Update on my mom in ICU

wendybill

Hi everyone. I wanted to give you all an update on my mom who has been in the ICU since her colostomy surgery on August 20th. She is trached and received her second weekly dose of Cisplatin on Tuesday. She has finally had a slow down in the chest tube drainage and they were able to do the pleurocedesis this week as well. The tubes may come out soon. Her feeds were not going well and she was throwing up. They moved the dobhoff into the intestine which is helping. I wondered if the chemo caused the vomiting. She has been burdened with infections and has very thick secretions in her lungs. She has not been successful on CPAP settings and has required the ventilator. The nurse told me she has tested positive for pseudomonas in her lungs. This worries me greatly. Although her sedation is minimal now, she remains unresponsive. The continued fevers, infection, chemo may all contribute. It continues to be awful and I'm still questioning the futility and suffering issues. I was waiting to visit until she "came to" but am not sure this is realistic. After my workplace was not supportive of what I needed at work to function, I resigned on Tuesday. Sadly, I worked for a hospice organization that should have responded better. Now I am free to head back to Buffalo and visit my mom and try to get information. The palliative care MD signed off the case due to our aggressive goals and I feel abandoned by the one professional that I could reach and talk to easily. I feel so sad for my mom. It is Desperate Housewives and Brothers and Sisters time and she needs to wake up and start watching. My father thinks her problems are largely due to the hospital. He wants to move her to a cancer hospital nearby. I think it is too late and he is bargaining. Im not even sure she would be accepted elsewhere. What do you all think? It would require a new medical team and oncologist. Thanks for the support and understanding. Wendy

lenjam

Thinking of you
I've been thinking about you and wishing you would post an update on what's going on.
Wish it was better news. That's terrible about your job not being more supportive of your situation. E-mail anytime.

lenjam

Thinking of you
I've been thinking about you and wishing you would post an update on what's going on.
Wish it was better news. That's terrible about your job not being more supportive of your situation. E-mail anytime.

lenjam

Thinking of you
I've been thinking about you and wishing you would post an update on what's going on.
Wish it was better news. That's terrible about your job not being more supportive of your situation. E-mail anytime.

lenjam

lenjam said:

Thinking of you
I've been thinking about you and wishing you would post an update on what's going on.
Wish it was better news. That's terrible about your job not being more supportive of your situation. E-mail anytime.

triple post?
I don't know how that happened??? SORRY!

kayandok

Dear Wendy,
thanks for updating on your mom. I can't comment about the hospital transfer question, as I live in Japan and don't totally understand the situation in the States. I am impressed that the current hospital seems to have been doing quite a number of things, although I'm sure it has been tough. I'm sure that once you are there in person, talking to the doctors, you will have a much better idea of what is going on. If you can take off your "daughter" hat and put on your "medical" hat, you will be able to have insight when you talk to the hospital staff. Easier said than done, right?

I am sorry that your workplace was not more supportive. On the other hand, it will free you up to focus on your mom and the situation at hand, looking at the positive side.

I have seen some pretty grim cases turn around, and there is always hope.
Praying for you today,
kathleen♡♡♡

Cafewoman53

Buffalo
Wendy I am so sorry to hear that your Mom is not doing well. I live in Buffalo and my daughter is a Rn at the local cancer hospital. They are excellent there but that being said I cannot think of a hospital in the area that would not also have great care. Maybe getting a second opinion from a Dr affiliated with the local cancer hospital as they might know of a new treatment that would be appropriate for your Mom.
I hope your Mom takes a turn for the better soon .
Colleen