Non covid respiratory failure ventilator and high levels of oxygen

[Rembo]

My husband tried to end his life taking an overdose of his perscription meds 16 days ago. He was extremely poorly when I got in from work and found him. I got him to hospital and they discovered he'd aspirated on his vomit while in a semi conscious state. He was taken to ICU sedated and put on a ventilator. His lungs were very inflamed and he had fluid around them he was given medication for the fluid which helped remove it. He's been given antibiotics to help clear his infection and his infection rates are right down now. All his other organs are supporting themselves. However he's requiring very high levels of oxygen and high levels of pressure from the ventilator. The Dr has spoken with me today and has said he is a little confused as to why after 16 days everything else going in the right direction his lungs are not getting better. He's speaking with a respiratory specialist tomorrow to see what they suggest and maybe see about using a steroid. I feel like this is one of his last options I am going out of my mind. Has anyone had any similar experiences and gotten better?

[Rhyl1 Partner Moderator ICUsteps]

Aspiration pneumonia can progress to Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Low-dose and short-term steroids can have a positive impact on aspiration-related ARDS. It’s very sensible for the ICU doctor to get advice from a respiratory consultant to ensure everything that can be done is being done. Make sure you get as much rest as you can. If you need to chat with other ICU relatives there’s a relative’s zoom support group on Tuesday evening run by The Critical Care Support Network cc-sn.org/drop-in-meetings

[Rembo in reply to Rhyl1]

Thank u for your reply. I've spoken to the Dr tonight he hasn't mentioned anything like that. The respiratory consultant doesn't want to use steroids. They are saying half the problem is inflammation in his lungs the other half is a fungal infection can't quite remember why he said he got that. However they have started him on anti fungal medication and just give his lungs time to heal 🙏🙏🙏🤞 and thank u for the link I'm going to definitely join in the meeting.

[Sepsur in reply to Rembo]

Just email [e-mail] 😊

[Sepsur]

@Rembo welcome - what a sad episode - I hope your husband improves soon and gets the necessary help later to cope with his life

[Rembo in reply to Sepsur]

@sepsur Thank u so do I want it more than I've ever wanted anything in my life.

[Covidkid]

Ahh darling how awful! When I was admitted to ICU in December my lungs were not retaining oxygen but I refused to be ventilated as I’d only lost my mum that morning and was caring for my dad, I was put on steroids along with masks and oxygen and eventually my lungs started to work, I have a lung function test tomorrow oddly enough as my right lung is not as good as my left lung but 9 months on from being admitted, whilst I’m still experiencing long covid I’m doing ok! Hope your hubby will be ok x

[Rembo in reply to Covidkid]

@covidkid thank u. I'm actually living a nightmare. The Dr's haven't given him steroids. They want to take him for a scan to see what or if anything is there stopping his lungs recovering, or causing pressure and not allowing then to expand or work properly as they just don't seem to know why they're not. To do this they need his oxygen requirement to be at least 50. They not able to get it below 60. So he's stuck they need to check what's causing the problem but can't take him to check because of the problem. The longer he's in there the more worried I'm am.

[Covidkid in reply to Rembo]

Oh dear! Take comfort in knowing that the staff in ICU are highly trained and have improved even in the 9 months that I was admitted, oddly enough exactly 9 months today! They will advise the best way to treat your husband, which may not be what you want but trust me, they will know! 💙 x

[tookoa]

Hi Rembo,

Thank you for sharing your experience and I send my love and thoughts to you and your family for your husband’s safe recovery.

In 2018 I was in a similar position; I went to bed one night with a migraine and took some tablets to help me sleep. Next thing I remember I was waking up on ICU with a tube in my throat and doctors asking me to breathe so they could take it out. Turns out it had been 6 days and I had aspirated in my sleep and lost respiratory output. The first night I was there they gathered my family and told them that I was unlikely to survive the next 12 hours and that if I did I’d be in a persistent vegetative state because I’d been without oxygen for so long.

Well, very long story short they weaned me off the ventilator after lots of road blocks (needing increases in oxygen periodically) and I survived thanks to the grace of God. I was on the strongest antibiotics given through a central line for the next 4 weeks and I had to learn how to use my hands and walk again but I got there with help from the professionals at the hospital.

One thing I will say is that my family never stopped being positive and wouldn’t give up, and they sure as hell wouldn’t let me give up and for that I’m so grateful. All I can suggest is you and yours do the same.

It’s good that you’re reaching out for help and talking about your concerns. I’ll pray for you and your family. X

[Rembo in reply to tookoa]

@tookoa thank u for sharing ur experience. Its strangely comforting to hear other people stories. I'm glad u had a happy ending I'm praying for mine. I just want so much to be able to visit him sit with him so he's not on his own hold his hand and be able to talk to him. I know he's sedated and probably wouldn't know I was there but I'd feel better. Unfortunately because of covid I'm not allowed and it's breaking me.

[jld85]

Not sure on this one. My father was on a vent after developing blood clots in his lungs and being in the hospital for a month. Initially being admitted for covid. So this situation is a little different. When my dad was first on the vent he was on full support as well. As the lungs heal, they’ll be able to turn down the vent. I’m so sorry. I truly hope all goes well and when he does get home, he can get the help he needs. It breaks my heart for the both of you. Mental illness can be such a hard thing to deal with. Prayers for the both of you.

[Rembo]

@jld85 thank u for ur reply. Mental health is so bad when u watch someone u love suffer with it. He had a break down 5 years ago and, he's never been the same since. Although the past 8 months I really though he was getting better. He'd turned a corner. He finally stated talking to his mental health team about things he'd not shared before n stopped bottleing everything up. Then this happened. Can I just ask how long did it take before ur dad started to see an improvement in his lungs? They have told me some people just take longer than others. He's obviously extremely poorly and I'm living in constant fear especially everytime the phone rings.

[jld85]

I hate that so much. I have anxiety myself and that’s been hard enough, I can’t imagine going through that. I would assume it would be different since it’s something different than what he had, but I will say damage from Covid takes quite a while to get better. He still has some damage. As far as being on the vent, the first time he was on a vent for 10 days. The other two times, I honestly can’t remember but it may have been around the same amount of time, give or take a few days. Being on a vent is a means to let their bodies fully rest and let their lungs heal. Just bc someone is on a vent, it’s not a death sentence. That’s what I think a lot of people think. But don’t give up hope. Where there’s life, there’s hope. How long has he been on? Is it about 17 days? Also, I know you said they may start him on a steroid, have they done that?

[Rembo]

@jld85 ur right u know about the ventilator. Your lovely words have made me cry a little its just having someone give u a little push to stay positive. Thank u. So it's been 20 days today they haven't given him steroids yet. They took him off sedation yesterday and he began to beath on his own and his oxygen requirement was the lowest it has been in quite a while. The nurse said he'd actually surprised the Dr's by this. Anyway today they have put him back under sedation (only not as heavily as he was) as he hadn't woken up. Not sure why they done that I need to ask tomorrow I was so overwhelmed by everything the Dr was saying. He's not sure weather he's developed some condition I can't remember the name (sorry) which is causing him to be unresponsive or to not wake properly. He did say if it is that its not permanent 🤞🤞. They are going to try get him down for a CT scan tomorrow of his chest abdomen and brain. He's now requiring some dialysis. But he did say don't look at it day by day look at it week by week and other than the dialysis he's doing a little better than he was last week which is a positive n I'll hold on to anything like that. I'm also allowed to visit him tomorrow the Dr said he thinks I'll benefit from seeing him as its been almost 3 weeks since this happened. I'm only allowed half an hour but I'll take that. 🙏🙏🙏🤞 praying so hard for him right now xx