Hi, it’s Patrik Hutzel from INTENSIVECAREHOTLINE.COM where
we instantly improve the lives for Families of critically ill Patients in Intensive Care, so that you can make informed decisions, 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
My husband had open heart surgery with complications! He’s not “waking up”, he needs 100% of oxygen and now he’s
bleeding from the stomach, I’m so scared, help! (PART 3)
You can check out last week’s episode by clicking on the link here.
In this week’s episode of “YOUR QUESTIONS
ANSWERED“, I want to answer another the next question from one of our clients which are excerpts from email counselling and consulting sessions with me and the question this week is
My husband had open heart surgery with complications! He’s not “waking up”, he needs 100% of
oxygen and now he’s bleeding from the stomach, I’m so scared, help! (PART 4)
This was another great series of questions where I was able to “hand-hold” a very anxious and distressed client through a very stressful and complex situation.
Katie writes
Hi Patrik,
once again, thank you for your thoughts and helping me to know and understanding what questions I should be asking concerning my husband’s situation.
Believe me, in this last week, you have been my source of info and advice but probably more than anything, you have given us hope. For that, I am very grateful…thank you.
Yesterday my husband, after 2 open heart surgeries in 3 days…was taken off the ventilator for about 12 hours…he got in distress and they had to put it back in sometime in the early morning hours…he is back on sedation again.
Such a set-back which has left my daughter and me
devastated.
The ICU person who is taking care of him said it could be weeks and weeks and even months yet in ICU and they would not be taking the ventilator out any time soon.
I have been in distress ever since. I will go to the hospital (an hour away) in the later morning and make sure I talk to a doctor.
My husband will not want to live
like this for weeks and weeks. He is the type who always has put his family first and will think he is a burden.
He has always been very active…it is so very hard to see him like this and after actually having him say a few words yesterday with the ventilator out, we were overjoyed…just to be knocked down again.
Is there any hope out there?
Should we ask for a second look from a different specialist, like second opinion type thing? Do doctors do that sort of thing…call more advanced, more perhaps expert people in when they are perhaps perplexed as to what to do next?
They also have been saying he has COPD…never knew that, though he had been diagnosed with exercise-induced asthma and used to use an inhaler before and after runs. No longer uses it as he doesn’t run like he used to…
Thanks for all your help
Katie!
Recommended:
Hi Katie,
I’m very sorry to hear that your husband had to be re-intubated after a failed attempt to get off the
ventilator.
I would argue that the ICU person has misinformed you about not taking the tube out any time soon. If your husband needs ongoing mechanical ventilation, as a next step he might need a tracheostomy first.
ICU staff (doctors and nurses) are often poor communicators and they can be very quick at painting a “doom and gloom” picture for a number of reasons without explaining to you in detail what it actually means.
Intensive Care health professionals tend to be very time poor as it is a very busy place with lots of things happening.
They also most likely withhold crucial information from you, because they want to stay in control of the outcomes and the meaning!
Intensive Care can also be a very dynamic and also volatile place.
I have seen many Patients failing their first attempt to get off the ventilator over the years, given that you haven’t seen this and given that it’s your husband I can understand that you might panic.
Intensive Care is often two steps forward and one step back, one of your biggest assets during this “once in a lifetime” challenge is to be patient and take one day at the time. I know it’s easier said than done, but you
can’t rush recovery from critical illness in Intensive Care.
Your husband will need time to get through this. Panic is the wrong approach.
A second opinion might be an option, however it’s most likely too early for a second opinion. Hospitals do do that sort of thing, but it might cost you money as well to get another doctor in.
I believe
that guiding you to keep asking the right questions is as good or even better as getting a second opinion from another doctor.
Doctors tend to cover each other, whereas here at intensivecarehotline.com you get a real independent advocacy service that’s truly acting in the best interest of Patients and their families!
Besides being distressed, have they given you a reason why your husband
failed getting off the ventilator? Once you have a reason for the failure I might be able to share some more insights.
Katie, you also need to look after yourself during this challenge.
Check out this EBook/Vidoe here (click on the link)
Also, to put things in perspective, I have seen many critically ill Patients in Intensive Care staying for many weeks in an induced coma and yet still survive. Most critically ill Patients in Intensive Care in an induced coma don’t remember much of their stay in ICU. Your husband may thank you one day for not giving up… Life is precious…
Moreover, please check out the following articles/videos regarding
ventilation/breathing tube/tracheostomy and induced coma in Intensive Care. It’ll give you insights and perspective that you may need in order to deal with this challenge
Whilst you might feel that this nightmare has been going on for very long, I can’t stress enough that your husband is only in the beginning of a critical illness.
To get him out of Intensive Care alive might take a little longer than expected.
Again this is all about getting perspective Katie, to get your husband out of
Intensive Care alive you will need to give this more time.
Two open heart surgeries within less than 48 hours is a lot to go through, therefore setbacks are almost expected, especially with the Stomach/ Gastrointestinal bleed.
Once your husband has a tracheostomy, he will have more time to get off the ventilator in his own time and it’ll be so much easier to wean him off the
ventilator.
Managing the setbacks is easier also.
Also take a look at this article/video here
