Asking for a handhold - DH in ICU

[peachgreen]

DH was taken into hospital last night with breathing difficulties. It was pretty minor, the paramedics weren't even going to take him in but we insisted. He's now in an induced coma on a ventilator. He's had 2 negative Covid tests so they don't think it's that but they don't know what it is.

I'm falling apart. He's my whole life. We have a 2 year old who is a complete Daddy's girl. I need him so much. I can't even be with him now because of COVID.

That is excellent

That's a great update. Hopefully he will continue to make good progress.

That's really good news!

Oh, what fantastic news!! So relieved for you both. He'll feel better in himself mentally once he's off the ICU as well - they are very disorienting places, with light and noise all day and all night.

Delighted to read your update, wishing you both the best!

@peachgreen great update!

Are they sure it’s not Covid related?? Either way I’m sure you don’t care at this stage!

How is your little girl doing with it all?

Could it be sepsis?
for you xx

Great news, peach and well done for hanging on in there xxx

Great news x

So glad to hear this news :) OP.
Well wishes for the recovery time ahead.

(In my experience, hospitals tend to be very careful about offering good news or hope. Any they give, you can be pretty confident about. It is much easier for them to warn us of the worst and then tell us that things are turning out better. They do sometimes forget how important hope is to us!)

Wonderful news OP.

Not read the whole thread. Arrhythmias or ectopics are really common in ICU.
Because the heart rate and rhythm are monitored pretty much constantly, you can pick up on things really promptly and intervene, same with the sats and bp. Alot of patients in ICU have electrolyte disturbances which can quite seriously affect the heart rate/rhythm so potassium, magnesium are regularly replaced, sometimes in a drip or a tablet. Also if his lungs have been overloaded with fluid for whatevever reason, diuretics will have been used to get him weeing - that can drop potassium very quickly and cause irregularities.
Regarding going back on the ventilator, there are also other methods that can be tried to avoid it, like cpap, non invasive ventilation and hi flow which work really well. Sadly some patients do get tired and require reintubating and ventilating, it's not that uncommon, it just means they need a bit longer and they go on to do fine ! It's a roller coaster experience in ICU, particularly for relatives, sometimes one step foreward, one step back. Never forget that staff are always happy to answer questions, whatever time of the night ! It's one of the few areas where staff do have the time to explain things, even consultants (anaesthetists) are pretty hands on and a visible presence.

@Katharinablum

Not read the whole thread. Arrhythmias or ectopics are really common in ICU. Because the heart rate and rhythm are monitored pretty much constantly, you can pick up on things really promptly and intervene, same with the sats and bp. Alot of patients in ICU have electrolyte disturbances which can quite seriously affect the heart rate/rhythm so potassium, magnesium are regularly replaced, sometimes in a drip or a tablet. Also if his lungs have been overloaded with fluid for whatevever reason, diuretics will have been used to get him weeing - that can drop potassium very quickly and cause irregularities. Regarding going back on the ventilator, there are also other methods that can be tried to avoid it, like cpap, non invasive ventilation and hi flow which work really well. Sadly some patients do get tired and require reintubating and ventilating, it's not that uncommon, it just means they need a bit longer and they go on to do fine ! It's a roller coaster experience in ICU, particularly for relatives, sometimes one step foreward, one step back. Never forget that staff are always happy to answer questions, whatever time of the night ! It's one of the few areas where staff do have the time to explain things, even consultants (anaesthetists) are pretty hands on and a visible presence.

I think this is really insensitive. Not bothering to read even the OP’s posts on a thread like this.

You have no idea of how things have progressed. Why on earth would you barrel in, hundreds of posts in without even checking?

Hope you've had a good visit today and your DH continues to improve. You are definitely doing the right thing contacting your GP - take all the help you can get my dear

@OhCaptain thanks for that ! Just in bed having done a night shift in ICU so skim read through. Woke up and saw it, wanted to help. Thanks anyway

I have read this whole thread and I'm so relieved he's on the right path to recovery.Didnt want to read and run without sending love and get well soon wishes to you all x

OhCaptain, I found KatherinaBlums post interesting, and it referred to a post at 9. 26 this morning by Peach, where she mentioned fluctuating heart rate.
Let’s not spoil such a supportive thread with nitpicking and quarrelling.

@TrickyD

OhCaptain, I found KatherinaBlums post interesting, and it referred to a post at 9. 26 this morning by Peach, where she mentioned fluctuating heart rate. Let’s not spoil such a supportive thread with nitpicking and quarrelling.

I agree. Let’s not. She addressed my post so I’m not sure why you’re continuing it by addressing it too if we don’t want the thread spoilt.

@OhCaptain that was a bit mean, @Katharinablum replied to the OP's most recent post with answers regards to ectopic heart beats and ventilators which she probably thought would help answer OP's concerns.

@Katharinablum thank you, that's really good to know that the fluctuations could be temporary and caused by the diuretics (which he is indeed on!). He's on cpap at the moment and the lowest dose of oxygen and coping well so fingers crossed he's through the worst in that regard.

@ohcaptain thank you for defending me but I honestly don't mind, I know what it's like trying to catch up on these long threads.

@1WildTeaParty you're so right. The ICU staff are VERY cautious about his long term possibilities but they keep reminding me that's because they aren't heart specialists whereas the cardiologist was very positive so I guess that's what I should focus on. Still a long way to go but things are so much brighter than they were 48 hours ago!

He was really well when I saw him this afternoon - totally normal conversation and although he got tired at the end we were able to chat and hold hands for nearly 2 hours which was incredible. He also has his phone now so I can message him although I think he'll be too tired to do much as they're hoping to get him out of bed today and into a chair (to aid the fluid draining). That will knacker him out. His heart rate is still very very high but they're not treating that yet so I guess that's to be expected. He was quite teary but said he doesn't feel down, just grateful and emotional. And fed up because he wants to be at home! But they're moving him to cardiology as soon as a bed is free which is way faster than we had originally been told so again, a great sign. All going in the right direction I think.

Thank you all again so much!

@ohcaptain definitely not Covid, he's had 4 negative tests. Thank goodness! DD is doing really well, she knows Daddy isnt very well and the doctors are taking care of him and she seems happy enough with that. Much easier now I'm so much more positive.

Sounds positive ! So on ccu they’ll probably do more detailed tests like an echo which he’s prob already had, another ultrasound called a Tee which gives a closer view of cardiac muscle, valves, any blood clots. Medication for heart failure has really advanced over the last few years and like others have said it depends what’s caused it, a virus, valve issue, even fluid overloading due to kidney issues. These things can be remedied.
It’s good he’s coping with the cpap as the tight mask or hood can make it uncomfortable. His mouth may get really dry too. Next step maybe high flow which is nasal prongs up the nose and high flows of oxygen. Can be nearly as good as cpap.
Hopefully next few days physios will get involved too as his condition improves.
Once all the investigations, blood tests start coming in they’ll have a better idea what to do. Once you’ve got a diagnosis there’s a really good website run by British heart foundation called health unlocked. Also a forum to ask questions. There’s lots of info on there about cardiac drugs, tests etc It’s really helpful.
Hope you’ve managed to rest. Take care.

Oh that's what he has, the nasal flow! Sorry I thought that was cpap, silly me. One thing I wanted to ask - does moving from ICU to CCU mean he's a lot less sick? Or is CCU just like ICU but for heart patients?

Thank you for the recommendation of that website. I'm trying to avoid too much googling. The cardiologist thinks it's dilated cardiomyopathy which seems controllable and maybe not a killer long term (though I understand not curable) but what I don't really understand is whether he's in active heart failure (and therefore his life will be limited) or he was just showing signs of heart failure. But I guess all I can do is wait.

Don't have much experience of dilated cardiomyopathy.Is it caused by a virus ? If you look on the bhf website there's loads of helpful info about it, living with it, meds etc I think they even have nurses at hand who can answer questions. The forum is really good.
Anyway I'll leave you in peace now ! Take care x

Hi @peachgreen you may have seen my post up thread about my DH being pretty much stable for the past ten years or more - dilated cardiomyopathy!

He had to give up work at 50, but has a very good quality of life, just takes it very easy.

He felt a million times healthier (and his heart function improved) when he was no longer working too.