Finally off the ventilator after 72 days - ICUsteps

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Finally off the ventilator after 72 days

Mccarthy0702 profile image
28 Replies

So my dad has now been off the ventilator for 30 hrs he’s doing so well am so proud of him.

Fingers crossed all goes in the right direction will be getting his tracheotomy removed Monday . Then stepped down to the ward later on in the week .

There is hope for all those out there with this terrible virus.

Lots of support will be needed for his recovery, but he has a family who feel so blessed and lucky to still have him here with us . Xx

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Mccarthy0702 profile image
Mccarthy0702
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28 Replies
Rhyl1 profile image
Rhyl1PartnerModeratorICUsteps

Great to hear your dad is recovering. He’s going to need the whole family’s support but don’t forget to look after yourselves as well.

jayniej profile image
jayniej

fantastic news!!

Just the lift you all needed so desperately!

💪🏻👏🏻xx

DrARDS profile image
DrARDS

Amazing news! So pleased to hear this 🙌🏾🙏🏾

Ferham profile image
Ferham

Wonderful, heartwarming news, delighted to hear this. x

Jmastracchio profile image
Jmastracchio

Congrats on your Dad..if you dont mind me asking, hiw old is your Dad. My 53 yr old brother still in icu..88 days. About 40 days ago went from vent to tracheostomy. The past 2 weeks he has been getting much stronger but was dealing with a pneumothorax. Cognitively doing well and in better spirits. While the left lung seemed to hve finally healed , we are waiting on him to be transferred to a rehab facility. Unfortunately this a.m he suffered a pneumothorax in the right lung and they put in a tube this am to drain it etc. Constant set backs causing prolonged vent time. While his trials have been going well, apparently they wont remove completely bc of the collapsed lung.

Im so desperate for him to get off machine and move on.

Mccarthy0702 profile image
Mccarthy0702 in reply toJmastracchio

No don’t mind you asking at all, my dad is 65. My dad also had the chest drain in and once all that fluid was drained he did seem to really come on a lot.

My dads had many set backs even having another chest infection a couple of weeks ago.

Only last weekend he was having 4 hour periods off the ventilator , so this last week he’s really just got stronger .

Such a long time 88 days but am sure alot of that time he won’t remember, my dad been in 11 weeks only really remembers the last three.

Am sure your brother will get there and be ready for his nxt stage of recovery xx

Jmastracchio profile image
Jmastracchio in reply toMccarthy0702

Thanks for getting back to me. So sad how these patients have to suffer for so long. May God Bless them all!!!

Xoxoxo

Sepsur profile image
Sepsur in reply toJmastracchio

It’s an awful virus that cruelly seems to torture all of those caught up in its wake, families, patients & staff.

Jmastracchio profile image
Jmastracchio in reply toSepsur

It truly is..all we can do is keep our faith and pray and pray. Thank you for always posting words of wisdom..they truly have been so helpful to me these past few months!

Best, j

Rgsable profile image
Rgsable

Great News 👏👏🏆😁Do we wait for 30 hrs off ventilator before they move to the ward or is it different for everyone?

If you don't mind me asking you?

Mccarthy0702 profile image
Mccarthy0702 in reply toRgsable

He’s not moving to the ward till early nxt week . He’s still

Has tracheotomy in till Monday , if everything goes to plan then he will go to the ward a few days days after that is removed.

He’s a little nervous about stepping down , but the Critical Care outreach team will visit twice daily for a week or so .

Suppose it may differ hospital to hospital xx

Ferham profile image
Ferham in reply toMccarthy0702

I was nervous about the step down, the recovery ward was amazing, he was checked on by the nurses, doctors and the critical care team several times a day . He is doing so well if he is walking already - amazing .

HopefulA profile image
HopefulA

Awwww absolutely wonderful news, I am so pleased for you and the rest of your family!

What a strong dad you have xxx

Mccarthy0702 profile image
Mccarthy0702

It’s such a good feeling , I am keeping everything crossed 🤞 that he gets that tracheotomy removed Monday as that will be a huge step for my dad he hates it xx

jayniej profile image
jayniej in reply toMccarthy0702

oh the tracheostomy got my dad down so much he really hated it too!

once removed they left a little trach in with a tiny tube and it was purely just there for them to remove secretions via a little suction.. this didn’t bother him at all he said he didn’t even know it was there really & his voice got stronger every day !

your dad is doing so well , all these little victories are one step closer 💪🏻🙏🏻x

Sepsur profile image
Sepsur in reply toMccarthy0702

Oh man the day I got rid of the last feeding tube, catheter, drain - I knew at last I would get home. There were moments when I feared that another infection in hospital would finish me off.

Mccarthy0702 profile image
Mccarthy0702 in reply toSepsur

Just the feeding tube to go now , had the catheter out last week . Already up and walking to the toilet himself with his walking frame . Am confident we will get him home , he himself starting to see how far he’s come also he a fighter 💪

Sepsur profile image
Sepsur in reply toMccarthy0702

That is fantastic - yes that pesky feeding tube - with a great lump of plaster stuck to your nose to keep it in place, hated it. No wonder I had some many dreams of being restrained in some way

Sepsur profile image
Sepsur

Fantastic news - I’m so pleased for you. Fingers crossed he responds well to rehab and you get him home.

Mccarthy0702 profile image
Mccarthy0702 in reply toSepsur

Thank you , you’ve been so helpful these last fews weeks and all while your going through so much yourself .

Wishing you all the best and sending healing your way x

Sepsur profile image
Sepsur in reply toMccarthy0702

Feeling much more myself today - Friday was a bruising day in every way. All these procedures were much easier comatose 😀

FamilyHistorian profile image
FamilyHistorian

It good to hear things are improving. I was sedated from before Christmas for 6-8 weeks and unexpectedly have passed my 72nd birthday. Everyone will talk about how good it is to that our experiences for both patients and family are normal and they will add what ever normal is. Every one is different and so to are hospitals. I wasn’t bothered my trachy. When I was using a voice box I wasn’t allowed to use it for too long and therefore it became very frustrating when I didn’t have it. Once it was removed I think it took about 3 weeks for the wound to heal and because my hands and arms were weak I had difficult in locating the dressing to hold it firmly when speaking so the staff attached a stud to the middle of the dressing so it was easier to locate where I should touch. Because of swallowing issues my feeder tube wasn’t removed until the day I left hospital.

RockRunner profile image
RockRunner

Wonderful news! There could still be bumps ahead but they will be much smaller than those experienced in the last 72 days. This is a massive step, so happy for you x

Mccarthy0702 profile image
Mccarthy0702 in reply toRockRunner

Thank you . The future will most definitely be a little uncertain for a while , am just so happy I now see a future for my dad.

How’s your husband doing is he still in ICU ? Xx

stevet11753 profile image
stevet11753

Best wishes to you and your dad, here's to his continuing recovery 👍💪🙏

mylko profile image
mylko

this is amazing to hear Mccarthy; the journey from here will be bumpy at times but your father is a fighter !! 💛

Olivia2902 profile image
Olivia2902

This is amazing news! I am so happy for you that he is doing well!xx

Mccarthy0702 profile image
Mccarthy0702 in reply toOlivia2902

Aww thank you . Hope ur doing ok , often think about you and your sister xxx

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