Discussion
Father in law had a heart attack the other night. Nobody knows how long he'd been lying for but was found without a pulse and not breathing. Chest compressions were performed by the family until the ambulance arrived and he was whisked off to hospital and has been in intensive care ever since. His heart is beating again (not sure if it's thanks to a machine or not) `but he's on a ventilator etc.
Brain scan on the night didn't show much activity, doctors have suggested the bit of the brain at the top of the spine is still functioning which is why there is some movement of hands and mouth but it's not a conscious movement.
They were to do a scan today but cancelled it stating it would just show swelling. One of the family has been playing music right in his ear and thinks she's getting a reaction although the doctors have advised it's not what she thinks it is.
There's a likelihood the plug is getting pulled in the next 24 hours, is there any likelihood of any kind of meaningful recovery if they don't?
Brain scan on the night didn't show much activity, doctors have suggested the bit of the brain at the top of the spine is still functioning which is why there is some movement of hands and mouth but it's not a conscious movement.
They were to do a scan today but cancelled it stating it would just show swelling. One of the family has been playing music right in his ear and thinks she's getting a reaction although the doctors have advised it's not what she thinks it is.
There's a likelihood the plug is getting pulled in the next 24 hours, is there any likelihood of any kind of meaningful recovery if they don't?
Sorry. 
I realise it's very upsetting for the family but what would your FiL want? Any recovery would be limited likely leaving him disabled, needing care 24/7, assuming that's possible at all. I realise the family would do anything right now, but what quality of life is likely for him?
Majority of the family have accepted that his time is up, funeral directors have been contacted. No way he'd want to live as a vegetable.
The sister is looking for a miracle and it's going to make it harder if the mother has to make a decision about pulling the plug.
Is that a doctor's decision or family?
The sister is looking for a miracle and it's going to make it harder if the mother has to make a decision about pulling the plug.
Is that a doctor's decision or family?
No idea I'm afraid. I've worked in ITU but by this stage Physio input is irrelevant.
Ultimately the medics have to do what is best for the patient and I imagine the decision rests with them. You might find PALS useful helping the sister (your SiL?) come to terms with it or at least finding the right help.
Ultimately the medics have to do what is best for the patient and I imagine the decision rests with them. You might find PALS useful helping the sister (your SiL?) come to terms with it or at least finding the right help.
ooo000ooo said:
Majority of the family have accepted that his time is up, funeral directors have been contacted. No way he'd want to live as a vegetable.
The sister is looking for a miracle and it's going to make it harder if the mother has to make a decision about pulling the plug.
Is that a doctor's decision or family?
Bit of both I think but ultimately the families after advice, my mum is currently very ill in hospital taking a turn for the worse in the last couple of days, I was asked last night if she suffered a cardiac arrest would we want them to try to resusitate her or just let her go my mum has had enough to she will just be left :-(The sister is looking for a miracle and it's going to make it harder if the mother has to make a decision about pulling the plug.
Is that a doctor's decision or family?
All the best for a good outcome.
ooo000ooo said:
He's made into his 70s on a diet of Guinness and nicotine so he's had a good innings. Hopefully he'll be allowed to bow out gracefully.
Had similar with my mum back in 97. She went into hospital after a fall and broken hip. I traveled over to see her and we sat together and were joking about how bland the hospital food was.The next day she was in ICU, I never figured/found out what actually went wrong that night or if there was negligence. Rushed back over again, my sister traveled up from Somerset and we sat at her bed side with her barely conscious being kept alive buy a whole heap of 'machines that go ding'.
A miserable miserable situation.
It's a difficult decision to take and one that you have to consider carefully. We discussed the situation with the consultant, he offered the fact that she wouldn't recover and it was only the heart stimulating machine that was keeping her alive. (She wasn't on a ventilator.)
My sister and I made the decision to let them pull the plug. It just seemed like the only humane thing to do.
The staff were very good, and at the end both my sister and I were sat either side of the bed and we think mum knew we were both there with her.
What was crazy crazy crazy was my sister and I looking at each other across the bed and saying 'Has she gone yet?' and then laughing at our incompetence.
It's a hard call to make, and it's often even more difficult later on with the funeral.
I, on occasion remind Little Ex (who knows that story) that one day he is probably going to have to make a similar decision about me.
My own father died of a heart attack but he was dead straight away, talking to my sister and mother about it and we're glad he didn't have to live on with no quality of life.
I remember the day after he'd been released from hospital after his second heart attack, despite being told to take it easy, I was woken up by someone drilling. My mum had gone out to the shop and as soon as she was out the door he got the tools out. The look on his face when I took the drill off him and told him to wise up said everything. If I'd told my mum what he was doing she would have killed him!
I remember the day after he'd been released from hospital after his second heart attack, despite being told to take it easy, I was woken up by someone drilling. My mum had gone out to the shop and as soon as she was out the door he got the tools out. The look on his face when I took the drill off him and told him to wise up said everything. If I'd told my mum what he was doing she would have killed him!
mondeoman said:
Let him go.
This, especially as you say he wouldn't want to live as a vegetable.I've lost both parents and M-I-L and after being through it 3 times I have made it clear to my nearest and dearest that when my time comes, just let me go, as quickly and as in a dignified way as possible.
Don't let machines keep me alive, and if things reach a certain point, don't prolong it, it's not what I want thanks.
ooo000ooo said:
Been given another 24 hours. Consultant advised the top of his brain is dead, front has some activity as has the back. Heart is working at 20%. He's 5/15 on the neurological scale? And may eventually reach 10 if he survives.
I feel for you fella, what an awful time.What are the feelings amongst close friends and the family?
How are his relatives coping now?
Best
Ex
Tough situation.
Get the miracle seekers to either sit in front of the consultants for a frank chat about what care will be required, or get them on the phone to the consultants for a frank chat of what care will be required.
And make them ask the the question 'To what purpose?'.
From reading your posts I think I have an idea of the decisions you've made, what's your wife's thinking at the moment?
(Keep talking to us here - we're actually quite an approachable and objective lot here in the health forum).
Best
Ex
Get the miracle seekers to either sit in front of the consultants for a frank chat about what care will be required, or get them on the phone to the consultants for a frank chat of what care will be required.
And make them ask the the question 'To what purpose?'.
From reading your posts I think I have an idea of the decisions you've made, what's your wife's thinking at the moment?
(Keep talking to us here - we're actually quite an approachable and objective lot here in the health forum).
Best
Ex
TheExcession said:
Tough situation.
Get the miracle seekers to either sit in front of the consultants for a frank chat about what care will be required, or get them on the phone to the consultants for a frank chat of what care will be required.
And make them ask the the question 'To what purpose?'.
From reading your posts I think I have an idea of the decisions you've made, what's your wife's thinking at the moment?
(Keep talking to us here - we're actually quite an approachable and objective lot here in the health forum).
Best
Ex
The consultants (3) have said that whilst nothing is definite until/if he comes round, they expect he will be wheelchair bound, unable to feed himself or drink, unable to communicate and probably unable to comprehend what is going on. He'll need round the clock care so will probably end up in a home somewhere.Get the miracle seekers to either sit in front of the consultants for a frank chat about what care will be required, or get them on the phone to the consultants for a frank chat of what care will be required.
And make them ask the the question 'To what purpose?'.
From reading your posts I think I have an idea of the decisions you've made, what's your wife's thinking at the moment?
(Keep talking to us here - we're actually quite an approachable and objective lot here in the health forum).
Best
Ex
My wife is also of the opinion they'd be better letting him go.
Wife mentioned earlier that there is an issue with his blood as well, she didn't catch the exact details as the amateur medics have taken charge, but the gist of it is that his blood is too thick? Possibly something to do with a lack of white blood cells? She is a bit hazy about the exact details.
There is also some kind of "bug" in his bloodstream. Again no specifics.
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