My OH is in hospital in intensive care

Slinky

Sorry to hear of your husband's situation Victory. I hope he recovers soon.

I have a friend who has a very serious condition at the moment. She has set up a 'Secret Group' on Facebook where she and her husband can post information about what is happening to her and her treatment. This allows them to communicate what they need/want to without having to endlessly repeat the same thing to everybody they want to know. Perhaps somebody could sort this out for you if your family is one who uses Facebook?

Georgiegirl256

I hope your husband had a better night Victory and that you and your family are bearing up as well as can be expected. His poor parents must be so mentally and physically worn out after the long journey yesterday bless them.

BAGGY

You wont need anything for him for hospital. if they allow visiting, I would take some biscuits and sweets so the visitors can have a munch whilst there. My dad is in hosp and sometimes its a distraction to share a pack of crisps or some such. Saying that, they may not allow anything on ICU. Good luck.

Mojisola

victory wrote: »

Morning, had very little sleep, a whole lot of more people are coming today, it is so busy and yet such a long time of dragging about, phone calls to answer, people to speak to, repetition, it is all going on.

Slinky wrote: »

I have a friend who has a very serious condition at the moment. She has set up a 'Secret Group' on Facebook where she and her husband can post information about what is happening to her and her treatment. This allows them to communicate what they need/want to without having to endlessly repeat the same thing to everybody they want to know. Perhaps somebody could sort this out for you if your family is one who uses Facebook?

When either of my parents was in hospital, we had a system where I would telephone some people with updates and they would each pass the information on to a few others. It cut down the number of times I had to repeat information and gave me more time to do other things or rest.

The Facebook option is a good alternative for those who use it.

PenguinOfDeath

No words of wisdom I'm afraid but just to let you know you're in my thoughts. Stay strong x

victory

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

I hope your husband had a better night Victory and that you and your family are bearing up as well as can be expected. His poor parents must be so mentally and physically worn out after the long journey yesterday bless them.

They absolutely are, everyone is tremendously cranky and irritable and tired, rang the CCU and they say critical but stable, monitoring now every 2 hours, don't even know if that is a good thing or not or what day it is or what I should be taking there.

Nan keeps telling me to pack a bag for him, then not because you can't have anything in there, then let's get dinner, !!!!!! who cares, go and look in the freezer , then more phone calls, more arrangements, one person is not now coming, the train has delays, no to facebook I and them not on it, then trying to delegate instructions, jeez these people obviously do not understand English, it gets repeated and goes down the line right past and back and it starts again, plus the fuzzy foggy head where I can't catch a thought, it sure is a head spinner.

victory

Nan is freaking out because son has no slippers, she has to go and get him some now and a better dressing gown, he is in bed, cannot get up, his arms have so many needles in them, oxygen,surrounded by bleeping machines, hospital socks, he is not going anywhere, I get her urgency, feel useful but there is no need, neighbours keep ringing and asking and people sending best wishes when you get to the CCU he can barely move/recognize you talk so none of that gets past on but it is very draining, the whole lot has gone spinning crazy, just need a sec to take it all in and form a plan

victory

thorsoak wrote: »

Keep strong, sweetheart - you ARE a strong person, and you will get through this - hope that you manage to get some rest. I know from personal experience that keeping busy is a way of coping - but try and get five minutes to yourself every few hours - even if you're not a person who prays, find the hospital chapel and sit there for a few minutes and try and find some peace and quiet. That will keep your batteries charged, ready to support your sons - and aren't they doing well!

Lots of love coming your way xxx

I am not a prayer but I am going to find out where the hospital chapel is and sit there for a bit, it may seem a strange thing to do but I think it will be calming , eldest told his dads work and they are hopefully going to be in charge of what to do as I have no idea what forms I need to fill in and how to go about it, in two weeks time he had 2 weeks off arranged anyway so as from today he has 5 days this week and 5 next week then his 2 weeks kick in, no idea can he ask for holiday or sick leave I don't know

Mojisola

Stand back and take a few deep breaths, victory. Grab a few quiet minutes to yourself whenever you can.

While your OH is in ICU, there's very little you can take in for him or do for him. He's in very capable hands - look after yourself for the moment.

Everyone will feel upset and anxious and short-tempered but they should also be making an effort to pull together. Don't get pulled into trying to make everyone else feel better and running yourself into the ground in the process.

victory

meritaten wrote: »

So sorry to hear this Victory. you have had excellent advice. The only thing I can add from personal experience, is that on ICU you will get asked to wait outside a LOT. you may only get a five or ten minute 'visit' every couple of hours. this is quite normal so don't go reading anything sinister into it. Especially if staff are aware there are a lot of visitors for their patient, I found if its just wife or mum or dad they are more inclined to let you sit by the bedside for longer.
my very best wishes for a full recovery for your husband.

Yes we are asked to wait outside a lot, everytime you can see him and try to get close a machine goes off and they have to sort that out, then someone else comes and says they need 20 minutes and will come and get you but take an hour and leave you frantic, then they come and get you, then while you are talking to OH if you can drips are being changed and adjusted, we were asked to wait outside a lot, I let his parents go first as there are only 2 per patient and them being there set off a machine so they had to leave