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Original poster

an update on Peter (not great)

64 replies

misdee · 09/07/2005 16:34

Been to see him earlier. he is doing well on his recovery. but his heart rate is very erractic (from 31-130bpm whislt i was there). he is having problems with food and drink going to his lung, but they are hoping that is because of the tubes etc tha were down his throat and should correct its self. he also has a terrible cough, could be the food/drink prob but sounds very nasty, possible infection. so he is likely to be in ITU longer than they initially thought.

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HappyMumof2 · 09/07/2005 19:36

Message withdrawn

cazzybabs · 09/07/2005 19:57

Am thinking and praying for you all.

SenoraPostrophe · 09/07/2005 20:09

sorry to hear this misdee. thinking of you all.

QZebra · 09/07/2005 20:29

Lovey.

Original poster
misdee · 09/07/2005 20:37

I am having problemsd with thinking that he isnt going to come home. he is very very ill, and these small problems are big problems as well. they are doing everything they can for him, but i'm worried it'll all be in vain.

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QZebra · 09/07/2005 20:47

I know you were raised JW misdee and I guess you don't follow that now... but the thing is, sometimes you have to let go, either you can think a higher power/God will have the best plan or (a humanist view) that simply we don't get to control what happens in life, (and we'd probably bodge the job if we could control it all....)

Either way, you've got to try to not worry about the things you can't control.

I am so glad that they are doing everything they can & I sure hope he comes home as healthy as he can be, very soon. XXXX-Z

Original poster
misdee · 09/07/2005 20:50

his mu msays if he doesnt stay herewith us, then god must have plans for him elsewhere. i tend to agree with her, but also want him to stay herev with me and the kids. and i kow he wont give up easily!!

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edam · 09/07/2005 20:53

oh misdee so sorry it's not going as well as it could - but you know already that recovery isn't necessarily smooth all the way.
Thinking of you.

Original poster
misdee · 09/07/2005 20:54

i know its not smooth, and w ehave been prepapred, but obviously we dont want any setbacks.

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Janh · 09/07/2005 20:59

I'm sure he will never give up, misdee - you have such a lovely family, I have often thought that the last few months - if it's at all possible for him to beat this he will.

marthamoo · 09/07/2005 21:24

You are in my thoughts too, misdee.

Original poster
misdee · 09/07/2005 21:26

Also feling down as old friend from school, her dad has DCM and he is being assesed this week for transplant. hope he gets on the list quickly, and doesnt have to go through the hell we're going through.

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stressedmummy · 09/07/2005 21:26

Thinking of you & Peter misdee.
Hope you get some good news soon.xxx

Cristina7 · 09/07/2005 21:30

So sorry to hear of your continued worries. I hope Peter will get well soon.

FlounceyFlossam · 09/07/2005 21:53

Hi Misdee, sorry to hear that Peter is having a few problems, on the whole though I have to say he sounds like he is doing really well. Hope you don't mind if I ask whether the staff were concerned about the heart rate? Only asking because sometimes the heart rate sensor dots aren't picking things up properly. Hope this dosen't sound patronising but I know all too well from personal experience today how relatives see/hear one small snippet of info and run with it (had one wife run in in blind panic earlier - nothing was wrong at all). Otherwise I have not worked with LVAD so don't know how normal this is. 31 bpm is very slow. Are they treating it with any medication at all?

Also if they suspect that food/drink is being aspirated (going to his lungs) he should no longer eat or drink untill he is seen by a speech and language therapist. They can do tests to see if this is the case and can recommend ways of 'swallowing' to minimise this risk and provide thickeners.

RE the chest infection. This is a far too common occurance in an itu. The tube and ventilation Peter would have been on prevent the bodies natural defences from infection. Nurses would have to clear his lungs for him by suctioning, which again is a path for infection to get in. If he is aspirating his food then this too may of course cause an infection. Try and encourage him sit up tall and take deep breaths as often as he can remember. He will be being seen by a physio. If the infection (if there is one) dosen't get too much of a hold he may not need to be in ITU for longer than before - nothing to stop you having a chest infection on a ward!!!

Hope this dosen't look like I'm trying to pick at the hospital, just want you to see that things might not be as terrible as you thought this afternoon. Hugs to you all xxx

Janh · 09/07/2005 21:57

Flossam, I read that thinking how incredibly reassuring and helpful it is to hear from somebody who knows these things from the inside, and I bet misdee does too.

Hope you had a good day today?

FlounceyFlossam · 09/07/2005 21:59

Yes JanH, very quiet on the unit - lots of the patients were moved out on Thursday so we are only half full. Life felt much more normal today, as awful as it sounds. The atmosphere was much better everywhere. Thank you for asking!

Original poster
misdee · 09/07/2005 22:11

They have checked his 'dots' but they have said he cant go back on the ward till the heart rate is sorted. His physio mentioened SALT to him, and not to eat till his throat is sorted. he is on liquid feed through his nose.

He has two heart readings one for LVAD, and one for his true heart rate. as the LVAD doesnt completely run his heart, the heart is doing some work of its own. its very erractic, which is why they put an ICD in back in march. He has loads of meds going in, i noticed adrelalin on one of the tags, but the rests had far too long names for me to remember. His physio is impressed with his strength, and he has been doing his 'bed exercises'. So am going to try and focus on the posistives, and not worry too much about the other 'minor' things.

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Original poster
misdee · 09/07/2005 22:12

oh, and a transplant happened last night.

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Original poster
misdee · 09/07/2005 22:12

not peter obviously. peter told me.

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dinny · 09/07/2005 22:15

Misdee, sending all good thoughts to you and Peter and family. xxxxxxxxx

FlounceyFlossam · 09/07/2005 22:24

The feed through the nose would be routine, glad to hear he still has that. That will at least ensure he maintains his wieght if not put more on (sometimes). The adrenaline will be helping his heart. He may be on noradrenaline too, which acts in a slightly different way. Hopefully he will have a good day tomorrow and a whole new week will bring better health to Peter. xx

Blu · 09/07/2005 23:24

Oh Misdee, how worrying - but as you say, they say he's strong.
I think of you every night when I go to bed.

ScummyMummy · 09/07/2005 23:30

Thinking of you guys, misdee. Hope Peter has a good night tonight. You are doing amazingly holding everything together. I'm so in awe.

Original poster
misdee · 09/07/2005 23:32

they were hoping to remove the feed tube, but cant till the throa tthings is all sorted. he says it doesnt feel nice.

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