Dad in ICU

[Lolablu]

My dad went on holiday from England to Alicante and two days in he had a cardiac arrest.

He went to ICU after being in a private hospital where they said he’s heart had stopped between 15/20 mins but no records of this have been sent to the hosp.

He was on sedation for around a week. They lifted it and he got agitated and put back in then lifted again and he didn’t get agitated. He’s been out of his induced coma coming up nearly 18 days. He’s had seizures which are now controlled and all his body functions are normal. He’s CT scan showed no signs of bleed or stroke.

He then had a EEG which came back abnormal but MRI came back with normal results. The neurologist said he just needs more time to recover but the doctors at the hosp suggested before the scan the outcome wasn’t going to be good. He’s had a trachea put in but is still relying on ventilator it’s only been turned down slightly so far.

However he still hasn’t woke up. He opens his eyes, looks about and coughs and use to move his tube but that’s all he’s done in 3.5/4 weeks. I just want to know if anyone had had any experience with this before? What happened? How long? And should I still have hope for my dad.

Thankyou in advance for reading and those who reply x

[Sepsur]

always have hope 💙

[Heretotellthetale_]

I’m so sorry for what you are going through at the moment. I’m someone who was a patient so maybe no advice to give other than hang on in there. I think most of us who are still here know our families experienced being told we weren’t expected to make it. I so very much hope you have a good outcome and that your dad turns a corner soon. I took 2 weeks to wake after sedation was withdrawn so there is always hope until told otherwise. Are you with your dad? Is there any specific questions we can try and answer? You will find any number of people here who will offer support so please ask/reach out.

[Lolablu in reply to Heretotellthetale_]

Hello. Thankyou for your lovely reply. It means a lot. I’ve been over twice to see him so far. I’m in England and he’s in Alicante and I have two small children at home so it’s hard to just go when I want as I’d be there everyday if he was home.

I would like to know how accurate an EEG is? And why would the EEG and MRI show such different results?

My mind is just in overdrive and I’m praying everyday that I don’t lose him but then in the same breath I’m also scared that if he does recover am I going to get the same dad back? It’s just such an awful situation!

X

[SPSiameseDream in reply to Lolablu]

My dad was on the ventilator for 5.5 weeks and I was told the same thing -that he will not make it off the ventilator. Well he not only got off the ventilator but was able to be on only 1liter of O2. The doctors then said he’d never walk again due to his muscle atrophy from not moving . Well again they were wrong - he was able to walk without a walker after 4 months. This took a lot of advocating for my dad . It will be a tough recovery but don’t give up until you have exhausted all avenues.

[Lolablu in reply to SPSiameseDream]

Thankyou for your reply. My dad is made of tough stuff. I’m hoping he’s got enough fight in him to pull through this like your dad did!

[SPSiameseDream in reply to Lolablu]

Also I know you can’t be there everyday like I was but you should FaceTime him everyday . I really believe that helps. I’m hoping for your dad to recover! 🙏

[Heretotellthetale_ in reply to Heretotellthetale_]

Hello, I was just wondering how you are doing? X

[Lolablu in reply to Heretotellthetale_]

Hello. I’m okay. Sometimes struggling emotionally but we’re just waiting for our dad to be flown back over to the uk. The hospital is over the road from me thankfully. He’s still not awake though and still fully relying on the machine to breathe.

X

[Heretotellthetale_ in reply to Lolablu]

I am so glad you are able to bring him home, hoping for an improvement x

[Copse77]

remain hopeful is the best advice we were given. Everyone is an individual and responds differently and in their own time. Best wishes for your Dads recovery.