Maxed out vent settings-not improving-any hope?!

[TB07]

My dad is now on day 40 Of the ventilator. After the first couple of weeks mostly staying close to 100% on oxygen, He had gotten down The last week to around 40% and they were trying to wean sedation. He was awake enough to open his eyes and blink during FaceTime but not following commands. He had a setback, what we think is an infection and the last week he has been on 100% oxygen, peep at 12, 40 Nitric oxide, 250 Fentanyl, 16 versed...basically maxed out on everything. They cannot turn him bc it causes a sudden drop in oxygen saturation. I’m just wondering, has anyone else been here and survived? He has basically needed the max amount of support from the vent for the majority of his 40 days, and he hasn’t been awake at all. So far, other than an infection he’s battling his body is holding strong other than his very bad lungs. I’m trying to stay hopeful, but wondering if anyone else has similar experiences? Similar maxed out vent settings for so long and survived?

[Pandysgirls]

I know from experience never give up where there’s life there’s hope praying for your dad and you 🙏🏼🙏🏼

[Sepsur]

It was desperate for me for 8 weeks and then touch & go for 4 weeks

[TB07 in reply to Sepsur]

We’re you on similar sedation and oxygen requirements?

[Sepsur in reply to TB07]

Indeed - I don’t know the exact settings because I was in a coma - what I know is that it got as bad as it can get on occasion my organs failed, they kept me alive and my family were told to come in several times to say their goodbyes - this wasn’t done lightly or as a precaution - it was done because there was no foreseeable chance I would survive the night.

[TB07 in reply to Sepsur]

My dad was doing better a couple weeks ago down to 30/40 o2 and on low sedation w eyes open. Then the s*** hit the fan for some unknown reason and he’s been on max of everything ever since. His white blood cell count recently has been through the roof, and they have done every kind of bloodwork possible looking for infection and where it’s coming from. He has low on again off again fevers that they seem to be able to manage. Labs haven’t come back yet. x-rays look terrible, and they’ve been telling us for weeks that it’s likely irreparable fibrosis. Some thing in my gut tells me it’s not fibrosis, and I’m wondering if it’s more fluid and Edema. When they give him lasiks he pees off a ton and his sats seem to improve. He’s very sensitive to being moved, when they roll him to a side his saturation typically drops into the low 80s. I’m wondering if there’s some thing that were missing that could make the difference in him surviving or not. So far, after 40 days on a ventilator his kidneys, liver, pancreas, heart, brain all seem to be just fine. Any thoughts?

[Sepsur in reply to TB07]

I’m sorry I’m not medically savvy enough to offer any point of view- I hope your Dad improves very soon.

[cactus_lor1]

This seems very similar to my dad's situation at the moment.. he is also on day 38... on 100% again due to another infection... today they have given him a high dose of steroids and not sure what is going on at this point but just hope he pulls through.

I hope your dad improves 🙏