Finally off vent after 77days: Today my father in... - ICUsteps

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Finally off vent after 77days

Lf91 profile image
Lf91
19 Replies

Today my father in law has finally been taken off his vent and had his tracheostomy removed! After 77 days on a vent in icu and 79 in hospital all together. They're going to monitor him over the next few days and hopefully are looking to transfer him closer to home.

There seems to finally be light at the end of the tunnel although we know its going to be a long rocky road to recovery with rehab etc. But he's doing amazingly well! Super proud of him!

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Lf91 profile image
Lf91
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19 Replies
Ferham profile image
Ferham

Amazing news - delighted for you all. From what we all know, slow and steady recovery, he has done so well . It's wonderful.

jayniej profile image
jayniej

fantastic!

so very pleased for you all!

x

DrARDS profile image
DrARDS

Amazing! So pleased for you. Prayers for his continued recovery 🙏🏽

Sepsur profile image
Sepsur

That’s is very good news. I wish your family well - you are correct in saying that there are potentially many things to overcome in the future. Please feel free to ask away as new hurdles crop up.

Dolphin011 profile image
Dolphin011

Brilliant news!!!! Hope he continues to make strong progress 💕

avnipiro profile image
avnipiro

Brilliant news

mylko profile image
mylko

amazing news! the road forward will surely be bumpy, but it is in the right direction. he’s a fighter 💪🏻 sending love to you & your family xxx

Lf91 profile image
Lf91

Thank you all for your kind words. He is being moved out of itu tomorrow and onto the renal ward.

Has anybody on here got any experience of a lived one leaving itu from covid or any other related illness them kept them ventilated for so long? He was sedated for 50+ days and still rather confused. He had a CT scan which came back clear but he still seems to be hallucinating etc

Apparently he's been to watch Tyson fury fight against Deontay Wilder, he went with Lennox Lewis and Bruno Fernandes, he pulled up at some traffic lights and tapped on their car window and they invited him in, they was wearing black suits and white shirts. Very very random. This is just some of the stuff he is coming out with.

Is this normal? And if so how long should we expect it to go on for?

I hope you and your loved ones are keeping well and get the same good news very soon! X

Ferham profile image
Ferham in reply toLf91

Hi what wonderful news for you all, my husband was ventilated for 33 days , it took him nearly 3 weeks to snap out of the delirium, we had wild stories , which we now laugh about . I wasn't laughing at the time and found it really upsetting as we also had some anger. The delirium in ICU after being ventilated for so long is very common. Just hold on tight, he will get through it . x

varmenta83 profile image
varmenta83 in reply toFerham

Read your post my father has been taken off the sedatives about one week ago currently on seroquel and diluadin he opens his eyes but doesn’t follow commands any insight I would appreciate it thank you and so glad to read that your husband is better ❤️

Ferham profile image
Ferham in reply tovarmenta83

My husband is now home and is recovering, he has been left with nerve damage issues and possible paralysis of the feet. When he came out of sedation,the hospital said he was alert and responsive, their definition of alert and responsive was so different to mine. We were then allowed to facetime him, I was devastated as he was vacant, he just stared through me.

We tried to have chatty conversations with him and was as upbeat as we could be , he hadn't a clue what was going on.This went on for about a week, he was then moved into a recovery ward , it was horrendous, he just muttered to himself and wouldn't engage with anybody for about a week. The following week he was more vocal, but occasionally aggressive, he ripped out all his tubes and was rude to the nurses.

He was forever asking for a decent G & T, about 19 days after coming into recovery the delirium started to dissipate, and it took about a week after this for it to clear.

He still has some cognitive issues and his memory short term is poor .

I hope this has helped , please feel free to ask anything else

varmenta83 profile image
varmenta83 in reply toFerham

Thank you this information gave me some more insight of what is going on with him the break in communication between the nurses is often frustrating I feel if I call to find out information they are irritated. I worry about my dad because how does someone own their eyes but not follow commands I’m struggling with that your husband from what you say went through the same thing trying to stay positive this is truly been a horrible time as I am sure you are going through the same thing emotionally seeing your loved one sick is the worst feeling send you hugs. 🤗 thank you again

Ferham profile image
Ferham in reply tovarmenta83

It's so disappointing the nurses are not being very supportive to you , we were very lucky, they were simply amazing, when he was rude, they were so kind to him.

When the foggyness lifted he built up a fabulous relationship with them. Can you speak to a senior nurse to explain a bit more. Many of us on this group have been on the journey I have been on, it's an emotional rollercoaster and very early days for your dad.

Sending you hugs too x

Sepsur profile image
Sepsur in reply tovarmenta83

You may find this link helpful

icusteps.org/assets/files/b...

varmenta83 profile image
varmenta83 in reply toSepsur

It really helped thank you so much

Sepsur profile image
Sepsur in reply toFerham

Cognitive dysfunction is really common amongst critically ill patients. I can only assure you that mine has improved over the last 4 yrs. I have to write everything down in list, I forget names & words for things. I forget how to do routine tasks on occasion etc etc. To most people it isn’t obvious but to me it is ( even my wife believes my vagueries are convenient)

I found that at first I had little sensation in the peripheries, about 9 months after discharge - I realised I could feel the tops of my feet again. I have little control over my toes - they are sort of just there. But even the neuropathy has lessened.

I believe with the right attitude & light exercise so much of life can be lived despite the restrictions imposed on us by critical illness or these weird times.

Ferham profile image
Ferham in reply toSepsur

Thank you Sepsur, yes my husband had the vagueries prior to his admission to ICU 😀.

Did you have intense pain in your toes , and were you able to wiggle them at all ?We have a nerve conductor test next week, he has been asked to be a case study for the hospital , he is expecting too much of himself, I have to keep reminding him of where he was 6 weeks ago . He couldn't even stand up, he is now managing with my support to get upstairs a couple of times a day.

Thanks so much for you constant support . x

Sepsur profile image
Sepsur in reply toFerham

Very painful hands for me - so I didn’t even think about my feet - they were so inconsequential and far away - it’s funny how one prioritises incapacity. I really didn’t care that I couldn’t feel my feet, I could walk ( badly). Later I would get intense pain in my calves, feet, shoulders ( from proning) - so many aches & pains - my knees would go on fire! But they have all lessened.

ithappens profile image
ithappens

can you elaborate on how long you father n law was on the ventilator it wasn't clear my dad is going through the same thing right now this really helped the hope spark back up for me!

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