Lisa O Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 My prayers are with your family Andrea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrea Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 Hi everyone, Still no answers. Her chest xray showed no improvement today. They expect her to be in ICU for a long time. My mom is on a bypap machine which is a huge oxygen mask. They were inches away from putting her on a ventilator today and tapping her lungs, but they gave her massive amounts of a drug called lasix which is a diuretic, inserted a catheter and basically she urinated out a lot of the fluid which helped her breathing numbers just enough to prevent a ventilator. The doctors are great. I decided to have them call her oncologist to update him and to our pleasant surprise, he is now overseeing everything and consulting with the ICU dr and the pulmonologist. The neuro people are done with her since the anyerusm is "cured". The intensivist (ICU doctor) told me his biggest concern is that we do not have a diagnosis and they do not know what is causing the fluids. Therefore, they can't tell me she will be ok b/c it is still a guessing game what is going on. Today they did noninvasive tests like a heart ultrasound. They had hoped to get a phlegm sample but she has not coughed up enough. So they may have to induce it which is pretty invasive. However they want her more stable for that. I have no idea what tomorrow will bring or what they will do. The chest xray will tell a lot. I got kicked out by my parents b/c I guess I look like I am about to fall over from exhaustion and nothing more is being done tonight. My dad is spending the night again. My uncle Sheldon is flying out tomorrow. And I will be back at the hospital at 6:30 am to stalk the doctors as we never know when they make the rounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbays Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 Oh Andrea, I'm so sorry. Sending prayers your way. Barb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patkid Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 How generous you are to keep us updated. Prayers continue. Love Pat and Bri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAnn Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 Andrea, I am so sorry to hear that your mom's condition hasn't improved. Sending prayers that it is an infection of some sort and not the beast coming back. Take care of yourself too. TAnn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chloesmom Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 Andrea, I hope they get to the bottom of your mom's troubles and get her back on her feet real soon. I know how worried you are about her..... Cindy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stand4hope Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 Hi Andrea, I'm really, really sorry to hear that your mom is going through this. My dad was on a by-pap machine also a couple of times and it helped him a lot. He also got lasix (sp?) frequently, and it helped, too. His diagnosis was COPD, but of course that's not the case with your mom, or they would know. COPD is a pretty easy diagnosis. I just hope they find out real soon what's causing this and get her well very soon. I will tell you that my experiences at the ICU where my dad was on two occasions were excellent. The first time was just a few days and the second time was several weeks, but he got better and got out of there. The nurses were so well qualified, very attentive, and very well trained. I wouldn't have wanted him to be anywhere else when he was that sick, so I'm glad they are keeping her there where she can be closely monitored. God's love and prayers to you and your family, Peggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debi Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 I feel like I have been under a rock..I just saw this post. Hope things take a turn for the better soon Andrea and they figure out what is going on with your mom. Try to get some sleep (easier said than done I know). My thoughts are with you and yours... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gail p-m Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 Appreciate the update-- I've been checking. In the meantime, prayers are continuing for your mom. Gail p-m Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nushka Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 I hope you got some sleep and that tomorrow brings better news. Your mom is in my prayers Andrea. Thinking of you and waiting for more news. Nina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindi o'h Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 Andrea, So sorry this is happening. I am hoping that the doctors will be successful soon in determining what is wrong with your Mom's breathing. prayers for your Mom and your family. Cindi o'h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerbil runner Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 Andrea, I hope you get answers soon. Maybe it's infection - my mom had an infection in the pleural lining at Christmas, and had to have a tube surgically inserted. She was so sick she almost died . All from a staph infection. FWIW, I doubt the cancer could make such a fast intrusion. And culturing an infection can take a couple of days. Still praying for you all. Get some rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginnyde Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 Oh Andrea sweetie, you know I am thinking about you and praying for your Mother. Glad your uncle is coming in, you can use the help and support. Keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sophiesdaughter Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 Andrea, I really hope that whatever your mother has, it can be taken care of. Prayers for you. Rana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gail Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 Just wanted to join in on the support train--thanks for the updates and know we are all with you. gail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haylee_38 Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 Andrea, Hope mom is doing better today. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Haylee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maryanne Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 Hi Andrea, Just want you to know that I am thinking of you and your mom today. I pray there is some kind of improvement. Prayers going out to her everyday. I hope you are holding up okay. So many prayers going out to her. Maryanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patkid Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 We are remain on prayer patrol, too. Love Pat and Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasey Posted May 15, 2005 Share Posted May 15, 2005 Andrea, I still have hold of that "good" feeling I had. Can't help but think this will be worked out OKAY and that it will soon. Of course, in the meantime, plenty of prayers cannot hurt either. Waiting anxiously to hear the latest update. Hope you are getting enough sleep to see you through this. With many warm thoughts of you and your Mother. Kasey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MilliBr1 Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Praying for your mom and your family! I know how hard it is, but I hope your taking your families advice and getting some rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrea Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 I am such a cheat cutting and pasting what I e-mailed out---Thanks to everyone here for the prayers!! Cut and paste below: Still in ICU. A bit more stable today breathing wise because they got rid of a lot of lung fluid so she was feeling better. We know she has to feel a bit better because she looked at me and said "I think you need to get your eyebrows professionally tweezed". All we know is that she has Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, known as ARDS. The next step is to figure out why. Still no clue what is causing the lung fluid and infiltrates. Still has not been allowed to get out of bed. A cardiologist was called in tonight because some emyznes are out of whack. I guess more tests tomorrow. I will return to the hospital early in the am. Thanks for prayers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheresaKB Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Hi Andrea, My Mom had ARDS after her open heart surgery. She was in ICU for more than 6 weeks. She was on the vent for almost 2 weeks and then on trachea the rest of her stay in ICU. Her lung just would not expand at that time and the doctors were baffled and could not find out why. After extensive respiratory therapy she was weaned out of the breathing machine. I think having her family around giving her lots of TLC and encouragement helped a lot. And of course prayers. Her insurance co. wanted her out of the ICU and into an Acute Care facility after 3 weeks in ICU. We refused and her doctors respected our wishes and fought the insurance co. to keep her in ICU. I am praying that your Mom recovers. I am praying for you too, that you have the strength to be your Mom's advocate. Theresa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay A. Posted May 16, 2005 Share Posted May 16, 2005 Andrea, Your Mom has been in my prayers each day. Hoping for a quick resolution to the ARDS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrea Posted May 17, 2005 Share Posted May 17, 2005 My mom is no longer "drowning in her own fluid", as she was over the weekend. Yes, you can drown if your lungs fill with fluid. A special team was about to get ready to put her on a ventilator on Sat and everything. She is out of ICU and in a regular room. Her chest xray is clearer, but still some fluid. This does not appear to be related to the cancer at all. We do not have any answers yet on what caused this, there are many possibilities. We also do not know if she will have any permanent damage. More tests were d one today and we should get results tomorrow. She still needs oxygen, they hoped she would be off it by now. She did get to use the bathroom on her own today finally. Today was also the first day she was allowed to get out of bed, her tushy was killing her from laying there. And once again tomorrow's chest xray should indicate a lot. Still not sure when she can come home. My dad has been sleeping at the hospital, he is holding up well, probably better than me b/c he does not ask as many direct questions out of her earshot like I do I am ok, just tired. I also have to see a breast surgeon on Thurs for a likely needle aspiration to make sure a nodule is ok. Thanks for all the e-mails and calls and prayers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gail p-m Posted May 17, 2005 Share Posted May 17, 2005 Glad to hear your mom is out of ICU and is feeling better. Prayers being sent that she continues to get better and has no permanent damage. Gail p-m Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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