Covid-19 and blood clots in ICU

[Angelssavepoppy]

Hi all,

I’ve been reading a lot of your stories and I wish I could just hug you all. Thank you for sharing and my heart goes out to everyone suffering during this horrific time. I’m going through something similar to some of your experiences with my dad- not sure if anyone has had experience with blood clots with their covid patients on ventilators?

Dad is 65 and was previously healthy- rode bike centuries, worked out, no pre existing conditions. He developed symptoms on April 5th, GI symptoms which progressed to hypoxia, hospitalization on April 13th, moved to ICU on April 21st when he could not maintain o2 sat above 89 with nonrebreather. In ICU he was put on the Vapotherm at 100% 35L, and was actually improving- able to maintain o2 saturation in low 90s, inflammatory markers all decreasing, breathing slightly more easily. Organs all functioning okay. Until April 24th, when he threw a clot and they had to do emergency surgery on his leg to remove the clot. They intubated him for the surgery, and were able to extubate the following morning because he was able to breathe spontaneously and his lungs, etc were looking good.

The next night, April 25th/early 26th, he clotted again and needed another surgery. This time, he went into cardiac arrest and multi organ failure in the OR. They were able to resuscitate and stabilize SVT. They gave TPA, his BP was dangerously low and HR high at 120bpm. He had a bleed likely due to the TPA.

We just got an update that his BP has stabilized a little, and he is able to breathe on his own with support from the ventilator (still has the tube but spontaneously breathing). His kidney function and liver function is not great but they are holding their own right now. He does have a PE that they will need to take care of (hoping TPA works for this but they haven’t seen great success with TPA in covid patients).

The doctor called because he said these were hopeful signs, and he is optimistic and has hope.

I also have hope and faith. But my question is- has anyone else been there with the clotting issue? What if he clots again? When will the clots stop? Just wondering if anyone has had a similar experience. This is optimistic news but his D Dimer is so high that I am afraid to let my guard down.

I have faith and have been praying for a miracle. I know we are all praying for miracles, and I will pray for your miracles too. Stay strong everyone. Have faith- We will get through this.

[Sepsur]

Wishing you and your family a happy outcome - I’ve heard about this clotting with Covid and it sounds horrendous - this disease is truly cruel. I feel for all of you who are going through this - I know, only too well, the devastating impact critical illness has on a family - I entered ICU in the beginning of April 2016 and left at the beginning of July 2016. My family are still reeling from that encounter.

We continue to run the gauntlet because I am on the list of most vulnerable due to being on chemo/immunotherapy for a type of leukaemia now - I haven’t left the house since 16/3/20.

Stay safe everyone.