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

People have a responsibility to to keep themselves safe in extreme weather blinds to keep the sun out. Electric fans etc

Oh OP that’s terrible. Unfortunately I have no advice. As someone who lives in a house that has been insulated up to its eyeballs I can quite see how it happened though….our house was still like an oven Sunday after the heat had subsided. The bricks kept it warm for ages.

The red heat health warning wasn’t there for shits and giggles, there was a genuine danger to life as is evidenced here. People should take these warning far more seriously.

Yep my flat is still unbearable now The electric fans and eat an ice lolly brigade dont seem to get that It Does Not Work. And lose their shit in the winter when someone says just put a jumper on. Can you imagine the reaction if someone had said just put a jumper on during Beast From the East

Flats can be hothouses. One of my good friends has COPD and has really struggled in the heat last week they just don’t get the same ventilation.
I don’t think there are many major answers here yet, this poor lady has become seriously ill. I know smoking doesn’t help your health but this sounds so extreme.
So very sorry for you all it must be awful.

Friday our hottest day I was feeling very very unwell. Had the fan blowing across the bed. Our brick bungalow was just working like a night storage heater.

I’m so sorry you’re going through this x

You’re going to be in for a tough time (bitter experience) - you need to look after yourself, stay hydrated, eat little and often if you can

Offering a handhold and a gentle hug

This is so sad to read, from my own experience most people who go into ICU only leave one way. My father was in one a few years back and didn't make it, in the 2 week or so he was there 5 out of 7 other patients passed away. And the other 2 were still there after we left for the final time

The staff in these units do a fantastic job. They really are saints

So sorry to read you are going through all this. Take care of yourself in the coming days and weeks, if you feel you need some support reach out for it.

This is really really horrible, but you have to look at the truth that is put before you. 1% chance of survival is not 1% chance of coming back unchanged. It’s 1% chance that physically her body may once again pick up the respiration. It’s 1% chance that her brain damage may not be fatal. It’s a 1% change of surviving, not living. Not being herself again, wholly unharmed.
It’s horrible. I’m so sorry.

That is very sad, I am so sorry to hear it.

I think this perfectly demonstrates the very real dangers of extreme heat and I do hope that some of those posters on here who ridiculed protests about it last week do read this post. We were told to "calm down, it's just a little bit warm" etc.

This is just horrendous, I’m so sorry OP.
I didn't realise this could happen , especially to someone this age.
It must be such a shock .

It can happen so fast and confusion means you can’t make an effective choice to do something about it .

The landlord depends on being informed by a tenant if there’s problems we’ve put no idea if that happened. Sounds like she might have had a stroke and wasn’t able to call for help earlier.

I remember being so shocked when Michael Moseley died despite carrying water, wearing a hat and using a parasol etc and the one thing that came out of his death was a better awareness of the dangers of heatstroke and how quickly confusion and poor decision making can come on.

The red weather warning means danger to life and OP's poor relative is an example of that. I'm so sorry, it's must be absolutely awful for you all.

FGS start your own thread! OP’s relative is dying and you’re hijacking to make it all about you and your dislike for the people who house you!

I strongly recommend people consider taking electrolytes if they perspire a lot. It may help things along a bit though I am not medically trained.
This is awful to read though.

I’m so sorry that’s so sad.

That is absolute rubbish. There would be no point to ICU if they had 100% non-survival rate. There are people right now reading this who’ve got family in ICU and your comment is just totally unnecessary. And wrong.

DH was in ICU in 2006. After a massive heart attack. The care he got was excemplery

This was so tragic to read, I'm sorry OP.

But at higher temperatures and humidity retro fitting AC ( which is the only thing for true extreme conditions) will take time and money

and many people don’t yet realise the risks and the best preventions

edit / so sorry OP such a hard time

Gosh I’m sorry to read that.Does restricted windows mean you can’t open wide? How ridiculous to have cutbthe tree down. Not only shade but greenery helps reduce temps apparently. Have you got an aircon unit? A wet towel over a chair helped us a bit too with a fan nearby

If your house was well insulated then the heat from the bricks shouldn't be affecting the internal air temperature. Insulation stops heat moving, it doesnt create it.

So sorry OP. Sending you courage to get through the coming days.

That’s a bit mean

How is it hijacking when it is talking about overheating homes. Im not the only one talking about overheating homes on here yet you have singled me out. And we both know why dont we. I and others were talking about the danger of some of the UKs housing overheating just LAST WEEK. Its not just social homes either, New builds There are flats in a town neat me which have recently been built with glass walls.