My mom caught the virus shortly before she was to be discharged from rehab center after a terrible spinal infection. A few days after her positive test result, they sent her to the hospital to give her the best chance possible. At first she had no symptoms but once at the hospital she was placed in ICU because of low oxygen and afib. The next morning they said she was doing great and would likely be moved out of ICU. Within hours they called back to say her oxygen went way down and she needed to be put on the ventilator. That was two weeks ago. Her kidneys are now not working so they’ve been doing dialysis. Her ventilator setting is very low and she’s almost breathing on her own but now they can’t get her to wake up!!! They turned sedation off on Tuesday and she is not responding to any commands. I am wrecked with worry. I don’t know what is going to happen next. I’m scared to death. I lost my dad 8 months ago and if my mom doesn’t pull through I will be gutted. Has anyone else had a loved one take a while to wake up??
Mom vs. Covid-19: My mom caught the virus shortly... - ICUsteps
Mom vs. Covid-19
Oh I am so sorry- I am Praying for your mom. I don’t have experience with this as my dad is still in critical condition on the ventilator. I’ve seen a bunch of posts on this forum about taking awhile to wake up though. Sending you a hug, I pray our parents pull through this.
Hey! Apparently it is a common thing for Covid patients to take a while waking up. Like you I was (and still am) sick with worry. My dad has been completely off the sedation for I think 8 days now and he's still not awake - only opening his eyes now and again and is able to open them when his name is called.
The consultantants have said that it's most likely because the kidneys aren't working properly and they've seen this trend with Covid patients.
I know it's easier said than done but please try not to worry too much.
Hey! My dad was off sedation for almost 3 weeks until he started showed signs of ‘waking’. Eyes opening and ‘responding’ to commands. He also had to go back on dialysis to flush out the toxins that still may be on his body. He’s off it now - but still not fully awake. It’s a horrible, horrible time. We just have to have patience and positivity. Thinking of you x
Hey Chanlib what are the news of your dad and what are doctors telling you?
Hi Marcita,
We actually had a good call from the dr. 3 weeks to the day of him being off sedation they have classed him as awake and conscious. We only really saw progress from Tuesday onwards and believe the first zoom call we had with him since he’s been in hospital really helped!
They have said however that they can’t see neurologically long term what he may be like as we will only know as and when he recovers (he couldn’t have a MRI). He also has a lot of muscle wastage which they believe is why he can’t move his body at all.
How are you today?x
Tough day. She's back to ICU because of her kidneys... and also she wasn't breathing fine so they gave her a mask again and removed some mucus and she's breathing good now.
But no interaction yet. They said the exam will not benefit at all and not gonna heal her. It might be the medication, it might be the virus they don't know. She might come back as she were she might not come back as she were they also don't know.
But they MIGHT do a scan on Monday. Also she will do dialysis on Monday.
One step forward and three back.
I would push for a MRI if you can. But also your mum probably just needs time, it took my dad 21 days and going back on the dialysis to flush out toxins for him to wake x
Doctor said she's responding and understanding commands, she can nod her head to communicate. She's at the ward again now and doing dialysis today. Fingers crossed she keep it that way 🤞
Speaking with different doctors always drive me crazy because each one has their own perspective. So I'm hoping this info we got is REAL. He was her doctor for the past 2 days so I pray he did really see this improvement with his own eyes.
She has dehydrated when she came in 2 days ago.
Im so sorry swnd you a virtual hug. Prayer for mums speedy recovery. I dont have any experience either as my dad is critical in ICU on the Ventilator. But i have seen loads of post regarding waking up and especially if some one been on a dialysis can take twice as long due to the organs still trying to release all the toxins and trying to work properly. It seems common and usually nothing to worry about. Mention it to the Doc when you next speck to them.
Thanks everyone. It seems like it’s a different doctor everyday. There’s not much continuity because they are all being shuffled around to where they are most needed. Some seem more optimistic than others. It’s so up and down, some of them say “it’s just going to take time” while the one yesterday was more like “if she doesn’t follow commands soon we will have to do a cat scan.” I don’t know which of them to believe, it’s so frustrating and upsetting. Thank you for making me feel less alone !
Exactly like what I'm going through with doctors... 17 days post sedation and nothing...
And of course we can’t go see them to let them hear us constantly and try to help the process. This is the worst. I’m so sorry you’re also on this road but at least we know we aren’t alone!
Your Mum will be in the best place getting the best care, this whole awful saga may drag on much longer than anyone would like - so it is important to look after yourself too - your Mom will need all your support later on too.
Had a long conversation with a doctor yesterday who was one of those doctors who kind of struck me as a negative Nancy. There are definitely some doctors that are more optimistic and hopeful. She left me in tears and we just spoke again today. Mom didn’t have a good day today. They’ve found some bacteria in her blood and there’s a lot of hypotheses on what it could be so they’ve started her on a very strong antibiotic. There will be further lab work in 24-48 hours to show what exactly it is so I really didn’t need to hear all of the possibilities on what it COULD be. She’s also having an upper GI bleed which could be a result of the anticoagulant so they’ve stopped that. And her heart rate went back into afib today which is likely because of all the stress her body is in right now with the fever and possible infection. On the plus side her lungs look a lot better. Which is about the only good news today. Two steps forward, three back. I’m so drained and just sick over this.
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