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

[SmokeyMountainRain]

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

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.

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.

Me too

My housing association flat
Window restrictors........tick
Fire door that must be kept closed at all times............tick
Black cladding tick.

,,,,there used to be a tree on the patch of grass near my bedroom window. The tenant opposite complained about the branches getting in the window so instead of cutting the branches back and then coming back to do that when needed, THEY FELLED THE WHOLE TREE So a source of shading destroyed because they are lazy and tight and couldnt be bothered. Along with the other things they have done to turn this place into a sweatbox Im on the top floor of a low rise

This is incredibly sad, I’m so sorry @SmokeyMountainRain

What doesn’t make sense is why your relative stayed in the flat if it was incredibly hot and didn’t find anywhere cooler for as much time as they could. Around us the library, rugby club, leisure centre are all open as cool spaces where drinks are available.

I hope staff can answer all of your questions so that you can understand what’s happening to your relative and that they are kept as peaceful and comfortable as possible.

I don't think the OP is thinking about liability at this stage, and who can blame them.
I'm so sorry OP. Your poor relative. I agree maybe the second opinion? But it sounds like she has a lot of professionals around her so not sure it wouldnt just add to the trama/false hope.

Sending strength. 🌹

not everyone wants to leave their home. Perhaps she fell asleep or didn't realise how dangerous the heat is. There will be more of this. Especially with the planned data centres around the UK, which increase heat in surrounding locality by up to 10 degrees. We should be rioting in the streets to stop this.

People were also told to stay indoors.

I'm so sorry. My DIL when single had a new build flat like this she became so unwell her parents took her home. Some properties appear to be death traps in hot weather.

What does that have to do with anything?

I am so sorry! I didn’t realise this could happen whilst indoors but why couldn’t it. Gosh. It’s awful. So sorry 😔

Maybe some of the people on this thread wondering why im asking why its rented think some of us should be grateful because its a step up from incinerating us. I wouldnt put it past MN!

That’s why the question was asked 👆

what a horrible thing to happen, hugs to you and yours.

I am so sorry to hear this

How awful.

I hope @GMB or similar pick up on this as they've covered heatwave drownings, cold water shock (may be interwoven) but this needs covering. She's my age. I felt awful with underlying health conditions, like I couldn't get enough air. I have a condition called PoTS, I've been fainting.
I just spent time laying down with fans on, sometimes I didn't make it down to the fridge due to fainting, the water I drank was more than warm but still drank it and hoped.

All the best.

Are you an ambulance chaser?

So Sorry, @SmokeyMountainRain
Awful to hear.

If it’s a rental flat, I doubt that any landlord would provide actual air conditioning! Fans can be very effective and need not be very expensive, but it’d be down to the tenant to provide their own.

Matters such as windows that won’t open (e.g stuck with paint) are a different matter together - as long as the tenant hadn’t done the painting, the landlord would be held responsible.

Sorry to read about your relative

Know body really knows how weather is going to affect them and this shows what some people may class as it being just a bit hot can actually be devastating for others.

No look at my above post at 15.17 Im a tenant in a very hot SH flat. I know exactly what its like I got terrible abdominal pain during the heatwave. Im still not right And im in my 50s too. DH is 76. Am i not right to be concerned about overheating homes considering a. i live in one. and b. its likely to kill OPs relative. You were so eager to call me an ambulance chaser that you didnt bother to read on. 74% of SH homes are at risk of overheating.

Why are you being so rude? It's a legitimate question.....landlords have a duty of care to their tenants.

That is awful OP I am so sorry

How awful,the heat was unbearable last week.

That is really sad. Unfortunately smoking can make you more susceptible to various complications especially pneumonia. Do they have other family around to support each other?