I can really relate to all the ups and downs of this. My 83 year old father was admitted to the hospital on 8-7-2010 with a 103 temperature-started on anti-biotics. The next morning, went into septic shock because of an infection in his leg (which ended up busting-filled with infection and pus, kidneys shut down and into cardiac arrest for 10 minutes. The doctors didn't hold out much hope. He was on a ventilator followed up by a trach, dialysis, feeding tube. He was transferred to a Long Term Acute Care Hospital for about 3 weeks.
He is now off of kidney dialysis. He was transferred to a rehab facility to wean him off of the trach. We have been plagued with urinary tract infections, low red blood cell count and trying to get that leg healed up. He was more responsive in the LTAC hospital - opening his eyes, moving his legs and arms around, responding to music and my voice (I did a lot of singing and reading) but not as responsive since being moved into this facility. He squints his eyes and puckers his mouth and will occasionally squeeze my hand. He stares at the ceiling alot and I literally have to crawl up on the bed and make him look at me. He has been yawning alot and he does respond to stimuli. He was also on the ventilator using very little support but they had turn it back up until his red blood cell counts go back up. There is very little family and I am the only one that can visit him. I am just so scared all the time! I have been nursing a sick mother for 2 years also and I got the double whammie. Don't know if I am coming or going. One thing I have done is to keep a journal each time I visit. If I get "some type" of response I make sure the nurses make a note of it. Keep track of your loved ones other medical conditions as well - if you don't - no one else will. I am praying he will recover to a somewhat good quality of life. This is my pappy and I don't care if he is 83 years old. He still has a lot of living to do and a lot of people who love him. Just keep talking, reading, playing music, do physical therapy (working her/his fingers) to they don't become stiff. I rub his hands and arms with lotion and tell him...daddy we are going to do exercises and there I go. One.two.three.four on each finger and move his wrists and elbows around also. I rub his sholders and tickle the bottom of his feet. Keep them stimulated! Tell them DON'T GIVE UP! I know it is hard on the family (sometimes I feel like I am going to crack) but imagine how hard it is on them. They can't tell you what is going on in their mind. I never thought I would be faced with a situation like this but I just take it a day at a time. I use to see "what if this and what if that happens tomorrow, next week, next month. I just try to calm down my mind and focus on "today". Alot of bad days but every once in a while some good. I know it is going to take time so just hang in there. God Blessings
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I can really relate to all the ups and downs of this. My 83 year old father was admitted to the hospital on 8-7-2010 with a 103 temperature-started on anti-biotics. The next morning, went into septic shock because of an infection in his leg (which ended up busting-filled with infection and pus, kidneys shut down and into cardiac arrest for 10 minutes. The doctors didn't hold out much hope. He was on a ventilator followed up by a trach, dialysis, feeding tube. He was transferred to a Long Term Acute Care Hospital for about 3 weeks.
November 4, 2010 - 10:06amHe is now off of kidney dialysis. He was transferred to a rehab facility to wean him off of the trach. We have been plagued with urinary tract infections, low red blood cell count and trying to get that leg healed up. He was more responsive in the LTAC hospital - opening his eyes, moving his legs and arms around, responding to music and my voice (I did a lot of singing and reading) but not as responsive since being moved into this facility. He squints his eyes and puckers his mouth and will occasionally squeeze my hand. He stares at the ceiling alot and I literally have to crawl up on the bed and make him look at me. He has been yawning alot and he does respond to stimuli. He was also on the ventilator using very little support but they had turn it back up until his red blood cell counts go back up. There is very little family and I am the only one that can visit him. I am just so scared all the time! I have been nursing a sick mother for 2 years also and I got the double whammie. Don't know if I am coming or going. One thing I have done is to keep a journal each time I visit. If I get "some type" of response I make sure the nurses make a note of it. Keep track of your loved ones other medical conditions as well - if you don't - no one else will. I am praying he will recover to a somewhat good quality of life. This is my pappy and I don't care if he is 83 years old. He still has a lot of living to do and a lot of people who love him. Just keep talking, reading, playing music, do physical therapy (working her/his fingers) to they don't become stiff. I rub his hands and arms with lotion and tell him...daddy we are going to do exercises and there I go. One.two.three.four on each finger and move his wrists and elbows around also. I rub his sholders and tickle the bottom of his feet. Keep them stimulated! Tell them DON'T GIVE UP! I know it is hard on the family (sometimes I feel like I am going to crack) but imagine how hard it is on them. They can't tell you what is going on in their mind. I never thought I would be faced with a situation like this but I just take it a day at a time. I use to see "what if this and what if that happens tomorrow, next week, next month. I just try to calm down my mind and focus on "today". Alot of bad days but every once in a while some good. I know it is going to take time so just hang in there. God Blessings
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