Hi my father in law is in icu with covid 19. This is his 30th day in an induced coma. We thought we was going to lose him over the weekend as his trach had started bleeding into his lungs. Thankfully they have stopped the bleed. Everytime they try and wake him from sedation all his SAT's go all over and they end up heavily sedating him again, is this a common thing? Previous to today's attempt at waking him he's opened his eyes on 2 different occasions before being sedated again. I'm so scared, this is a living nightmare. I'm glad to hear the positive news on this thread, just praying we will get the same news real soon. He is also on dialysis as his kidneys are badly damaged now too. It seems to be 1 step forward and 3 massive knocks back 😢
I suppose I'm just looking for some reassurance as it's 1 hell of a rollercoaster ride.
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Lf91
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That is very much what it is like - Ill respond to you more later. What you & your father is experiencing is very much what my family went through. Just grit your teeth and wish for better news tomorrow. AND try and get some sleep
Dialysis will slows down how quickly his body rid's itself of toxins and the sedatives to put him in a coma, so he will take longer to wake. My skin had little integrity so I cut very easily and I was on blood thinners - when they decided that I should have trachy - even this wasn't straightforward - 'straightforward' is a word that should never be used in reference to ICU or 'normal' for that matter. I hope you hear better news tomorrow.
I was in and out of an induced coma for about 50 days 4 years ago. They had trouble waking me up and had to do dialysis twice (I'm told). Whatever you do, don't give up. People (like me) do recover from it! The very best of luck!
Thank you both for your replies. It seems never ending! They tried to take him off sedation again yesterday and was stable most of the afternoon then had a bad night and is back on full sedation again! 😞 He just can't tolerate being off of sedation, I mean what will happen if he will never be able to tolerate being off sedation? It's really affecting me mental health, whenever I get my hopes up and things look a tiny bit positive we're brought crashing back down again. We're not giving up on him he's only 62 and has got a lot more life to live!
Hi LF91- I don’t have anything to add except support and a virtual hug. My covid positive dad (65 yo avid cyclist) is in the ICU on a ventilator, high fever, unstable hemodynamics, etc. it’s so hard to go through this, especially when we can’t be there or even together with our families. What I’ve learned so far is that this is very much a roller coaster - one step forward, one step back. It’s truly a hell like nothing I’ve ever imagined. Just keep holding onto the positives, and stay strong. He’s made great strides so far and will continue to do so.
He just need time to recover. All of the procedures put a lot of stress in his body. It does even for young adults. Eventually he will tolerate being weaned off from sedation, he's just not ready yet🤞
Your Dad's body is going through such trauma just now so sounds like he just needs more time to rest under sedation. It really is a rollercoaster having a loved one in ICU but he is in the very best place and being treated by highly specialized staff.
Update.... Abit late but I've been working 14 hr shifts all weekend 😩
So Friday 4.30 pm they started reducing his sedation. He lasted until 2-3am until he started getting agitated and they gave him a little bit more sedation. Yesterday he spent nearly all day with his eyes open but not blinking or responding to anybody around him. But when the physio was working on his legs he was looking around and grunting, the grumpy sod wasn't happy lol. And he also did a cough for himself. He was breathing 70% for himself and the vent 30%!! And stable. Today he has had his eyes closed, still stable but there has been talks about weaning him off the vent although they haven't started yet. Positive news but I'm scared to get too excited as things can change rapidly.
Thank you. Update this morning is he has his eyes open again, his bloods have came back and he still has an infection (he's had 3 chest infections since being in there), he's having another blood transfusion today not sure why though but he's had to be slightly sedated again. Like you've said it's slowly starting to look up 😊
I'm sure he will be fine. Just need time to recover from infection and clean his body from all the medication that makes him agitated. He's trying hard to wake up...
Yes he's awake!! For the past 3 days he's been awake. They are trying to wean him off the sedation gradually. The first night he got slightly agitated again so they gave him abit more, the second day he was responding by nodding his head and squeezing their hands when asked questions and yesterday they gave him abit of sedation again last night as he's awake all night and asleep all day when the physios are there. They need to retrain his body clock. When we rang at 8am they said he's trying to wake up again. There's been no mention about weaning him off the vent just yet but I imagine they will want him off the sedation completely before they try that. His wife has been able to video call him twice which is fantastic and he's been able to smile and put his thumb up when she's talking to him. He is very weak but that's not surprising after spending 38days in a coma not moving his muscles.
There is definitely hope and miracles do happen!! He's not out of the woods just yet but he's came so far when we thought we was going to lose him less than 2 weeks ago. I hope it gives you abit of hope for your loved ones xx
Thank you. He's doing aswell as he can. He is suffering from long covid and fatigue. He still has kidney failure but still hasn't required any more dialysis since leaving hospital, he has a hospital appointment today so will know more later. He has slight scarring in his lungs but over time is shrinking which is positive. Thank you for asking about him.I wish you all the health and happiness in the world and hope you all have positive news aswell. Stay safe xx
I am crying as I read this thread. I am down in the trenches with my dad as he battles the same things. He was switched to a traech 2 days ago and we are just (I'm)patiently waiting for him to wake up. I hope and pray to have a good ending like you did!! 🙌
Hi Laura I am in the exact same position! Tears as I read positive posts.. How is your dad. My day is day 9 on a trach but has an infection at the mo so waiting to sort that before weaning..
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