MY AUNTY IS IN INTENSIVE CARE ON ECMO FOR ARDS, WE’RE VERY WORRIED SHE MAY DIE! HELP! (PART 11)

Published: Mon, 10/12/15

Hi, it’s Patrik Hutzel from INTENSIVECAREHOTLINE.COM , where we instantly improve the lives of Families of critically ill Patients in Intensive Care, so that you can have PEACE OF MIND, real power, real control and so that you can influence decision making fast, even if you’re not a doctor or a nurse in Intensive Care!

This is another episode of “YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED” and in last week’s episode I answered another question from our readers and the question last week was PART 10 of

“MY AUNTY IS IN INTENSIVE CARE ON ECMO FOR ARDS, WE’RE VERY WORRIED SHE MAY DIE! HELP! (PART 10)"

You can check out the answer to last week’s question by clicking on the link here.

In this week’s episode of “YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED” I want to answer another question from one of our readers and the question this week is PART 11 of

MY AUNTY IS IN INTENSIVE CARE ON ECMO FOR ARDS, WE’RE VERY WORRIED SHE MAY DIE! HELP! (PART 11)

Today Angie, the mother of Lee who wrote in previously has written in about her sister’s progress.

During the time of the consultation I was interacting with both, Lee and Angie(Lee’s mother). Lee was the first person to make contact about his Aunty being in ICU and as the consultation progressed, I was interacting with both, Angie and Lee.

Today concludes this series of questions with Angie and Lee.

You can go back to all parts of this question here by clicking on the links here

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Part 9

Part 10

Angie from the UK writes

Hi Patrik,

Hope you are well, my sister has improved a lot since I last wrote to you, she is doing great on this weaning plan, she managed to walk around the room with a zimmer frame and without being attached to the ventilator.

Today the nurse informed me that the plan is for my sister to have the cuff down during the day and to rest during the night.

The settings on the ventilator are EPAP 20 and IPAP 6, she is still bringing up a lot of secretions but they are now clear!

I’m told she has a really good strong cough, she has failed 3 swallowing tests so is still being fed through the tube, she remains in isolation still due to the MRSA but is no longer on any antibiotics.

The consultant and the nurses are pleased with her progress, however the dilemma is her mental health, her own psychiatrists wanted her to start back on her medication (clozapine) but the consultant at the intensive care has refused and said it is dangerous which confirms what us as a family agree with, so she has been prescribed Olanzepine and we are waiting for these to start working.

My sister was introduced to a doctor on one of the wards who told her that she will be spending some time on the chest ward when she is ready to leave the intensive care unit which i was happy about, because to me this is the first time anybody has actually mentioned the future.

I would be happy to do an interview with you after all the help and support you have given us, possible once my sister is off the intensive care unit , i will keep you updated.

Take care and many thanks Angie.

Hi Angie,

thank you for the update!

It's great to hear that your sister is progressing well!

It's so important to be future oriented, especially since Intensive Care is an environment where people are often living in the present because things in ICU can be so unpredictable! As you and your family know by now, Intensive Care can be a very volatile environment!

Recommended:

ONE ON ONE CONSULTING WITH PATRIK

As far as your sister's progress goes, even though it sounds like she's progressing well, always keep in mind where she came from and in your sister's case she was on ECMO and she was gravely ill.

Therefore the steps she has taken are quite remarkable and it shows the resilience your sister has.

As you know by now, things don't happen fast in Intensive Care, but given that your sister is walking and has time off the ventilator, you know the progress she has made!

As far as her ventilator settings go, she is now on less support, but EPAP 20 and IPAP 6 is still a fair bit and failing swallowing tests is a sign that she's probably not quite there yet to have the ventilator and the tracheostomy removed completely.

Recommended resources:

FOLLOW THIS PROVEN SYSTEM TO AVOID THE 3 MOST DANGEROUS MISTAKES YOU ARE MAKING BUT YOU ARE UNAWARE OF, IF YOUR LOVED ONE REQUIRES LONG-TERM VENTILATION WITH TRACHEOSTOMY IN INTENSIVE CARE!

THE 7 ANSWERS TO THE 7 MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS IF YOUR LOVED ONE REQUIRES ONGOING MECHANICAL VENTILATION WITH TRACHEOSTOMY IN INTENSIVE CARE!

But having time off the ventilator during the day and back on at night is a good sign and it shows that she's moving in the right direction!

I am a little wary of your sister still being isolated for MRSA. Many Intensive Care Units nowadays have moved away from isolating MRSA Patients as long as staff and visitors obviously adhere to doing proper hand hygiene and wearing gloves and gowns.

There shouldn't be a need for your sister to be isolated. Often isolation rooms are dark with no natural daylight and they literally can feel isolating.

See what you can negotiate and find out whether there is another option. Also, have they started to take your sister outside at least on some occasions?

Get them to take your sister outside in a wheelchair and get her some natural daylight! It'll do wonders for her! Also make sure that she'll get regular showers, again it'll do wonders and things like getting outside and having regular showers are better than any "magic pill".

I can't really comment on how your sister's mental illness should be treated, however it sounds like it’s the right thing to do to get a Psychiatrist involved after Intensive care. Try and stay involved there if you think it's the right thing to do. You and your family know your sister best.

Recommended:

ONE ON ONE CONSULTING WITH PATRIK

Overall, your sister's situation very much reminds me of some ECMO Patients that I have looked after over the years. Two steps forward and one step back.

And your sister's situation also reminds me of Ellie's Mum's situation, where they at one point they may have removed the tracheostomy a little too early and she ended up with a tracheostomy for a second time before she had it removed completely.

Again, often it's two steps forward and one step back.

I am not suggesting that this should be happening with your sister, but it may well happen, so be prepared.

I would love to do an interview when you're ready. I understand that now your focus and your priority is on your sister and her well-being! You also need to look after yourself, although I know you and your family have shown massive strength and resilience!

No matter the outcome you will come out of this a lot stronger and you will have learned some valuable life lessons out of this situation!

Let me know when you are ready and we can schedule an interview via Skype.

In the meantime, please let me know if you have any other questions!

Take care!

Patrik

Your friend

Patrik Hutzel

Skype ID patrik.hutzel

phone 415- 915-0090 in the USA/Canada

phone 03- 8658 2138 in Australia/ New Zealand

phone 0118 324 3018 in the UK/Ireland

If you have a question you need answered, just hit reply to this email or send it to me at support@intensivecarehotline.com

Or if you want to be featured on our PODCAST with your story, just email me at support@intensivecarehotline.com

our cutting edge new information PRODUCT has been released, (CLICK ON THE LINK)

“THE FAST LANE FOR PEACE OF MIND, CONTROL, POWER AND INFLUENCE WHEN YOUR LOVED ONE IS CRITICALLY ILL IN INTENSIVE CARE!”

You can check it out other EBook, Video and Audio recording products here

http://intensivecarehotline.com/products/

We also offer ONE on ONE consulting via Skype or over the phone, where you can get direct access to me!

All our information PRODUCTS are helping Families of critically ill Patients MASTER, take control, have power and influence in all of the most challenging situations in Intensive Care, even if their loved one is dying!

Our information products are an "IN-DEPTH" education product for Families of critically ill Patients in Intensive Care and a SHORTCUT for Families to have PEACE OF MIND, control, power& influence! The focus of the education product will be on PEACE OF MIND, control, power and influence during the following situations in Intensive Care (click on the links)

long-term stays in Intensive Care

end- of- life situations

Family meetings with the Intensive Care team

withdrawal of treatment situations and/or perceived medical futility

what to do if your critically ill loved one is THREATENED with an "NFR" (Not for resuscitation) or "DNR" (Do not resuscitate) order

severe head and brain injuries (including traumatic brain injuries and stroke)

What's happening "BEHIND THE SCENES" in Intensive Care and how it limits your ability to have PEACE OF MIND, control, power and influence

Our information products are available in Ebook, Video or audio recordings so that you can access the information in your chosen medium.

Whether you prefer to read, watch or listen, it's all there for you!

Our Ebooks, Videos and Audio recordings are solutions to the biggest and most challenging areas in Intensive Care for Families of critically ill Patients!

Our information PRODUCTS are a shortcut to PEACE OF MIND, control, power and influence for Families of critically ill Patients in Intensive Care!

If you have any questions about our information products or if you have any suggestions

please let me know at support@intensivecarehotline.com or you can contact me on Skype. My Skype ID is patrik.hutzel

phone 415-915-0090 in the USA/Canada