My OH is in hospital in intensive care

Ettenna

JanCee wrote: »

Sorry to hear about your DH. I just want to say that I have also been in the same position, CCU for a week, deteriorating condition. One day as I parked my car & walked up to the ward I thought I might have to make a life changing decision, turning off life support, instead there was a slight improvement. The improvement was tiny, but it continued day after day until after a month he was able to come home. He is sat next to me at the moment, snoring away after slightly too much vino & a long & tiring day.

I hope you get there too.

As a relative you do not make the decision to turn off life support!!! That is a myth that keeps coming up again and again. The medical team makes the decision to withdraw treatment whilst taking family input into account. It's the same as DNACPR decisions, they are not down to the family.

victory wrote: »

The hospital have just rang, they are moving OH from CCU one to one care to CCU 2 to 1 care, this morning so when we get there not to be alarmed.

The intensive care unit is 1:1 care and the high dependency unit is 1:2. That is very good news - it means he needs less organ support.

Sounds like your OH is improving steadily.

z.n

So glad there is a positive development. Best wishes.

harrys_nan

Sounds like things are just starting to go the right way, small steps but steps.

Lois_Lane

victory wrote: »

mum2one thank you so much, no loans, 2 bank accounts of his so going today jus to check O/D etc, all direct debits already set up, everything comes out that way, will get the form from the hospital today for the sick pay, he has privalte health insurance from the company but have no clue about that.

Private could never have done any better than the way the trauma team are treating him, faultless.

The hospital says he had a very rough night, a lot of shouting and being aggresive but that is to be expected.

No, not working myself at the moment.

The inlaws are staying the duration now, some other relatives are coming at the weekend.

Private health insurance doesn't cover emergencies, but you might find it useful when OH is recovering if he needs physiotherapy or other forms of rehabilitation.

Hope he continues making good progress, you sound like you're coping very well considering everything.

LL

Spirit_2

victory, sorry you and you family have been in this situation.and glad to hear he is progressing. you need to make it clear to visitors that you cannot treat them as guests at this time, you need help with chores, laundry, cooking etc and appreciate all help they can give you. I am currently recovering from a stroke and my oh and dd have been wonderful but they were both exhausted from the worry, trying o keep home and jobs going, hospital routines and my ups and downs and as I became less acute doing things for me.

I now have a list and when a visitor asks is there somethng I can do I ask them to do something off the list. neighbours have walked the dog cooked and shopped for us, colleagues and family have done our laundry and ironing. I have been delighted by how people have helped....so if they offer accept, if they do not offer, ask. As your OH recovers he will worry about the effect this has on you.

every good wish for his recovery.

victory

I have never known tiredness like it, we have done 547 miles in hospital visits back and forth, today makes it a week, seems like a month but it is day 7, going to bed soon.

The other relatives are not coming so it is back to the inlaws, me and the boys. Still loads of call etc but that is better managed.

OH team took him off the morfin because he said he was fine with the pain and immediately realised he was not and had under estimated his pain so put it back , trying to lower the dosage did not work out.

OH making a bit more sense, very angry, aggresive , irritable and fidgety that is to be expected.

Hoping in a day or three they are going to move him by ambulance to our local hospital when he is out of the trauma critical care, local does not have one, the trip there and back is from 4-6 hours depending on traffic.

victory

Oh we were told we are looking at 3 months recovery time today.

victory

spirit wrote: »

Re the bit in bold, can you get the other set of rellies who are coming to muck in and help with home chores/shopping. The last thing you need is to be running round entertaining people.

No entertaining given, everyone knows where the kettle is, where the fridge is and what they want to eat/drink, everyone looks after themselves here, we are practically on our knees with tiredness so can't entertain anyone, I am going to make lists and organize better but it is just trying to keep it all together at the moment, once they move him it will all be better. Oh and the boys have been fab dashing about.

MatyMoo

Glad to hear there is some better news today but it is going to be a long journey for all of you.

Don't forget to accept all offers of help and try to get some down time for each of you.

Big hugs ((((((()))))))

tootallulah

You are all doing brilliantly, the circumstances are impossible for anyone who hasn't been through it to understand, what you are dealing with is relentless. I hope you get a decent amount of sleep tonight. All hope that your husband can be moved closer to home soon.