From bad to worse

djhicks · June 6

It has been a challenge navigating my DW dementia, AFib, and related health issues. Recently, I have been looking into the possibility of moving her to MC. She doesn't like doctors and wasn't feeling well for a week or so. Finally, I was able to convince her to go to see a doctor. So, Sunday night before Memorial Day, we went to the ER. Her heart was racing, 170 bpm. They moved her to the ICU and managed to get the rate down, but her BP was low. They got her stable around 6:30 AM and she nodded off so I went home to rest myself. I woke up around 12:00 PM and received a call from the doctor informing me that she had gone into cardiac arrest and had to be revived. When we got back to the hospital, she was sedated and intubated. They airlifted her to a local heart hospital where they put her on ECMO to give her heart a rest. It's been a little over a week now. She's off the ECMO but still has a ventilator to help her breath. She started showing signs of responsiveness after they removed the sedatives, but only small signs. This has been a very hard couple of weeks and we now have an even longer road ahead.

SDianeL · June 6

so sorry you are going through this. You have difficult decisions to make. Know that we are thinking and praying for you both

M1 · June 6

so so sorry to hear this. Her prognosis is grim I’m sure. I hope there is a palliative care team there who can help you, particularly if you are looking at withdrawing advanced life support. Does she have a living will or did she ever discuss this with you? Please let us know how it goes.

midge333 · June 6

I am so sorry this happened to your DW. Did she have an advanced directive? How advanced was her dementia prior to the cardiac arrest? How long has she been off sedatives and narcotics? It sounds like she may have had an hypoxic-ischemic injury to her brain from the cardiac arrest. Has the medical team discussed withdrawing life support?

djhicks · June 6

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/211913#Comment_211913

Thanks. No living will. Never discussed anything definatively.

djhicks · June 6

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/211914#Comment_211914

She was diagnosed with VD. She has significant memory imparement, but still ambulatory. Only off sedatives a couple of days, but had another procedure that required sedation. So, back to the starting line for that. Still waiting to see how she recovers from the sedative for a proper neurological assessment.

midge333 · June 6

Thanks for the update. I am sorry to say this but she is obviously at high risk for a bad neurological outcome.

Gig Harbor · June 7

I am sorry that you are in this spot. One thing that helped me reconcile what treatments I would choose is this: In this country patients can be offered a myriad of treatments and procedures. In a third world country they would be offered none. I chose to move to the side of the third world country when my husband lost consciousness during a heart attack and I asked the medics not to transport him to the ER. I knew the doctors would send him for a cardiac cath but saving him was not going to get him even back to where he had been at breakfast. I worked in an ER for 40 years and saw terminal, nonresponsive patients receive painful treatments and ultimately nothing helped. It was a hard decision to keep him at his memory care but he passed away in comfort 18 hours later. Only you know the right decision but when you think it has gone on long enough don’t be afraid to speak up. Hospice and a hospital chaplain can be a great help. Praying for you.

trottingalong · June 7

I don’t really have words, except to say I’m sorry you are going through this. I hope you are not alone and have a support system of some kind. I will be thinking of you.

ButterflyWings · June 7

(((@djhicks))) hugs

Joe C. · June 7

So sorry to read of all the health challenges your DW is facing, I will keep you both in my prayers.

ImMaggieMae · June 7

I can hardly imagine what you and she must be going through right now. Do you have someone with you, or can you reach out to someone who is there for support? You shouldn’t have to go through this alone. We are all here for you, but someone right there in person would be good.

From bad to worse

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