Are doctors always right when they say there's no chance of survival or miracles happen?

[DivSin]

Do you know anyone, who doctors had left all hopes of surviving but they did?

Does being young (29) and extra fit help?

He had a severe case of covid and what seems like pneumonia and the infection has reached all major systems with DNR set for 31st August.

Sorry, I have no information except he'd been under induced coma for 3.5 months or more. I don't know how much life support and sedation he's on. Sorry....

I couldn't be his family yet and hospitals are tied by federal compliances. I live in a different country. :,(

Edit: He's on ECMO, dialysis and almost 4 month on ventilator. He can hear but not respond. They've tried weaning off but failed. Most of his family got covid so seems like he's been alone all by himself.

[FamilyHistorian]

I’m not a medical person nor do I understand how things work where you are. So all I can say when I was 71 I finished up in icu with pneumonia, sepsis and a failing aortic valve. I was put in a comma, operated on and the family were called in twice because I wasn’t expected to make it. They had difficulty weening me off. Obviously I came through and went home in March.

Over here I think the problem for the medics is that they don’t want to be optimistic so they finish up being pessimistic. Of course relatives want optimism.

[DivSin in reply to FamilyHistorian]

Thank you for your reply! But, he's been under almost 4 months. With a DNR on 31 August

[FamilyHistorian in reply to DivSin]

I know of patients who have survived unexpectedly long periods in a coma. All patients are different.

I’m not a person of faith and so no way would I comment about miracles.

Presumably you can get a second opinion.

Over here we have an organisation called PALS in each hospital and they can act as your advocate- free

[DivSin in reply to FamilyHistorian]

I see. I'm probably hoping fit for a miracle. Selflessly. I don't know how next 40 days will pass and what happens after that.

[DivSin in reply to DivSin]

Honestly, i'm feeling sick too. Mentally and physically.

[Tedsdad]

DivSin I hear your desperation and I am sure that in a community like this where so many of us have been touched by this sort of issue we all have much real sympathy. But no one is ALWAYS right about anything and doctors are no exception.

The problem is of course what they are wrong or right about is far more serious than what most other people are wrong or right about, and the opinion that they give is certainly based on facts available to them but also, as becomes increasing obvious, the medical culture of where they are operating.

And of course when we are given bad news we tend to fear that no hope means that less effort will be expended in trying to save the patient. It doesn’t make it any easier but I am sure that is not universally the case.

[DivSin in reply to Tedsdad]

Thank you fir your reply. I totally agree. I have full respect for doctors and nurses and all hospital staff coz am alive because they've saved my life multiple times. I feel they are true angels but they could be wrong too, sometimes. They can miss something because they are humans too. I know, his doctors and nurses would be happy to see him saved miraculously, too.

[Mark_Hudson]

I don’t want to give you false hope as I don’t know what the outcome will be, I was only in a coma for 3 weeks but my family was told 6 times that I wouldn’t make it to the next day. So it is possible to beat the odds and I hope they do.

[DivSin in reply to Mark_Hudson]

Thank you for writing. So, there could be exceptions.

[Skyehammer]

Good Morning DivSin ,Aged 56 in 2012 I contracted sepsis and was put into a coma - my lungs and my kidney stopped working on Day 1 then a few days later my heart failed - it stopped for so long that the Doctors told my wife that should I survive [ they hold already told her to prepare the family for my death ] I would be brain damaged - My wife pleaded with them to do something [ the usual rhetoric when desperate ] and they decided to fit a defibrillator through the artery in my groin - they warned my wife the procedure could kill me .

I was in a coma for just over 3 weeks , the Doctors had talked about switching the life support off in the coming days then on Christmas Eve of all days I showed signs of life [ my eyes flickered open briefly ] and hope was restored .

I was in hospital for a total of 3 months - I'd been on dialysis , on a life support machine , my heart had stopped several times [ the defib re-started it ] and the Doctors had told my wife that life support is only given for a certain amount of time , weeks not months and had advised her to prepare the Family for my death .

One funny thing [ when you asked if Doctors know everything ] - on 6 weeks I was still swollen like a balloon [ my hands were like rubber gloves filled with water according to my wife ] and the Doctors had tried a few different drugs to bring the swelling down without success - it was my wife who suggested the drug Colchicine , a small tablet I'd taken in the past for gout and within 2 days I was showing signs of improvement - no disrespect to the Doctors but I was glad that my wife was on hand to provide some insider knowledge .

Your friend will be in a similar state only it's being going on for a much longer time - there was a case recently in the news of TV Presenter Kate Garroway's husband being in hospital with Covid for over a year - he still needs care but he's alive .

My advice is to try to remain realistic while holding out as much hope as you can for your dear friend's survival - '' It's not over until it's over . '' was what a friend of mine told my wife at the time .

Best of luck .

[DivSin in reply to Skyehammer]

Thank you so much for your precious and inspiring story. I'm trying to not hope for a miracle but it's not even doctors being wrong, now. It's his own will stating to pull out the plug after 5 months on life support.

[jld85]

I can’t tell you for certain anything, myself. What I can say, is there’s always hope. Idk if you’re a religious person or not, but God is in control. No man or woman on this Earth has the final say. I have absolutely heard of doctors calling in families and that person ended up surviving. Doctors are wrong everyday. I’m glad we have them, but ultimately it’s not their decision whether that person’s life is over. My dad has been in hospital since March with COVID, he’s in his 60s. He just got over pneumonia for the 3rd time and has been on a vent 3 different times. The second time he got pneumonia, he went into septic shock. He has pulled through every time. He’s doing great right now and off of the vent. Like I said idk what you believe or if you’re religious, but they will be in my prayers. Just hold on. Miracles can and do happen. I’m so sorry you are having to go through this, it certainly is hard. Just don’t lose faith. Prayers to you all.

[DivSin in reply to jld85]

Thank you for your uplifting words! Yes, I believe in gods. I trust medical science community and they do their best but most of them would be believers too. Life is certainly in god's hands.

[jld85 in reply to DivSin]

Just hold on, keep praying! I said a prayer for you all this morning and I will continue to!

[DivSin in reply to jld85]

Thank you so much! Please, say a prayer for Jason. Thank you! I believe in selfless prayers.

[jld85 in reply to DivSin]

You’re welcome. I will.

[DivSin in reply to jld85]

Thank you so much!

[Qusie]

I was given a 2% chance of survival and was urged by doctors to be on a dnr. My husband put me on it and my family begged him to take me off of it. He finally did and I improved after they tried a new or combination of antibiotics. My lungs weren’t working, my kidneys shut down. I was ECMO for 54 days at Penn Presbyterian Hosp. In Philadelphia. I was 48 when I got sick around February 20th 2020. I came home in September, I was in the system for 7 months. I feel there is hope ! Never give up ! They believe d I had influenza A and Bacterial Pneumonia, but a doctor that works for ss disability believes I had Covid since testing wasn’t accurate in the beginning.

[DivSin in reply to Qusie]

Thank you for sharing your inspiring story! I'm so glad you are here victorious. He's in Manhattan Presbyterian.

[Qusie in reply to DivSin]

I’m Praying for you both ! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[DivSin in reply to Qusie]

That's what I believe in these days, when doctors give up. I can't thank you enough. May gods bless you and your loved ones with health and happiness.🙏🙏🙏