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May 23, 2019 / Patrik Hutzel - Critical Care Nurse Consultant / No Comments

My Mother is in the ICU for Post- Cardiac Arrest Care. Is Post- Tracheostomy a Step Away From the ICU Care?

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Hi, it’s Patrik Hutzel from INTENSIVECAREHOTLINE.COM where we instantly improve the lives for Families of critically ill Patients in Intensive Care, so that you can make informed decisions, 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 was

My Mother is in the ICU for Post Cardiac Arrest Care. Is “Mercy Killing” the Only Option for Her Condition?

You can check out last week’s question by clicking on the link here.

In this week’s episode of “YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED” I want to answer questions from one of my clients Stephanie as part of my 1:1 consulting and advocacy service! Stephanie’s mother is on post- cardiac arrest care in the ICU and she is asking if the family has an option to let her stay in the ICU after the Tracheostomy.

My Mother is in the ICU for Post- Cardiac Arrest Care. Is Post- Tracheostomy a Step Away From the ICU Care?

Patrik: Right. Okay.

Stephanie: I’m going to walk through there now. Now that you’ve said that, I’m going to walk through there.

Patrik: Have a look. Have a look.

Stephanie: Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Patrik: Whereabouts are you? You are in Cincinnati. Are you in a big city or-

Stephanie: Yes, Ivory Oaks.

Patrik: Oh, you’re in Ivory Oaks. Okay.

Stephanie: Yeah, we’re right where St. Joseph … We’re in Ivory Oaks.

Patrik: Okay, so you’re in a pretty-

Stephanie: Yep. It’s Cincinnati-

Patrik: Yeah, yeah.

Stephanie: Yeah. She’s in a hospital called St. Joseph.

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Patrik: Okay.

Stephanie: St. Joseph

Patrik: That’s a pretty-

Stephanie: It’s an old … Huh?

Patrik: That’s a pretty big organisation over on the East Coast, isn’t it? Because there are St. Joseph-

Stephanie: Yes.

Patrik: Hospitals in New York.

Stephanie: Yes. Yes. Well, see, the thing is that this was a private hospital mainly for Jewish people back in the 1800s or whenever they used it … whatever the year was they started the hospital. It is a private hospital. If you Google it, St. Joseph Hospital, Ivory Oaks, Cincinnati, it will give you a background on that hospital. They also, they take very good care of their own, if you will. That’s why that started it, but it’s not just for Jewish people. It’s for everybody. You know what I mean.

Patrik: Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Stephanie: Burnham, LTAC is right across the street from-

Patrik: Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Stephanie: From Burnham … From the hospital. That way, I guess, if they needed whatever, they could take of whoever. My niece is there. We’re not moving in that direction, bottom line. Bottom line.

Patrik: Yeah. I think that’s-

Stephanie: Why?

Patrik: I think you should get that trach done.

Stephanie: Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Patrik: And then keep her in the ICU. I’m just Googling that, St. Joseph Hospital, Ivory Oaks, Cincinnati. It’s having 2.7 stars out of 5.

Stephanie: Exactly. I saw that.

Patrik: Right.

Stephanie: I was like, what? Are you kidding?

Patrik: Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Stephanie: Yet they tout themselves as the centre for brain injury.

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Patrik: Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Stephanie: Some people don’t like it. They say, “That hospital killed my mother or my father or my… whoever.”

Patrik: Sure.

Stephanie: You know? Personally, I don’t want to go there. I never did want to. If I ever have anything, I will never go there if I could help it. But the good thing for Carmen was that St. Joseph was around the corner from where she worked.

Patrik: Yeah, yeah. Of course.

Stephanie: That part was good.

Patrik: Yeah, yeah. The other thing that I’m wondering, I believe Carmen has dropped off the call, I believe. I can’t see her.

Stephanie: Oh, Miranda? You don’t see her? Okay, she probably has.

Patrik: I don’t see her.

Miranda: I’m here.

Stephanie: That’s okay.

Patrik: Oh, you’re here.

Stephanie: Oh, okay. Okay, yeah.

Patrik: Oh, there you are.

Stephanie: Okay, okay. Okay. Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Patrik: You’ve heard what we were talking about?

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Miranda: Not completely. I heard about the size of the digs and things like that. That’s when I came back on the phone.

Stephanie: Okay.

Miranda: Basically, what y’all saying, what you’re saying, they basically saying once they do the trach, she can’t go in ICU no more.

Patrik: Well, that’s-

Miranda: They said she don’t have a reason for ICU.

Patrik: Well, their goal is to do a trach and get her out of ICU as quickly as possible. That’s their goal. But here is my concern, and we’ve talked about this on Wednesday, but here is my biggest concern. Especially since they still haven’t got the seizures controlled, right? And also, if patients go into LTAC they need to be at the point of rehabilitation. By no means is your mother at the point of rehabilitation if they can’t even control the seizures, right?

Stephanie: Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Patrik: That is the first step.

Stephanie: Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Patrik: They need-

Miranda: One minute they saying she’s not having seizures. Another minute she is. I can’t keep up with these people. I don’t know what-

Stephanie: Mm-hmm (affirmative). The brainstorm, or the neuro storm is not … She should not be released while she’s having those. They have to see how long she’s going to have those, monitor those, as far as I’m concerned. When our family speaks up with that, along with you, we’re speaking with one voice, Miranda. Don’t you worry, we’re not going to let them send her out of there. My thing is this Patrik, about the trach.

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Patrik: Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Stephanie: This is what they’re saying. Once they give her the trach, they’re gonna move her … They will probably want to move her. They’ll watch her for 24 hours. They have a ventilation unit-

Patrik: Yep.

Stephanie: There in the hospital.

Patrik: Right.

Stephanie: We don’t want her moved there either, right?

Patrik: Right, right.

Stephanie: Right?

Patrik: Well-

Stephanie: I don’t know if we have to sign to have her moved there-

Patrik: Yeah, yeah.

Stephanie: Or not.

Patrik: Okay. Let me get clear on that. They have a ventilation unit in the hospital, but do they have-

Stephanie: Yep.

Patrik: They want her across the road in long-term acute care.

Stephanie: Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

Patrik: Right. The first step would be to get her out into the ventilation unit within the same hospital, and then the second step would be to get her onto LTAC–

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Stephanie: Yep.

Patrik: Across the road.

Stephanie: Yes. Because I asked them how long do they stay in there?

Patrik: Right.

Stephanie: In the hospital.

Patrik: Right.

Stephanie: They say, “Oh, not long.”

Patrik: Right.

Stephanie: They even made it sound like she may not even have to go there. Like they could just ship her straight to Burnham across the street or one of the other ones.

Patrik: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yep, yep.

Stephanie: See what I’m saying? He wanted to make us think that he would send her to the vent unit inside the hospital.

Patrik: Right.

Stephanie: The whole floor, that’s all they do.

Patrik: Yeah, yeah.

Stephanie: Yeah.

Patrik: Okay. What’s the name of the … Because I’m just on their website again.

Stephanie: Sure, sure.

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Patrik: What’s the name of the LTAC across the road? Does that have a specific name?

Stephanie: Yes, it does. It’s called Burnham.

Patrik: Oh, yes.

Stephanie: B-U-R … Yeah. Uh-huh (affirmative).

Patrik: Yeah, I can see that, but it says Burnham Geriatric Centre and Hospital.

Stephanie: Yes.

Patrik: You know what geriatric stands for?

Stephanie: Yes. Ageing.

Patrik: Yes. That’s not … That sounds like a nursing home to me.

Stephanie: There you go. Right.

Patrik: Now I’m just looking this up.

Stephanie: [crosstalk]

Patrik: It says long-term care, comes up … Okay. Now I’m on their website. It says long-term care, and the first thing that comes up is comfort and hospice care. There is … Look, the first thing that I can see is there no talk about ventilator and weaning. There is no talk about that.

Stephanie: Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Miranda: Well, they say overall they do have the programme, even the guy that I talked to.

Patrik: Okay.

Stephanie: But he’s-

Miranda: Alexander Scott.

Patrik: Yep. Okay.

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Stephanie: Go ahead, Patrik.

Patrik: If somebody has been in intensive care for four weeks … I’ll just give you this example. If somebody has been in Intensive Care for four weeks, and they spend at least two weeks out of those four weeks on a trach and they can’t be weaned off the ventilator and they’re stable, then I’d say if there’s a good LTAC maybe that’s an option. Maybe. If there is a good LTAC. In your mom’s situation, she’s not stable yet. They’re still trying to manage the neuro storms, they’re still trying to manage the seizures, right?

Stephanie: Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Patrik: They can’t manage that in LTAC. It’s not going to happen. They’re not qualified to do that. All they want at this point in time is send her out as quickly as possible.

Stephanie: Mm-hmm (affirmative). This is what the neurologist says. We don’t have a reason. When I told her, I said, “Aren’t you equipped to take care of a person indefinitely in ICU?”

Patrik: Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Stephanie: “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have an ICU unit.”

Patrik: Yes.

Stephanie: “Is that correct?” Yes, but we don’t want people to stay in here for whatever, and so she was saying, “But your mother doesn’t have a need.” That’s what she’s trying to say. “There’s no need to keep her in ICU, once we do the trach, there’s no need to keep her in ICU.”

Patrik: Yeah.

Stephanie: Right.

Patrik: Yeah.

Stephanie: Yeah.

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Patrik: Let me ask you another question. With a cardiac arrest, there must be a cardiologist involved as well. Do you know anything about that?

Stephanie: Yeah, that’s Dr. Philipps. The other one that did the stent, Miranda.

Patrik: Right, right.

Stephanie: Uh-huh.

Patrik: What does he-

Stephanie: Yeah, but he hasn’t been around for a while. He just keeps saying … This is what they’re trained to do, as you know. He says, “Her heart is fine. Everything is working fine with her heart. I don’t deal with this part,” about her-

Patrik: Right.

Stephanie: When you talk about the seizures and brain-

Patrik: Right.

Stephanie: He says, “I don’t deal with that. You have to talk to them. I don’t deal with that.” He’s a good guy it seems like, but they’re all trained to don’t cross the other person’s path.

Patrik: Yep, yep. Sure. So he’s washing-

Stephanie: Right? Right?

Patrik: Yeah. He’s washing his hands clean. He doesn’t want to deal with it anymore.

Stephanie: There you go. There you go. Mm-hmm (affirmative).

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Patrik: Right. Okay.

Stephanie: Tell me what you were thinking in terms of the cardiologist, though.

Patrik: What I was thinking if he’s washing his hands clean for now, that’s a sign to me that he probably thinks, okay, from a cardiology point of view he doesn’t need any input, and that’s probably a good sign for now.

Stephanie: Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Patrik: Then it will really come down to Neurology and Intensive Care to-

Stephanie: Yep.

Patrik: Potentially determine the next steps with you, not just over you.

Stephanie: Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Patrik: Would be with you-

Stephanie: Right.

Patrik: Not over you.

Stephanie: Yes.

Patrik: Right?

Stephanie: Yes. Mm-hmm (affirmative).

Patrik: I’m just trying to find out is there anybody else involved still in there, but it looks like it’s Neurology and ICU. They are the only two specialties at the moment.

Stephanie: Yep.

Patrik: Right.

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Stephanie: Yep. It’s neurology, the Intensive Neurologist, and Dr. Philipps, who is the senior attending physician for ICU, that has been attending to Carmen for a while. There was another one, he was an Indian doctor. He seemed like he cared a little bit more than Dr. Philipps did, but Dr. Philipps is on it, too, because if his resident doesn’t do something or stops something, he’s on him. When they had that little meeting, he said, “Wait a minute. Are you doing this? Are you doing that? You’re going to do this, do that,” so it seems like he’s on it as far as that is concerned. I guess they do that to make sure they don’t lose their licence or whatever.

Patrik: Yeah, probably.

Stephanie: Make you think they really care.

Patrik: Yeah.

Stephanie: Yeah, exactly.

The 1:1 consulting session will continue in next week’s episode.

How can you become the best advocate for your critically ill loved one, make informed decisions, get peace of mind, control, power and influence quickly, whilst your loved one is critically ill in Intensive Care?

You get to that all important feeling of making informed decisions, get 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 make informed decisions, 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 mind blowing tips & strategies helping you to get on the right path to making informed decisions, get PEACE OF MIND, control, power and influence in your situation

You’ll get real world examples that you can easily adapt to you 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 episode 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, have a look at our membership site INTENSIVECARESUPPORT.ORG for families of critically ill Patients in Intensive Care here.

Or you can call us! Find phone numbers on our contact tab.

Also check out our Ebook section where you get more Ebooks, Videos and Audio recordings and where you can also get 1:1 counselling/consulting with me via Skype, over the phone or via email by clicking on the products tab!

This is Patrik Hutzel from INTENSIVECAREHOTLINE.COM and I’ll see you again next week with another update!

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Hi, Patrik.I was reading through your page today and started thinking about the time you helped my friend who was in a COVID unit on a ventilator in 2021. I just wanted to thank you because I don't remember if I told you that our friend survived at the time and after leaving the hospital, went back to work several months later. He was the only one to survive on the COVID floor! Without the help of many and perseverance of his proxy and my guidance that came from you, he would not have survived! After he left the recovery place, I helped him to get strong again. If people would just educate themselves, get professional help and know their rights, we could have more success stories like these.Thank you and God bless!

Barbara

Hello Patrik,I just wanted to let you know my partner woke up and blinked at the questions I asked him! So unbelievably happy my son has his father still and I have my man back! Thank you for taking the time to speak. I hope you know how much it means in the time of desperation, what you do is the most amazing gift of saving lives. You are godlike.God bless you and all your family. Take care always.

Jasmine

"Hi Patrik and the team

I would just like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for all your help these past 3 months, I cannot express enough just how grateful I am that my husband and I found your service and were able to sign up and receive your help!These past three - four months have been the hardest of my life and then my dad dying has honestly shattered my world as him and I were VERY close. Especially when you have confirmed that he had a future and probably would have been much further along by now if he wasn't neglected. Yes, no one knows just how long he had left or how long he would have lived for but I do truly believe that he would have had at least a few weeks/months if not more and know 100% in my heart that 12 June was not the day God chose for him to go as they injected him, it was not natural!

Dealing with the nurses and consultants in ICU setting is a whole other world /experience, as Patrik sums it up you are scared, sad, anxious, distressed and have no idea medically what is going on but when you can sense what is going on and know in your heart what is being done is not right or not enough but when you question the nurses they block you or just say:" wait to speak to the consultant ", who lies to your face and is clearly pushing an agenda!

It is such an awful situation as you can't say much as you aren't a medic but with your assistance and advice I was able to not feel completely powerless and ask questions and equally you gave me the confidence to ask those questions and thanks to Jesus Christ and you and your incredible, friendly,prompt and helpful team we were able to prolong my dad's life for 3 months. 3 months I am eternally grateful for.

Please know that your service is a true Godly blessing in a world that is growing exceedingly cold by the day and is in need of the light that is being shone by you all and the truth that is being exposed, so thank you and may God bless each and everyone of you in your personal lives for your selfless commitment to helping those out there going through such emotional and mentally stressful times and really need a hand to hold and lead you through this tumultuous situation and you are that………..God bless."

Many kind regards,

Donne

"Dear Patrik,

Thank you for reaching out, sorry I haven't returned your text sooner. Cliff is going leaps and bounds daily and will be moving out of ICU Monday. Without having your initial highly informative information we would not have Cliff where he is today. We took it all on board and it gave us the confidence to fight for Cliff as a unique individual who we as a family believed he is! We stuck to your first statement on your site, whatever they say, do the exact opposite and in doing that we have moved forward with those words stuck in our minds and gave us such strength to do things our way and has proven to be an excellent advice and we cannot thank you enough. Without it, we would be organizing a funeral not tears of joy for his hope for his recovery , much love and respect

Belinda

"Hi Patrik.

Thank you for all the links to the NHS and the advice you gave me. I spoke with the ICU consultant on Friday and threatened him with the media and legal action, and I told him that I had written to the hospital CEO and made the complaint, and he said that they are not going to withdraw life support and they have revoked the DNR.Also, my brother is now fully awake since Saturday and they have been trying to get him to breathe with the tracheostomy ventilator, which he managed to do for 12 minutes. I also told them until my brother gets his voice back, I am his voice and advocate. The consultant did say we need to work together on a joint decision and agreed that my brother will be the best person to decide on and future withdrawal of life support.I understand his prognosis is not good as the infective endocarditis has completely destroyed his aortic valve and he is not fit enough for open heart surgery.If my brother passes away naturally, that is something I could come to terms with instead of the doctors withdrawing life support without my or my brother's consent.

Thank you for your advice. You have been amazing."

Nikki

"Hi, Patrik.

You saved my mom's life! After her RV transport from Connecticut to San Diego on January 6, I got her local medical support during her recovery (physical therapy, OT, a few home blood draws and nurses, oxygen prescribed, hoyer lift, etc.). She got a CT scan at the hospital and saw her doctor on March 15. He would never have approved her for air travel with her oxygen needs so we didn't even ask. On March 17, I drove her from San Diego to Tampa. On March 23, we got on a 14-night transatlantic cruise to Barcelona, and on April 6, we drove to Oslo in Norway. Here is the photo of us and the dogs on the cruise! Thanks to you, she got to do her life goal of being on a cruise!

Best wishes,Debra."

Hello Patrik.

Mom got the tracheostomy out just before Christmas then they sent her back to her hometown (clearing wards before holidays). They left her in ED for 2 days before moving to ward. She got a bit more awake and refused to have the feeding tube reinserted so I got a retired nurse to help me sort that out and they called it risk feeding, eventually got to the rehab ward and then home. It was a rigmarole, probably timing of holidays did not help. She persuaded them to let her go out of rehab after a couple of weeks. She uses a wheelie Walker and wheelchair to get around.

I had to go back to the big city at the start of February to remove an IVC filter. It was hard work getting her back, obviously she didn't want to go back, and travelling on public transport with a person who can't get very far with a walker was quite an experience for me.

But we got there and she is back home with dad now. She has improved but it is slow. She has good days and then not so good ones, as we all do I guess. She will probably get back to walking unaided, it might take a few more months. It is her main problem. Without that she really is not far off her old self. So glad she got out of there with so little repercussions, compared to what the doctors were describing in those family meetings.

So sad that has been our hospital experience though, to go in to recover from pelvic fractures and come out with that experience is really awful. Apart from poor eyesight, she had no obvious health issues, and hadn't been to a doctor for many years. Lucky to get out I guess. I was really glad to have your service, it helped me a lot. Many thanks..

Sincerely,

Barbara

MY REVIEW OF INTENSIVE CARE HOTLINE

So on Friday, February 9th, I checked my 88 year old mother into a local hospital because of the following symptoms: slurred speech, a steadily decreasing appetite, confusion, and legs so weak that she needed help to walk to my truck outside even though she'd been walking fine the day before!

I managed to get her into the emergency room quickly, where a series of tests and readings revealed the following: blood pressure roughly 60 over 40, a pulse in the 40s, and a probable urinary tract infection or uti. And the ER doctor told me, "Your mother is very sick." He then asked me, "If her heart goes out, do you want us to do everything we can?" I answered, yes-- and the emergency room team was fantastic!!! and next thing you know--after more tests--she was sent to Intensive Care Unit, or ICU.

So the next day I got a call from the nurse in ICU, and she was asking me about a baseline, about how my mom spoke normally. Well, I like face to face communication, so I went in to meet the nurse and her assistant and see my mom and my mom looked like death warmed over. She didn't look awake, or like she'd ever be awake again! The nurse then started a long statement about the possibility of her heart stopping and the only options in that situation and how devastating that would be for my mother and did I want to consider do not resuscitate or DNR, but I was too afraid to make a decision. (She also talked about something about comfort, which I think means turning off machines, but I didn't like that idea, either!) So I went back with a friend whose best friend is a rn in Atlanta, and my friend agreed with the ICU nurse. "I've seen this before, your mother is going to die. You need to be prepared for that. To let them do compression or anything to keep her alive after a heart attack is cruel." And even with medication, all my mom's readings looked shaky: her blood pressure was bouncing around with numbers like 80 over 40--and she was on two kinds of blood pressure medication!!!-- and her pulse was still going between 40 and 80. Her oxygen was good, but that seemed to be all she had going for her. So I was depressed. I didn't see any way out. I saw an immediate future without my mom, and with no wife and no kids myself, what would that mean for me? I could survive, but it wouldn't be the same. And all these people--the ER doctor, the ICU nurse, my friend;s buddy the rn, plus, my friend who said she'd seen cases like my mom's before and she knew it was coming--they all couldn't be wrong, right?

So I couldn't sleep that night, but early Sunday morning of February 11th, I had a brainstorm: I would go online, and see what I found. And that's what led me to INTENSIVE CARE HOTLINE and Patrik Hutzel. I looked at the website, read that Patrik was a critical care nurse, seemed to have lots of experience plus lots of videos, and he even offered a free consultation. "Why not?" I thought. But it was 4:00 in the morning! But then, I added, "He's got lots of funny phone numbers, so maybe he won't mind?" So I made the call, and to my surprise, Patrik answered immediately.

I asked about rates and about his free consultation, and soon we started with the consultation: Patrik asked all the right questions, like what was wrong with my mother, what were her symptoms, and where was she now. I could tell he was German, and smartT--he talked to me at length about urinary tract infections and their symptoms and treatment-- but once he started getting into his wheelhouse of critical care, Patrik was like Boris Becker at Wimbledon with one big serve after another!!!

"It's too early, the medicine needs time to work on your mother..."

So after I gave Patrik the basics, he said, "It's too early, the medicine needs time to work on your mother. Give it another day."

"HUH???" Why wasn't anybody at the hospital telling me this??? So I told my friend--the one with the rn friend. Here's what she said:

"So you're going to listen to some guy 800 miles away???"

So after I told my friend with the rn friend about Patrik she said, "So you're going to listen to some guy 800 miles away?"

So the battle lines were drawn: it was an er doctor, and icu nurse, my friend, her friend the rn, all saying or suggesting my mom was KAPUT!!!--now there's a good old stereotypical German word!!!--and the guy from the internet saying to give the medicine time to work, at least another day. Maybe there was some glimmer of hope for my mom, after all.

So my friend was urging me to tell the people at the hospital not to resuscitate, or DNR!!!

But Patrik had put his big German thumb on the scale and my mind was made up: I'd wait another day, just like he told me to.

TOMORROW NEVER COMES?

Someone once said tomorrow never comes, but this time it did, and so when I finally got the courage to go see my mom in icu, I went with my friend just in case and guess what? MY MOM WAS AWAKE!!! AND HER NUMBERS WERE GETTING BETTER!!! WAS THE GUY FROM MILES AWAY RIGHT???

Next thing you know, my mom was being sent to a regular room where she's continued to show steady improvement, with her only remaining symptom being some weakness in her legs. Her pressure numbers have stabilized to where she's off of all the blood pressure medicine, her pulse is normal, her speech is normal, and her appetite is normal. Her only remaining symptom is weakness in her legs.

And so, THE GUY FROM 800 MILES AWAY ENDED UP BEING RIGHT!!!

Patrick and I also talked about DNR, and he told me how he's against it, I think because it sets a medical team on the wrong path, but I've got to talk with again to make sure! But I know it would have been the wrong path for my mom!!!

So the lesson in all this is clear: if you have a medical question or problem and you're not happy with the answers you're getting,

call THE GUY FROM 800 MILES AWAY!!!

CALL PATRIK HUTZEL--TODAY!!!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

CHARI

"Hi Patrik and Intensive Care Hotline Support,My husband ended up in ICU, after being found unconscious. X-rays showed he had aspirated into his right lung, and was put on a ventilator to support him whilst treating for pneumonia. This was quite a frightening time for me. I really didn't know what was going on, or what should be going on in the ICU. The staff were quite friendly, but kept the discussions very simplistic. I felt powerless.It wasn't until I accessed Patrik Hutzel's expertise that I started getting real answers. Not only was he willing to speak to staff directly, he told me what sort of questions to ask which would encourage the doctors to talk to me at a deeper level. My husband had been in ICU for two weeks and all measurements were showing he was good to be weaned off the ventilator (Patrik taught me what indicators to ask for). However, because of a previous failed extubation and general weak muscle tone, the doctors didn't see it would be successful and were leaning towards a tracheotomy.I was armed with all the right questions, and seeing my keenness to give it a go, they proceeded to take the tube out and put him on a bi-pap. Wonderfully it was successful, and significantly shortened any further stay in ICU. This moment was very crucial, as the longer my husband stayed in the ICU, the more weight and muscle he lost. I am so grateful for Patrik, as I feel it improved the outcome for my husband. Plus he metaphorically gave me a map and compass to navigate this very different experience.I can happily say that my husband is now doing really well. Thank you to Patrik and his team.Sincerely,Jane"

"Hi Patrik and Intensive Care Hotline Team,

My husband is finally out of ICU and in a hospital ward. He has been gaining his strength and movement back in leaps and bounds after being in ICU for 3 weeks.I am absolutely grateful for Patrik's advice. The Drs thought he had a high chance of failing the second extubation. It's really only because I knew what language to use and what questions to ask, that they agreed to try again before a tracheostomy. But my husband did succeed with the extubation, by being put on a BiPAP, and being given some relaxant. He moved from that to nose prongs, and then eventually breathing on his own. Oh my gosh! How much time was saved from being in ICU, by Patrik's guidance. Alot!!!"

Shiela

"Hello Patrik,

I hope you are well.My husband is on the ward!Everything you said was correct! He was ready to come off ventilation and he did.I'm hoping we can give a zoom chat for the next half hour to discuss what now as he is on the ward with the nasal prongs and small oxygen.

Thank you Patrik."

Dezi

"Hello Cheryl, I'm happy to report that Jorge is doing well! He is more happy and really enjoys going out or just spending time with the family. He is really trying to talk and he is making more sounds, he is consistently very awake throughout the day. It's almost like a fog is lifting from his brain, it really makes me happy and amazes me how he continues to protect his kids, and his personality is pretty much the same! e.g. keeping an eye on his kids when we are at the store, the park, when they are playing at their house. When it's dark, he points to the door and tries to push his wheelchair to lock it, or to the window blinds to close it. He has really learned to communicate through gestures and sounds, and his kids even understand him now. When he sees our mom, he opens his arms to hug her and kiss her. When his wife is helping him to transfer from WC to bed (he no longer needs hoyer lift), he flexed his arm and look at her, telling her she is strong, that was really funny and it seems that he is more accepting of the help now and is coming into terms of what his condition is at this time.

I know in God's time he will regain his speech and be able to walk as he is really moving more, and is very motivated. I believe God is preparing him to live a life without alcohol, which was Jorge's biggest wish to be able to stop drinking, but he was just so afraid and always had the panic attacks. He still has claustrophobia and I pray that goes away. But in general he is progressing. I will send some pictures/videos to Patrik so you all can see him.

Milagros, I also want to thank you for the great and detailed info about my question. Thanks again to all of you! I dream that one day, Jorge can be well enough to at least virtually meet Patrik and all of you who have been a fundamental part of this painful, but rewarding journey in my brother's day by day recovery.

Always grateful,"

Nancy

Your service has been so helpful during this time with my Father's heart attack and stay in the ICU. He's currently in another wing of the hospital and waiting on a few medical concerns to clear before transferring to an inpatient rehabilitation center, not a nursing home or LTAC! I want to thank you so much for your service and the support our family has received.It's been so valuable to be able to advocate for my Father to receive the best possible care for his recovery.

-Deborah

Hi Patrik,Hope this email finds you well.I'm not sure where we left off and whether you recall my father's particular case.I had been in contact with you at the beginning of last year when my father was hospitalized with pneumonia then later put on a mechanical ventilator for 2 months. The doctors told us that his chances were not good.I want to tell you that my father survived, he eventually woke up and was taken off the ventilator however he subsequently was given malaria infected blood during a necessary blood transfusion and he was readmitted to the ICU. This started another process of fighting for survival, eventually he was sent to another hospital that specializes in infections diseases and they are were able to treat his malaria with strong anti virals. Altogether he required a lot of therapy , dialysis, hospital visits with different specialists to rehabilitate and although fragile he is alive and well today. I'm not sure if I ever had the chance to update you on his condition and I apologize if I did not, it was really a hectic ordeal and I got lost in the thick of things. My family and I want to give you our most sincere gratitude and appreciation for providing the support you did throughout what was one of the most critical periods of all our lives. The guidance you were able to provide and also stepping in to talk with the doctors was incredibly supportive and immeasurable. We cannot thank you enough for everything. We are all grateful for what you do and it is a blessing that we were able to find you. I wish you always the best of health and happiness, you deserve it all.

Tony

Thank you for your incredibly valuable information, assistance and advice. My partner just came out of the ICU to a ward bed.He had an accident at home a few weeks ago which left him with a fractured pelvis in 4 places, 4 broken ribs and a few fractured vertebrae. He then developed a DVT and subsequently, several small but life threatening pulmonary embolisms.Your videos helped me understand how ICU works and what decisions they may ask of us to make.Fortunately, we didn't have to make any of those decisions. Although, knowing that there is advocacy for ICU patients, makes the process much less stressful and less lonely.Thank you!

@devonrex4959

Hi team! Hope you are all well. Dad is doing as good as possible right now. This past weekend made one month since he's been home! We've changed his diet & meds back to whole foods & natural supplements. Thankfully we have had no issues with the peg tube so far. He's even started to eat & drink very small amounts of fruit & water when he feels up to it. He's currently receiving physical, chiropractic, & hyperbaric oxygen therapies. His mental status has improved slightly. We understand from all that are working with him that this will be a slow recovery. But there is hope. My family & myself cannot thank each of you enough for all the knowledge, guidance, & time, you all gave us during the fight of & for his life. We are forever grateful. As always, thank you so very much! Talk to you soon.

-Meli

Hello Patrik and Team,Thank you so much for all that you've done to help my brother and my family! I'm thrilled to report that Steve went home today. He's eating on his own and walking with the help of a walker. His recovery has been almost miraculous. Your organization was a huge part of that. We cannot thank you enough. His wife has taken leave from work to be with him full time. Since he's no longer in critical care we would like to cancel our membership. Hopefully we won't find ourselves in a similar situation in the future, but God forbid, if we do…..we know that you guys are there. God bless each and every one of you for the amazing work you're doing!

-Lisa

Dear Patrik,

First I want to thank you for being a vessel of light in a very dark cold place for my mom and my family. I sincerely believe that some divine intervention led me to find your channel on YouTube and when I felt like throwing in the towel you kept encouraging me to stand up and advocate for my mom. You don't know how grateful I am for your knowledge, wisdom, and expertise in our time of need. You have been an instrumental voice for the voiceless, and hope for the hopeless. Your discretion in this matter, all the resources you have sent me, including all the follow up emails and voice messages, showed me that you are reliable, responsive, informative, and a person of great character and integrity. On behalf of my family and myself I thank you for being that vessel of justice for the people.

-Tisha

This is very long overdue, but I just wanted to take a quick minute to say thank you. The information and advice you gave me literally helped me to save my husband's life when he nearly died from covid while in a medically induced coma in ICU.I owe you more thanks than I could possibly put into words, but I thought the least I could do is just take a minute and let you know how much you really make a difference in people's lives you're truly an angel. Thank you.

Lara Westphal

I just want to thank Patrik and his amazing team for all the support and help that has been offered to my family and I.I truly have no idea what we would do without you all. Finding this intensive care hotline has been such a blessing for us. Since my grandmother being admitted into the hospital 6 weeks ago, I have learned so much. You have given me the strength to continue fighting and standing my ground to be the best advocate for my grandma. This is such a safe place for so many families, & I am so happy to know there are genuinely good people out there trying to help .We are so grateful for you all.

Melina

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