thank you to all who have written posts on here, you have no idea how much hope you have given me xx

Update: I couldn't wait for the daily call so spoke to a nurse this morning who confirmed that he's proned, so I guess doctors decided to continue, which is great. Still waiting for the update call from doctors so fingers crossed we hear some good news. Thanks all x

[Sidra89]

Im sorry your brother is in ICU due to Covid. Where are you located? Is he full code? You need to tell the Intensivist/consultant, anyone you speak to as the person representing your brother because he can not himself, that your brother is full code

[Zaaz in reply to Sidra89]

Hi Sidra, I am in London. I'm not familiar with that term, what does full code mean?

[Sidra89 in reply to Zaaz]

berkeleywellness.com/self-c...

[Rgsable in reply to Sidra89]

Very interesting this is new to me. Thank you for sharing.

[Stayloose]

So sorry to hear about your brother. Even a grain of hope is something to hang onto although they clearly want to prepare you incase there is no improvement. No CPR doesn't mean he won't make it, but maybe, as things stand currently, it would be unsuccessful if they were to attempt it. Re proning, it would be worth asking about it on your next update. Maybe they are weighing up benefit v disruption to your brother, but if you have questions write them down ready. Such a difficult time for you. 🙏

[Zaaz in reply to Stayloose]

You are right, I am going to ask them about re proning today. Thank you

[AKAICUsurvivor]

I was proned a few times as last resort / it worked for me ultimately- I hope the unit doesn’t give up on your brother - maybe ask them for some clarification, after all he was fit and is young.

[Zaaz in reply to AKAICUsurvivor]

This morning I asked a nurse for clarification as to why the consultant said he'd no longer prone, she told me that he is in fact prone today. So waiting to hear from the doctors some time later.

[Rgsable in reply to Zaaz]

Please keep us posted and hoping that he will pull through

[AKAICUsurvivor in reply to Zaaz]

Hopefully he has shown improvement

[Zaaz in reply to AKAICUsurvivor]

No improvement unfortunately. He's still requiring a high level of oxygen (70%), the doctors don't see him changing for the better. The doctor who called today told me his condition is the worst of all their ICU patients, and they will prone him only if he gets very bad as proning is not improving anything. This is heartbreaking, and so difficult to accept how someone who has never been ill, no health issues, never on any medication, and whose other organs are functioning can suddenly be in such a critical state. Covid-19 is truly a beast that is sparing some and ravaging others. I believe in God and therefore I still have hope but I'm also prepared for the worst. I pray everyone who has a loved one who is sick from this disease hears good news soon.

[AKAICUsurvivor in reply to Zaaz]

I am truly sorry to read what you have written, hopefully he will turn a corner / I was referred to as the sickest man in the hospital.

[Rgsable]

I am so sorry to hear that. My husband is also in icu going through all these treatments and no progress yet. He has been on ventilator for 2 weeks now. Hoping that he pull through

[Zaaz in reply to Rgsable]

I am so sorry to hear you're also going through this pain. I pray your husband shows good progress soon. It must be so difficult for you, I hope you have someone by your side.

[DrARDS]

God bless you and brother. Don’t give up hope and keep strong for him. He won’t want to see you upset.

We are 3 weeks down the ventilator and 5 weeks of illness for my Dad, still having very difficult times after lots of complications and set backs. You are right, this virus is just ridiculous!

I wish we had had the lockdown much earlier and many of us on here wouldn’t be in this position...it seems the Uk has been hit really badly, especially London.

We have heard today of a family friend , who is only in their 20s-now in HDU.

[HopefulA]

How is your brother Zaaz?

[Zaaz in reply to HopefulA]

Thank you for asking HopefulA, he is doing so much better. We're so relieved. He has come out of sedation and is having sessions off the ventilator!

[HopefulA in reply to Zaaz]

Oh that is wonderful news, I am so relieved and pleased for you and your family.

I'm hoping we will see a similar journey for my dad soon!🤞🏼🙏🏽

Best wishes for your brother x

[Mccarthy0702]

I pray for all these covid patients every night. I had a FaceTime with my dad today , he’s looks a lot better than last week. He’s had a larger drain put in today to get rid of some fluid from his left lung in order to see if this will help with the weaning off the ventilator.

I can’t believe a virus can do this 😢 no way is the uk ready to ease the lockdown .

So many of these covid patients suffering with their kidneys , I just want good news as every day this week I’ve had something different to contend with . He’s very much there is even trying to mouth something it’s so sad that I know he has so many things going on in his body x

[HopefulA in reply to Mccarthy0702]

Praying that you get some postive news, he is fighting so try and keep your strength up for him x