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Original poster

MIL in hospital

64 replies

Choccyoclocky · 01/12/2021 19:33

I have name changed for this because people close to me would recognise this.

I'll start from the beginning..

17th - 19th - We saw MIL each of these days
20th - My daughter tested positive (PM)
21st - 22nd - MIL said she felt a bit off all weekend
23rd AM - Myself and DS tested positive
23rd PM - MIL tested positive
Myself and children started feeling better around days 4-5. All fine now.
MIL was still struggling - wasn't hungry, coughing, tired.
29th PM - I got a phonecall from MIL partner. He said her blood oxygen level was down to 82 and she was in hospital. They only knew because he had one of those finger things from when his mum was ill.

I messaged MIL after getting off the phone with him and she replied a few hours later saying she had oxygen and IV drip, and was feeling better than she did earlier. That is the last time I spoke to her.

MIL partner knows a nurse at the hospital so she has been keeping him updated and he has been passing the messages to me. I have attached the messages. The medication one was yesterday PM and the one saying Morning (with a name covered) was this morning.

I messaged MIL again this morning just checking in so she knows we're thinking of her. But no response. All we know is what I have added below and that she went to hospital because the blood oxygen level was "82 over 90" but we don't know what any of this means.

MIL is 53 and otherwise healthy so her having to go to hospital has really surprised us. She has had both jabs and I think she had booked her booster.

Before it gets questioned.. Contact always goes through me because I always have my phone, DH is pretty rubbish with taking his off silent. I see MIL more than DH does, I absolutely adore her, she is one of my best friends. I usually see her Wed, Thurs afternoon for a couple of hours then for 10 hours on a Friday. It's a running joke that she comes here to see me and the kids, not DH.

DH knows how worried I am and I think he is trying not to show just how worried he is because he is comforting me when I get upset.. but it should be the other way around! He is NC with his Dad so I think this is a tough one because she is all he's got and she is here a lot. He acts like he's annoyed she's still here, but we all know that's not the case and he likes that she is so involved.

I feel awful that she caught this from DD and that she's been in hospital a few days now. I just need to know that she'll be okay. I even painted my downstairs toilet with a paintbrush just to distract myself from worrying.

I don't really know what the point of this thread is. I don't know what blood oxygen level means in terms of covid but I know under 90 isn't good and she was at 82.

I (well we obviously) just want her to reply and say she's absolutely fine and leaving hospital.. but how long will that be before it happens.. I can't begin to even think about what if that doesn't happen Sad our children (9, 8 and 3) are all asking when we can see her and they have no idea she's in hospital. I am so worried that DD will blame herself as she caught it at school and gave it to the rest of us.

If you got to the bottom, thank you for listening to my ramblings. I just want everything back to normal SadSad

MIL in hospital
MIL in hospital
OP posts:
junebirthdaygirl · 01/12/2021 20:43

Hope your dm is better soon.
Please make sure our dd never hears anyone say grandma got Covid from her as this could really impact her if anything happens.
Hopefully that won't happen but just be careful with chatting about it.

Original poster
Choccyoclocky · 01/12/2021 20:49

@Isbdm I hope your db gets better soon. I didn't think visitors would be allowed but I wasn't sure of what the rules are atm or at that particular hospital. Our nearest hospital is 10 minute drive but MIL partner lives further away so she stays with him half the week.

Yes it is an iPhone. I will get DH to ask.

OP posts:
LIZS · 01/12/2021 20:56

82 over 90 makes no sense. SpO2 is a %. The supplementary oxygen will sustain her at a better level. I wonder if she is on a cpsp type machine which provides oxygen under pressure and requires less effort. Hope you get clearer news soon. Ime hospital will only speak to one family member to update and limited visiting.

Myal · 01/12/2021 21:09

Hope she recovers quickly OP. Sending positive vibes 🙏🏽

frumpety · 01/12/2021 21:15

A lot of pulse oximeters show the oxygen reading and below it the heart rate, so that is probably where the 82 over 90 comes from.

Sounds as though she is getting all the treatment she needs, but don't be surprised if she needs to stay in for up to a week.

frumpety · 02/12/2021 06:57

Hope you managed to get through to the ward ?

Mindymomo · 02/12/2021 07:04

I think after 3 days in hospital, one of you, as a relative should call the hospital yourselves to find out what’s happening and how the treatment she’s receiving is going. Hope you get some good news soon.

Original poster
Choccyoclocky · 02/12/2021 10:05

I don't know what number DH was ringing but I found the number for the ward this morning and it literally tells you to ring a different number between 10am-6pm for updates on a patient.

So I am going to sort out breakfast for my children (we slept in today as it was the last day of isolation sleeps) and then I will ring. If they can't talk to me then DH will ring.

OP posts:
Original poster
Choccyoclocky · 02/12/2021 10:17

I am currently 6th in line to speak to the helpline.

OP posts:
Original poster
Choccyoclocky · 02/12/2021 10:21

I am 4th now!

OP posts:
Original poster
Choccyoclocky · 02/12/2021 11:08

Just got off the phone with the hospital. She was checked at 6am, she was sleeping comfortably on her side. They lowered her oxygen and her saturation has come up. Apparently the signal is awful on that ward but they do a thing where you can send a message to a patient, so we did that.
The lady I spoke to said she has turned a corner, thank god!

She said she shouldn't talk to me because of data protection and I'm not nok, but because I answered all of her questions easily without hesitation, and I said my husband was right next to me if she wanted to speak to him instead.

OP posts:
CatAlice · 02/12/2021 11:49

I don't know if this is helpful but I was in hospital with covid in August. I am 63 and have all kinds of underlying health conditions. I am fully recovered now.
Forst of all the fact that she's double vaxxed is good news, it will help massively. Secondly they have a lot of drugs and treatments now including steroids, anti virals, tociluzimab, and remdesivir.
If they moved her to a respiritory ward rather than ICU that's a good start. I was on a respiritory ward for 8 days. On oxygen for 6 days and on a drip for 5 days.
The drip can be just fluids (I didn't eat for two weeks) , also some drugs are delivered that way.
Most hospitals have free wifi so she should be able to message everyone when she feels up to it but when I was ill there was a period of time when I was too ill to deal with more than one message.
On a covid ward they aim for oxygen sats of 92 whci is much lower than normal but if they can achieve that they shouldn't need to take more invasive action.
Does she have phone and charger with her? Perhaps a power pack would help?
I would message her to let her know you are thinking of her but don't worry if she doesn't reply.

PrincessConsuelaBananahamm0ck · 02/12/2021 11:50

Sounds very promising. Hope she continues to improve!

Original poster
Choccyoclocky · 02/12/2021 15:24

MIL partner just messaged me...

"* is doing ok, she has had to have tight oxygen mask on but that is removed now and oxygen going in via nose. Her oxygen level did drop when she got up for toilet but she hasn’t been out of bed before that. And they said with covid that happens. So it’s positive news. I was transferred direct to the ward she is in intensive care so been moved again but they have the best of what she needs."

He has asked me to phone the helpline again in the morning as they just transfer him to the ward as he is down as NOK.

OP posts:
Myal · 02/12/2021 22:04

There's a great facebook support page called Critical Care Support Network which might be helpful to you and family members.
It helped me manage my expectations and feelings when my mum was hospitalised (similar situation to your MIL).
Hope you take comfort in knowing shes in the best possible care. X

Original poster
Choccyoclocky · 03/12/2021 15:02

I heard from MIL today!! She sent us all a message saying she is okay and recovering. She said to DH she'll be back to bothering him soon!

Her partner phoned the ward an hour ago, she is on a ventilator having a little oxygen but she is on the right track and recovering.

It was such a relief to hear from her.

OP posts:
Olliesocks · 03/12/2021 15:11

On an actual ventilator? Or back on supplemental oxygen? (Or cpap?)

I think you need to ring the ward for an update?

greenlynx · 03/12/2021 15:13

Oh congratulations, glad that your MIL is better!
Her comment to your DH does show that she’s on recovering track. My Mum just got Covid and when she started commenting about Dad I was really pleased - it meant that she’s back to her usual self.

CatAlice · 03/12/2021 16:08

I thought people on ventilators were sedated? Perhaps she means CPAP?

LIZS · 03/12/2021 16:23

Ventilator machines have various settings so she may be on pressurised oxygen(cpap, optiflow etc) via one while awake and they can switch between modes.

Original poster
Choccyoclocky · 03/12/2021 18:21

I don't actually know if she's been sedated on a ventilator, her partner didn't elaborate. I just copied what he said to me.
I didn't think to question it as he said she was awake. Maybe he meant the supplemental oxygen.

My DH isn't down as nok so I don't think the ward would talk to him. I also don't actually know if she's back on the respiratory ward or still icu. The helpline is only open between 10am-6pm so too late tonight.

OP posts:
Mindymomo · 03/12/2021 19:11

Good news, must be a relief to hear from your MIL herself.

Santaischeckinglists · 03/12/2021 19:14

Actually nice to read a dil worrying about her mil too!
Glad she is on the mend.
Feel free to enjoy that last bit of peace before she gets back!!

MalbecandToast · 03/12/2021 19:17

Oh fingers crossed she's home and well soon OP

Original poster
Choccyoclocky · 03/12/2021 19:41

@Santaischeckinglists She really is one of my best friends. We have such a good relationship, I got lucky with her! I've been with DH since I was 15 and I'm nearly 29 so I've been around a while!

It's the other in-laws we have problems with! FIL and Step-MIL are awful people. It has been 2.5yrs of NC and it has been lovely for all of us!

OP posts: