Covid critical state

[Delel]

Please help, Iam on full panicked mode.

My sister 66y type2 diabetes high blood pressure and anemic chronic is on ventilator due to Covid19.

She is on vent since 10th of January, taken off after 2 weeks but intubated after a week as she relapsed. The doctor said her 2 lungs are affected. It's been 3 days that she hasn't improved on full oxygen, the nurses said she is in a critical state. Iam so scared, I don't know what to think. Can she ever recover?

Update:

I would like to thanks everyone for their messages. After 4 months in ICU and ventilator, my sister is much better and recovering. She will be moved in a reducation centre to gain body muscles. She is in good spirit, hasn't been mentally and physically affected and speaks with us every day via Facetime.

For people living this nightmare, remember there is always hope even in the worst prognostic.

[Sepsur]

Yes. Many of us had ups and downs - critical care is rarely straightforward

[Delel in reply to Sepsur]

Thanks for replying. But why she is not improving? Is it too late because of her lungs? I tried to speak to a doctor but I need to book an appointment as they are all very busy. Iam very scared.

[Sepsur in reply to Delel]

Because critical illness is usually a series of plateaus & troughs- she may even get much worse on occasion. Your sister has comorbidities which exaggerate her incapacity to fight infection. I certainly dipped and soared in equal measure

[Delel in reply to Sepsur]

She has been Covid free for a week now so no infection, it's her lungs that are letting her down. So far there isn't any other issues such as heart or kidney. Her level of oxygen in the blood are low and doesn't seem to improve, this is why she is on full ventilator .

[Sepsur in reply to Delel]

But she is diabetic 😊

[LeopardGecko]

My relative needed to be put reintubated after not coping very well when it was removed. A few weeks later and she now has a tracheostomy and is doing quite well. My husband only had 20% of functioning lung when he caught Covid in hospital but got through it pretty quickly and is now home 2 months later.

Progress can be incredibly slow in critical care as well as taking one step forward and two steps back at times. I know that talking to a doctor is an incredibly scary prospect but at least you will be armed with more knowledge rather than imagining the worst.

They know so much more about Covid now and your sister is in good hands xx

[Delel in reply to LeopardGecko]

Thanks for your reply. I booked an appointment with the doctor and should call me back tomorrow. The nurse said to me today that her health has deteriorated since she's been reintubated and now doesn't improve. Iam dreading bad news.

[LeopardGecko in reply to Delel]

I always dreaded speaking to a doctor when my husband had his worst moments. I always tried to jot down some things I wanted to ask as I always forgot these once I was on the phone. I also tried to scribble everything down that they told me so that I could try to process it later. Sometimes there were little positives which I didn't process at the time so it was nice to be able to look back at what they said.

Try to keep positive and keep yourself busy as you need to make sure that you look after yourself. I hope the phone call goes as well as possible x

[Delel in reply to LeopardGecko]

Thanks for your kind message, it's like living a nightmare that doesn't stop.

[LeopardGecko in reply to Delel]

There is a relatives group on Tuesday evenings run by ICU Steps Chester. I found it really helpful and everyone would be more than happy to talk to you about any of your worries or questions.

[Delel in reply to LeopardGecko]

Thanks

[lynnmarr in reply to Delel]

Have they tried blood thinners for her lungs? It helped with my husband?

[Delel in reply to lynnmarr]

I don't know , I need to ask. Was your husband also affected in both lungs? How is he now?

[lynnmarr in reply to Delel]

Yes, both lungs. He is awake, trached and still on ventilator. He is progressing slowly!

[Delel in reply to LeopardGecko]

Update. I spoke to the doctor today. She has infection on lungs due to ventilator and been on antibiotics for 3 days but doesn't seem to shift. The oxygen level is still low and they keep proning her with only slight improvement. Unfortunately her kidneys are now affected. They don't know if there's fibrosis in lungs and they are going to ask if she can be transferred in another hospital to use the ECMO machine but it's not sure due to her age(66) that they will allow it to happen. The doctor 's wasn't optimistic and Iam so devastated. 😪

[Cazthomp]

It is very up and down like others have said my mum was very much the same but she also had full kidney failure she has been home since Christmas Eve after being on a ventilator for 40+ days keep hope. You should be getting a daily update from the medical team caring for her so make sure you insist on this it may be to her next of kin but it should be daily sending you lots of positivity

[Delel in reply to Cazthomp]

We are calling everyday but only speak to nurses who are vague about the lungs situation, all they keep saying is she is critical and keep proning her but no improvement. Did your mum had also badly affected lungs? has she got fibrosis now?

[Grant_za]

Be prepared for more ups and downs - even being called to say your goodbyes - many here can confirm going thru that process, and then recovery happens.It's a rough ride you are on, a terrible ride.

Have the doctors considered ECMO?

The fundamental difference between ventilation and ECMO is with ventilation the lungs are forced to continuing functioning, with ECMO, both heart and lung function can be bypassed. What this means is the lungs can "rest and recover" while the ECMO equipment supplies the oxygenated blood to the body.

Some patients are, and some others are not, suitable candidates for ECMO.

Unfortunately not all hospitals are equipped with ECMO. A big city hospital may have 10 or 15 ventilators, but only 1 ECMO unit. It is exceedingly expensive and resource heavy.

When you speak to the doctors, find out if your sister may be a suitable candidate.

[Delel in reply to Grant_za]

Thanks for your reply. The doctor said he was going to ask another hospital if they will consider having her on ECMO but it's not sure due to her age (66) apparently they don't do it above a certain age. In the case they approve, she would need to be transferred 50 miles away.

[Grant_za in reply to Delel]

The transfer would be worth it.Find out if the hospital has a mobile ECMO unit.

In South Africa a number of hospitals have mobile ECMO units.

The medical team then travels by helicopter with the ECMO equipment and the patient is put on ECMO at their current hospital.

Once complete, the patient is flown back, on ECMO, to the hospital with the ECMO facilities.

[Delel in reply to Grant_za]

I hope they will accept, Iam praying for it. The thing is in a middle of a pandemic they are prioritising who should get it first. Iam definitely going to push for it 🤞

[Grant_za in reply to Delel]

Covid has been a curse on humanity.Recources are stretched to the extreme.

Hopefully your sister starts improving without the need for further invasive treatment.

Don't abandon your own health, please make sure you eat properly and get rest. If you have problems sleeping have your doctor prescribe a mild sedative for you.

Your sister needs you to keep fit and healthy to continue advocating for her.

[Delel in reply to Grant_za]

Thanks for your kind words. Iam praying and hoping each day.