pamwagg
Member
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2006
- Messages
- 28
- Reason
- Friend was DX
- Country
- US
- State
- CT
- City
- Wethersfield
Dear Everyone
I have been so busy, looking after my second best friend, who is elderly and very frail, as well as visiting Joe, I have not been able to come back here for a couple of weeks. Joe has been in the ICU now for a month, after getting aspiration pneumonia on July 4 (he'd had it at least a week before anyone recognized it). He got almost well from that in 2 and 1/2 weeks, with the assistance of a trach and vent, but was suddenly laid low with a second, bacterial pneumonia, a urinary tract infection, and a small blood clot in the lungs all due to simply being in the hospital so long. He had been "up" mood-wise the whole while he was sick the first time, but the second time he has been very down and discouraged. Worse, he is now having spells of trouble breathing even with the vent. They sedate him to tilt his bed upside down and put a "shaking vest" on him, both to loosen the secretions deep in his lungs, then deep suction him and bring out a lot...But it seems it always builds up again and more.
You have to understand that Joe is an eternal optimist and has never been depressed a day in his life, so for him to look down and discouraged is really serious. And he sees how serious the situation is: 4 weeks in the ICU and he is actually worse than ever, because even a vent doesn't help him breathe all the time. Can you tell me, is this how death commonly occurs with ALS? THat lungs secretions choke a person? I thought in ALS death was peaceful and easy, but this doesn't look it, if indeed death is near...Is it?
Oh god, I thought I'd be able to handle it but I've never lost anyone close to me, not even, at 54, my parents. And with schizophrenia I've always been taken care of, sheltered, shielded...No one can shield me from this. So, someone please tell me what is happening and what to expect, please? I'm sorry if I sound like a child, pleading like this, but I'm scared I won't know how to help Joe and I so much do not want him to die -- if he is dying -- scared.
Thanks,
Pam W
I have been so busy, looking after my second best friend, who is elderly and very frail, as well as visiting Joe, I have not been able to come back here for a couple of weeks. Joe has been in the ICU now for a month, after getting aspiration pneumonia on July 4 (he'd had it at least a week before anyone recognized it). He got almost well from that in 2 and 1/2 weeks, with the assistance of a trach and vent, but was suddenly laid low with a second, bacterial pneumonia, a urinary tract infection, and a small blood clot in the lungs all due to simply being in the hospital so long. He had been "up" mood-wise the whole while he was sick the first time, but the second time he has been very down and discouraged. Worse, he is now having spells of trouble breathing even with the vent. They sedate him to tilt his bed upside down and put a "shaking vest" on him, both to loosen the secretions deep in his lungs, then deep suction him and bring out a lot...But it seems it always builds up again and more.
You have to understand that Joe is an eternal optimist and has never been depressed a day in his life, so for him to look down and discouraged is really serious. And he sees how serious the situation is: 4 weeks in the ICU and he is actually worse than ever, because even a vent doesn't help him breathe all the time. Can you tell me, is this how death commonly occurs with ALS? THat lungs secretions choke a person? I thought in ALS death was peaceful and easy, but this doesn't look it, if indeed death is near...Is it?
Oh god, I thought I'd be able to handle it but I've never lost anyone close to me, not even, at 54, my parents. And with schizophrenia I've always been taken care of, sheltered, shielded...No one can shield me from this. So, someone please tell me what is happening and what to expect, please? I'm sorry if I sound like a child, pleading like this, but I'm scared I won't know how to help Joe and I so much do not want him to die -- if he is dying -- scared.
Thanks,
Pam W