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Please Help
Please can someone help. My husband is very ill in hospital. He is 56 years old, had a major heart attack 7 years ago but recovered and has lived a normal life until recently. A few weeks ago, he developed an abscess on his belly (there was a spot and he picked it). His GP (doctor) didn't do a swab so they didn't really treat him with the correct antibiotics. He is also a Type II diabetic, food controlled.
The abscess was starting to heal up, but earlier this week he started feeling ill. Both myself and my son have had heavy colds recently and he thought he was coming down with the cold too.
On Thursday we was really ill, said he felt "wobbly" and he was a bad colour. I took him to hospital (not impressed with his general practitioner doctor - we are in the UK by the way) as I thought he might have the start of sepsis.
At the hospital his blood pressure was dangerously low - 60/45 with a pulse rate of 96. He was admitted straight away. Later in the evening they started to get the preliminary blood test results back and yes, he did have the start of sepsis but ontop of that, they suspected he'd had a silent heart attack.
The results of the second blood test confirmed that he had had a heart attack.
His daughter is a nursing sister at the hospital and what I've learned from her has terrified me.
Seemingly, the first heart attack he had damaged 54% of his heart - yes, it was a big one.
This one they estimate has damaged another 17% - 20% of his heart.
On top of that he has cardiac edema and they are treating him for that - although they were worried that the drugs they are using would drop his already low blood pressure (at the time 95/60 - they wanted it to be over 100 and steady) they decided to go for a calculated risk and give him the medication as his breathing even on oxygen is laboured.
As far as I can gather they may perform an angiogram on Monday and perhaps also an Angioplasty although his daughter let slip that they might be going for a bypass.
So far I have not spoken to his consultant as every time I go in, there seems to be some other family member there. Tonight his 90 year old father came in and much as I like the man, he was a pest - I was unable to even talk to my husband and eventually hubby told me to take his father home.
I am really scared for my husband and need to know if there is anyone on this forum who has been in a similar situation and survived or knows anyone who's survived and what the treatment was. Also what quality of life after the treatment.
Sorry to be so long-winded but really hope someone can at least give me some encouragement that all is not lost.
The abscess was starting to heal up, but earlier this week he started feeling ill. Both myself and my son have had heavy colds recently and he thought he was coming down with the cold too.
On Thursday we was really ill, said he felt "wobbly" and he was a bad colour. I took him to hospital (not impressed with his general practitioner doctor - we are in the UK by the way) as I thought he might have the start of sepsis.
At the hospital his blood pressure was dangerously low - 60/45 with a pulse rate of 96. He was admitted straight away. Later in the evening they started to get the preliminary blood test results back and yes, he did have the start of sepsis but ontop of that, they suspected he'd had a silent heart attack.
The results of the second blood test confirmed that he had had a heart attack.
His daughter is a nursing sister at the hospital and what I've learned from her has terrified me.
Seemingly, the first heart attack he had damaged 54% of his heart - yes, it was a big one.
This one they estimate has damaged another 17% - 20% of his heart.
On top of that he has cardiac edema and they are treating him for that - although they were worried that the drugs they are using would drop his already low blood pressure (at the time 95/60 - they wanted it to be over 100 and steady) they decided to go for a calculated risk and give him the medication as his breathing even on oxygen is laboured.
As far as I can gather they may perform an angiogram on Monday and perhaps also an Angioplasty although his daughter let slip that they might be going for a bypass.
So far I have not spoken to his consultant as every time I go in, there seems to be some other family member there. Tonight his 90 year old father came in and much as I like the man, he was a pest - I was unable to even talk to my husband and eventually hubby told me to take his father home.
I am really scared for my husband and need to know if there is anyone on this forum who has been in a similar situation and survived or knows anyone who's survived and what the treatment was. Also what quality of life after the treatment.
Sorry to be so long-winded but really hope someone can at least give me some encouragement that all is not lost.
Congratulations that everything go fine!!!!
Yes, it is amazing, if we do not take our medical decisions by ourselves, to die or to live will depend on how fortunate we are with the hospital or the doctor.
Jesus
Yes, it is amazing, if we do not take our medical decisions by ourselves, to die or to live will depend on how fortunate we are with the hospital or the doctor.
Jesus
Graham was fitted with a St Judes Merlin CRT-D this afternoon. It has 4 leads. They are very happy with the way the procedure went. Graham was wide awake the whole time as it was done under local anaesthetic.
They did not make his heart fibrillate to test the shock part of the device as his blood pressure was on the low side so they are going to do that in a month's time and fine-tune the device.
They are now working on getting rid of the fluid and also get Graham's thyroid levels back to a normal level. This will take longer but they are very confident that they can get Graham's health better than it's been in years.
We were also given the option of getting his aftercare at our local hospital or getting his aftercare here. We immediately said we want to stay under the Royal Brompton even though we know we will have to travel here.
Graham has already been up and walking round the ward (he is on a drip because they are trying to raise his blood pressure but also at the same time have increased the Frusemide to take off the excess fluid). He enjoyed his dinner and I think his face has a much more healthy colour to it. He said, even in the short time he's had the device, his breathing is so much easier.
Of course, he's very sore at the op site but is being given painkillers to combat that.
If all goes well, they expect to let him come home Tuesday or Wednesday next week.
Hard to believe one hospital wanted to send him home with a commode to die and the other has put him on the road to recovery and a return to a good qualilty of life.
We think the Royal Brompton is absolutely wonderful.
They did not make his heart fibrillate to test the shock part of the device as his blood pressure was on the low side so they are going to do that in a month's time and fine-tune the device.
They are now working on getting rid of the fluid and also get Graham's thyroid levels back to a normal level. This will take longer but they are very confident that they can get Graham's health better than it's been in years.
We were also given the option of getting his aftercare at our local hospital or getting his aftercare here. We immediately said we want to stay under the Royal Brompton even though we know we will have to travel here.
Graham has already been up and walking round the ward (he is on a drip because they are trying to raise his blood pressure but also at the same time have increased the Frusemide to take off the excess fluid). He enjoyed his dinner and I think his face has a much more healthy colour to it. He said, even in the short time he's had the device, his breathing is so much easier.
Of course, he's very sore at the op site but is being given painkillers to combat that.
If all goes well, they expect to let him come home Tuesday or Wednesday next week.
Hard to believe one hospital wanted to send him home with a commode to die and the other has put him on the road to recovery and a return to a good qualilty of life.
We think the Royal Brompton is absolutely wonderful.
Wonderful news! He should be on the upswing now. I am so happy for the two of you.
I know my ICD made a big difference in the way I feel, and I'm sure the same will be true for Graham.
I hope the best!!
I know my ICD made a big difference in the way I feel, and I'm sure the same will be true for Graham.
I hope the best!!
The Royal Brompton is FABULOUS. Staff are so friendly and caring.
Graham is being fitted with a CRT-D tomorrow all being well.
We were asked if he'd like his aftercare transferred back to our local hospital. We said no, we would rather stay here even though it means travelling to London.
They are confident here that they can get Graham well again. They are hoping to get him much fitter than he was before all this happened.
What a difference in the attitude of two hospitals. One wanted to send him home to die, the other wants to give him the best quality of life and best care they possibly can.
Graham is being fitted with a CRT-D tomorrow all being well.
We were asked if he'd like his aftercare transferred back to our local hospital. We said no, we would rather stay here even though it means travelling to London.
They are confident here that they can get Graham well again. They are hoping to get him much fitter than he was before all this happened.
What a difference in the attitude of two hospitals. One wanted to send him home to die, the other wants to give him the best quality of life and best care they possibly can.
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