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Hi, it’s Patrik Hutzel from INTENSIVECAREHOTLINE.COM , where we instantly improve the lives of Families of critically ill Patients in Intensive Care, so that you can have PEACE OF MIND, real power, real control and so that you can influence decision making fast, even if you’re not a doctor or a nurse in Intensive Care!
This is another episode of “YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED” and in last week’s episode I answered another question from our readers and the question last week was
“I WAS IN INTENSIVE CARE VENTILATED FOR A WEEK AND I DON’T REMEMBER A SINGLE THING, IS THIS NORMAL?”
You can check out the answer to last week’s question by clicking on the link here.
In this week’s episode of “YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED” I want to answer another question from one of our readers and the question this week is
MY AUNTY IS IN INTENSIVE CARE ON ECMO FOR ARDS, WE’RE VERY WORRIED SHE MAY DIE! HELP! (PART1)
This series of questions from Lee and later his mother Angie form part of their 1:1 consulting sessions with me via Skype, over the phone and via email, developed into an 11 part series and you can check out subsequent questions from Lee and Angie by clicking on the links here Part2, Part3, Part4, Part5, Part6, Part7, Part8, Part9, Part10 and Part11
Lee from the UK writes
Hi Patrik,
My auntie is 47 years of age and in Intensive Care.
She came to Intensive Care with pneumonia in both of her lungs.
She got ARDS(lung failure) and now she has c-diff.
My aunty had ECMO for 6 days and she came off ECMO 2 days ago.
She then continued in Intensive Care for another two days and took a turn for the worse.
She now has a tracheostomy and is on dialysis for kidney failure.
Both lungs are struggling to expand and have become very stiff.
There is no real sign of improvement with antibiotics, even though she has sepsis.
My auntie’s oxygen level support is coming down slowly and her sedation levels as well.
My auntie is also mentally ill and on medication for schizophrenia do we have any hope for her because we are worried that she may die?
Thanks
Lee
Hi Lee,
thank you for making contact and thank you for your question!
I also want to thank you for signing up for your FREE “INSTANT IMPACT” report!
You’ll discover tons of useful information, tips, tricks and strategies there if you have a loved one critically ill in Intensive Care!
I am very sorry to hear what you, your family and your aunty are currently going through!
It sounds like your aunty is very ill, however being on ECMO for 6 days is not a particularly long time and some Patients with ARDS(lung failure) stay on ECMO for up to 3 weeks.
Related article/video:
HOW LONG can a critically ill Patient stay on ECMO?
Also, lungs can be “stiff” after ARDS and after coming off ECMO and your aunty’s lungs may now need the time to recover further, being off ECMO.
It’s also nothing uncommon that Patients after ARDS end up with a Tracheostomy to aid the process coming off the ventilator.
You have given essential information and just by knowing that your aunty has “only” been on ECMO for 6 days is encouraging.
Yes, your aunty is certainly sick by having the Tracheostomy and by being on the Dialysis machine for kidney failure, however it sounds to me like
a) progress has been made by getting off the ECMO
b) she still has some issues to deal with issues like stiff lungs, the mechanical ventilation, the tracheostomy and the kidney issues
Keep in mind your aunty is very young, 47 is not old at all, compared to other Patients being admitted to Intensive Care.
Also, with oxygen levels coming down as well as sedation being reduced is encouraging as well.
I would say that just from what you are describing, there is hope.
And yes, ARDS often leads to Sepsis.
Be patient. Lets give your aunty more time for the Antibiotics to work.
Here are also some related articles about Tracheostomy and ventilation as well as a link to a question from a reader who has had their mother on ECMO last year in an almost identical situation from what you are describing!.
Other parts of the question you can access here
https://intensivecarehotline.com/category/questions/page/3/
Here are also some links to some interviews with Ellie, who’s Mum was in ICU on ECMO
I hope that helps.
Please let me know if you have any other questions!
I can also be available for a FREE 10 minute Skype chat and answer your questions.
My Skype ID is patrik.hutzel
Wishing you and your family all the best!
Thank you& Kind Regards
Patrik
How can you have PEACE OF MIND, control, power and influence whilst your loved one is critically ill in Intensive Care?
You get to that all important feeling of PEACE OF MIND, CONTROL, POWER AND INFLUENCE when you download your FREE “INSTANT IMPACT” report NOW by entering your email below! In Your FREE “INSTANT IMPACT” report you’ll learn quickly how to get PEACE OF MIND, real power and real control and how you can influence decision making fast, whilst your loved one is critically ill in Intensive Care! Your FREE “INSTANT IMPACT” Report gives you in-depth insight that you must know whilst your loved one is critically ill or is even dying in Intensive Care! Sign up and download your FREE “INSTANT IMPACT” REPORT now by entering your email below! In your FREE “INSTANT IMPACT” REPORT you’ll learn how to speak the “secret” Intensive Care language so that the doctors and the nurses know straight away that you are an insider and that you know and understand what’s really happening in Intensive Care! In your FREE report you’ll also discover
- How to ask the doctors and the nurses the right questions
- Discover the many competing interests in Intensive Care and how your critically ill loved one’s treatment may depend on those competing interests
- How to eliminate fear, frustration, stress, struggle and vulnerability even if your loved one is dying
- 5 “killer” tips& strategies helping you to get on the right path to PEACE OF MIND, control, power and influence in your situation
- You’ll get real world examples that you can easily adapt to your and your critically ill loved one’s situation
- How to stop being intimidated by the Intensive Care team and how you will be seen as equals
- You’ll get crucial ‘behind the scenes’ insight so that you know and understand what is really happening in Intensive Care
- How you need to manage doctors and nurses in Intensive Care(it’s not what you think)
Thank you for tuning into this week’s “YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED” and I’ll see you again in another update next week! Make sure you also check out our BLOG section for more tips and strategies or send me an email to [email protected] with your questions!
Also check out our Products section where you get more Ebooks, Videos and Audio recordings and where you can also get 1:1 consulting!
This is Patrik Hutzel from INTENSIVECAREHOTLINE.COM and I’ll see you again next week with another update!
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