Hello, my father, 74, is in ICU nearing 4 weeks now battling covid and ARDS. He’s been on a ventilator since he was admitted to the ICU. He had a sepsis episode, luckily he was stabilized and was able to have a tracheotomy. The trach eased his discomfort and the icu team was able to lower his sedation. It’s so hopeful to read everyone’s stories and learn we are not alone in this. Weaning from Covid sedation and ventilation is definitely a roller coaster. My dad had a few good days thus far, in which he was breathing on his own for 4 hours with open eyes, followed by bad days in which the sedation had to go back up and being put back in coma. I pray for everyone’s family member who was attacked by Covid pneumonia and wish a full and speedy recovery to all. I know my dad will make it out, even when doctors have low hope of fruitful recovery for his age group. Prayers to everyone!
Difficulty weaning from coma sedation in Covid pa... - ICUsteps
Difficulty weaning from coma sedation in Covid patient
Hi @Sonya1114 - Wishing your Dad a speedy and trouble free recovery
Thank you Sepsur ! ICU personnel is suggesting that we transfer my dad to an LTACH (Long Term Acute Care Hospital), but my family doesn’t feel he is ready for this transition. What can we do? Can we request to keep him longer in the ICU until we feel he is stabilized? He has been in the ICU for 24 days thus far, and is still pretty much in an induced coma on a vent. He’s having hard time weaning off the sedatives, from what we understand that when the sedatives are tapered, he begins to sort of go into a withdrawal mode so they raise the sedatives back up. My family doesn't feel comfortable with him leaving the ICU, nevertheless the team is suggesting it. What should we do?
It is such an awful dilemma for you ( and medical staff). I was in ICU for 90 days 4yrars ago. It was a very different critical care landscape. Even then the staff wanted to move me to wards from about day 70 but I kept picking up other infections.. all you can do is be very vocal about your concerns ( the squeaky wheel gets the oil). If you feel as if you aren’t being listened too, you can ask for a second opinion or contact the hospital PALS team. We asked for a second opinion in my case. Obviously you want to keep your fathers team on side - where ever possible quietly and calmly stating your case works because the icu staff are reasonable and trying to do the best for all their patients in the most trying of times.
I totally understand you not being comfortable with your dad being moved to the LTACH. The first time my father’s doctor suggested this to us we also had concerns. At the time it was first suggested my dad was doing good, then when they tried weaning him off the sedatives and the ventilator he had a scary setback. After he was well enough again they performed the trachy and was a again a candidate to be moved to the LTACH, by then we agreed. He was only propofol by then and had the ventilator setting at 40%. When he arrived they had to turn it up to 60% (the nurses said it was because of the move) it lowered to 30%-20% in the following days until he weaned off completely. He received really good care there, which was our primary concern with him leaving ICU. If you need call and ask about the facility, we did and we were assured they were equipped to handle any kind of situation just like ICU would. This is definitely a roller coaster ride, hang in there and be patient. Prayers to you and your family.
Dear Jbujanda82 , thank you so much for your comforting advice. We just experienced the exact situation. Just a few days ago my father was stabilized and they were weaning him from ventilator and sedation, however he didn’t tolerate that too well, so the ICU team raised his sedation back up and put him in a full coma. We have decided to move him into a LTACH once the icu will stabilize him again. Fingers crossed, thanks so much for your support!
Hello, my dad has been in a induced coma since dec 24 and in the icu 4 hours away we were told this week he was eligible for a trach and his stats and oxygen were doing good and his lungs were slowly healing, then while on dialysis yesterday “only on dialysis since being in the icu no previous kidney problems” well doing dialysis yesterday he had a bad spat and they had to stop dialysis and it set him and made his oxygen go back up on high setting..now they can’t do the trach.. But just a few days ago they were wanting to do the trach and send him to LTCH next week.. now those plans have supposedly changed.
Don’t be discouraged by the setback. It took my dad about a week to get back to where they could lower the ventilator, do the trachy and where he was once again a candidate for the LTACH. He also never had problems with kidneys now that he is well he has been to a kidney specialist and they are completely healed. Stay positive and be patient!!
Hello! What ltach did your dad go to? How is he doing? All the best to you.
He went to an LTACH that we have in the neighboring city. (We live in Texas) my dad is doing great! Back to his daily routine! Never needed oxygen at home or anymore therapy. He also has already received both shots of the Pfizer vaccine.
Great to hear!!! Xo
Wishing you father a speedy recovery .
Very best wishes Sonya
Wishing your Dad a speedy recovery! I’ve been there with mine. PM me if I can be of help.Best wishes
R
Wishing your dad a very speedy recovery
Hi everyone, I’m sorry to report, unfortunately my dad did not beat the covid-19 virus and and trauma caused in the icu.. RIP daddy 1/15/21 .. As a “Group” I hope we can raise awareness of how crucial it is to take preventive measures from this deadly virus and take care of our elderly loved ones, before it is too late.. Unfortunately, this virus has taken many innocent lives - young and old. Emergency room teams still can’t make sense of how this virus destructs the human body and how to properly and effectively treat it with minimal damage to the rest of the organs. To those who are battling this virus or know someone who is, I wish them endurance, patience and to always remain hopeful ❤️.. PS if you want more details on my father’s journey in the NYU Langone Tisch Hospital located in New York, NY please feel free to private message me.
So sorry for your loss 😢
Hi Sonya1114 I hope you don’t mind my reply, My grandfather(76) whom I live with so to me is more like a Father😢 is currently in ICU. I feel like I am living in a nightmare. One day the news from the Nurse will seem more so positive and the following day from the consultant will be the opposite. I truly hope with all my heart your father will make it out, I can relate to how you are feeling. Make sure you are looking after yourself too.
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