My poor dad!

So my poor dad had been being proned 16 hours a night and has some nasty wounds, on his belly and chest. he still has a infection being treated with antibiotics and anti fungal, he's been put in a coma now since last week and they have said they intend to keep him like that untill the antibiotics work, has anyone else had this? Feel like it's an eternity just waiting for an infection to clear? Is this normal?

[Sepsur]

Yes I’m afraid. I was in a coma because of avian flu & double pneumonia & sepsis - around day 4 - the antibiotics were working and they were going to start weaning me off ventilator & waking me up ( according to my ICU diary). Because of infections - I eventually woke after 57 days & remained in ICU for 90 days.

[Hidden in reply to Sepsur]

Wow what you went through it's just awful! I think this might go on for some time then.

[Sepsur in reply to Hidden]

Who knows - it really is that cliche - just take one day at a time

[Hidden in reply to Sepsur]

Yes I sure will do over the weeks I've realized that's what it is especially with infections. Thankyou.

[ROMM53]

It’s ‘normal’ for ITU patients. Usually ventilated patients are always in an induced coma (sedated) , until they’re ‘improved’ enough to start weaning off both sedation and ventilator.

[Hidden in reply to ROMM53]

Yes that's right they used the term coma now because he's had his muscles relaxed (paralyzed) this is the first time they've had to do this due to the severe infection, never ending

[ROMM53 in reply to Hidden]

The paralysing drugs are to better synchronise your Dad’s respiratory system to the ventilator and maximise gas exchange. My husband was on paralysing drugs twice during the first 6 weeks in ITU, he had continuous infections. During the 2nd use of Vecuronium, his stomach then stopped absorbing the NG feed. The ITU team feared his stomach /GI tract had also failed, which would have meant palliative care only. Thank god that once he was able to come off the vecuronium, his GIT tract started back up.

It’s a total and utter nightmare, I’m in a medical profession and have to say, it’s no easier, probably worse, as I know too much.

[Hidden in reply to ROMM53]

Oh my gosh that's so bad. Such a long icu stay. I bet it is, my auntie is pharmacist so drug wise she keeps me wised up but the medical side I'm struggling to understand that's why it's nice to have this website to find out things and get in touch with people who have also experienced it all with Covid or any stay in the ICU with any illness it's all knowledge at the end of the day and I really appreciate it. Thanks.

[Hidden in reply to ROMM53]

Hi can I ask was your husband proned much ? They've put my dad back on his tummy they are just checking his pressure sore regularly.