Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Relative in ICU with heat stroke and is not going to make it

403 replies

SmokeyMountainRain · 29/06/2026 14:10

Posting for traffic. Has anybody been through this? Close relative, relatively young 50s), was found incoherent last Wednesday. Rushed to hospital straight to ICU as she'd fallen into a coma. They've kept her asleep, tried to wake her twice and she cannot breath on her own whatsoever. They've ran repeated scans which show due to the heat stroke damage the part of her brain that tells her to breath is severely damaged. They've pretty much said she's incompatible with life now and we will have to turn the machines off this week unless by some miracle she wakes up. Her core temp was 41 degrees for 4 days, she's now at 40. Not responded to any medication, antibiotics etc.

She wasn't even doing anything strenuous. Just in her flat watching telly. Has anyone been through this? Does anyone have any advice? I don't even know what to think and feel it just seems so so cruel. No brain bleeds or blockages on the scan. Substantial brain swelling and damage.

posting for traffic as can't see any similar threads

Any advice or miracle stories please send them my way. Thank you x

OP posts:
Ilovecakey · 29/06/2026 15:16

YetAnotherAlias62 · 29/06/2026 15:02

Exactly what I was thinking!

Me too

FluFighters · 29/06/2026 15:12

I'm sorry you are going through this. I work in ICU, from what you have posted this sounds like they might have hypoxic brain injury which unfortunately they would not recover from. If you want to ask me anything you can, but also ask as many questions as you want in your relatives ICU, they will not mind talking through it with you.

Alethea2025 · 29/06/2026 15:11

I'm so sorry - what a terrible thing to have happened and sending all my best wishes to you and your family member. Just wanted to correct some of the misinformation around Martha's rule as a lot of the press have been spreading the same idea that it is a second opinion - that isn't what it means and is instead a way of patients and their loved ones escalating concerns about a patient who they think is deteriorating and may need a higher level of care (i.e. ICU). For your relative who is already on a breathing machine in ICU she will already be receiving the most support and monitoring the hospital can provide. A second opinion is a different thing and this is certainly something you could ask for in this situation if it has not already been offered.

MissMoneyFairy · 29/06/2026 15:10

JenniferBooth · 29/06/2026 14:38

Does she own the flat or is it rented

How is this relevant

AnnaMagnani · 29/06/2026 15:08

I am so sorry. 4 days is a long time for your brain and body to be so seriously overheated.

FFSItsTooHot · 29/06/2026 15:08

JenniferBooth · 29/06/2026 14:38

Does she own the flat or is it rented

What's that got to do with anything?

Alittlebitofthebauble · 29/06/2026 15:08

Oh sweetheart, I'm so so sorry to hear this. 50's is no age at all. Hoping you have other family to rally round and help support eachother? 💐

IAmTheBloodyGrandma · 29/06/2026 15:05

Sending hugs to you and yours. So sad x

Ionlymakejokestodistractmyself · 29/06/2026 15:05

That's awful I'm sorry. It shows how dangerous this extreme weather can be.

SpidersAreShitheads · 29/06/2026 15:04

Coconutter24 · 29/06/2026 15:02

I don’t know if I’m missing something but what difference does it make?

I’m not sure either but maybe they were thinking a landlord might be liable if the flat was in poor condition in some way and that caused her to overheat - or she wasn’t allowed air con (I saw a post about that on here last week)?

Handling · 29/06/2026 15:03

Thinking of you all. I am sorry xx

SweatySpider321 · 29/06/2026 15:03

Coconutter24 · 29/06/2026 15:02

I don’t know if I’m missing something but what difference does it make?

I assume due to liability on the landlord

Motnigh · 29/06/2026 15:03

I am so sorry, Op.

YetAnotherAlias62 · 29/06/2026 15:02

Coconutter24 · 29/06/2026 15:02

I don’t know if I’m missing something but what difference does it make?

Exactly what I was thinking!

Coconutter24 · 29/06/2026 15:02

JenniferBooth · 29/06/2026 14:38

Does she own the flat or is it rented

I don’t know if I’m missing something but what difference does it make?

Pippa12 · 29/06/2026 15:01

Im really sorry this has happened to your family member, how sad. It sounds like whatever has happened has caused damage to her brain stem if she is no longer taking breaths- have they mentioned ‘hypoxic brain injury’ or that her brain has been starved of oxygen and that’s what caused the damage? How long was it before she was found in her flat?

I have to admit it’s a strange diagnosis that a generally able bodied adult gets heat stroke inside so badly it caused brain damage. It’s not unheard of but sadly expected in babies or very elderly who cannot seek shade to cool down or get a drink. I wonder if something caused her to become unconscious first, thus unable to get herself out of the grave situation.

Diamondsareforever72 · 29/06/2026 14:59

That’s absolutely tragic, I am so sorry 😔

SmokeyMountainRain · 29/06/2026 14:50

Thanks all, she's had a CT scan and a more recent MRI this morning and they are both saying she has a 1% change of survival. She has developed an infection (double pneumonia) on her lungs from being on the vent too and isn't responding to antibiotics.

We always told her to give up smoking 😔

sorry I didn't mean to miss things out my mind is everywhere at the moment x

OP posts:
SmokeyMountainRain · 29/06/2026 14:49

JenniferBooth · 29/06/2026 14:38

Does she own the flat or is it rented

It's rented

OP posts:
SmokeyMountainRain · 29/06/2026 14:48

Locutus2000 · 29/06/2026 14:27

Kindly, there's a great deal of missing context here, medical conditions for one.

I'm sorry for your loss.

No medical conditions apart from insomnia and smoking

OP posts:
Tulipsriver · 29/06/2026 14:46

I'm so sorry, that sounds incredibly difficult Flowers

Obviously none of us know your family member's medical history, but I second using Martha's Rule if you have doubts about the medical advice given (even if it's just to put your mind at rest that everything possible has been done).

Shufflebumnessie · 29/06/2026 14:41

That's awful, I'm so sorry. It just goes to show just how serious extreme heat can be.
I'm not sure if you're doubting the diagnosis given (& if you're not, please forgive my misinterpretation) but would Martha's Rule be relevant in this situation?
I hope you & your family are able to access support to help you through this Flowers

JenniferBooth · 29/06/2026 14:38

SmokeyMountainRain · 29/06/2026 14:10

Posting for traffic. Has anybody been through this? Close relative, relatively young 50s), was found incoherent last Wednesday. Rushed to hospital straight to ICU as she'd fallen into a coma. They've kept her asleep, tried to wake her twice and she cannot breath on her own whatsoever. They've ran repeated scans which show due to the heat stroke damage the part of her brain that tells her to breath is severely damaged. They've pretty much said she's incompatible with life now and we will have to turn the machines off this week unless by some miracle she wakes up. Her core temp was 41 degrees for 4 days, she's now at 40. Not responded to any medication, antibiotics etc.

She wasn't even doing anything strenuous. Just in her flat watching telly. Has anyone been through this? Does anyone have any advice? I don't even know what to think and feel it just seems so so cruel. No brain bleeds or blockages on the scan. Substantial brain swelling and damage.

posting for traffic as can't see any similar threads

Any advice or miracle stories please send them my way. Thank you x

Does she own the flat or is it rented

Locutus2000 · 29/06/2026 14:27

Kindly, there's a great deal of missing context here, medical conditions for one.

I'm sorry for your loss.