SS: Family member in the ICU

[ufcrusher]

On Thanksgiving my step-brother, who has epilepsy, was seizing all throughout the day and night. However, his seizures were not his typical type and displayed a new pathology which worried us all. Unfortunately we could not get in touch with his doctors, the hospital, or any other medical professional who would be able to help. Given this fact it was decided that he would be brought down first thing in the morning to the hospital to be seen.

The next morning he was even worse than the previous day and basically had to be helped into his clothes, shoes, down the stairs and into the car. Thinking that it was just an issue with his new medication, everyone else went out for Black Friday as usual. While we were shopping, he ended up in the ER at the behest of the neurology department. He was continually seizing and they were some of the worst seizures ever. He was admitted to the hospital and given a private room. Approximately 24 hours after being admitted he began displaying abnormal heart beats and was admitted to the ICU.

After being in the ICU for a few hours he had a cardiac incident and coded, requiring him to be defibulated. To make a long story shorter, he subsequently coded two other times since then and is listed in critical condition. He has asked if he was dead and talked about the fact that he was walking through the shadow of death. The doctors have no idea what the cause is and are only able to barely control the problem.

Obviously, my family is very worried about him right now. I just pray that he gets better and doesnt have any more incidents.

[Jenny]

:( Your brother and your family are in my thoughts & prayers. I hope the doctors can help soon! :(

[Kim]

I'll be praying for him, please keep us updated.

[oblongmelon]

Has he had a change of medications lately? Extreme Stress? High blood pressure? I hope he comes around with flying colors. Strange-but it almost sounded like he was throwing off some clots somewhere. Any known Aneurysms that you know about?

[ufcrusher]

My step brother turns 22 today.....and he probably doesnt even know its his birthday. What a lovely place to be on your birthday.

Under doctors supervision they were trying a new medication. No high blood pressure, anuerysms, extreme stress or any other possible known factor. The med did not have this as a possible side effect and no known causes have been uncovered.

At this moment they believe they have discovered a similar instance that took place with a patient at the Mayo clinic...but the drugs are different although the symptoms are similar.

[nickel]

yeh, he's probably on one of those FDA approved drugs that they will recall after all these horrid side effects surface.

sorry to sound so pessimistic, but i may not be far off.

[ufcrusher]

After dropping my father in law off at the airport, I went to see him at the hospital today. The crash cart had been removed from the room, he was off the O2, and his meds were slowly being lowered while watching for the abnormal heart beats. He was MUCH more awake, although still drifting in and out, and not slurring his speech as much.

He just about broke my heart when he started saying all that he wanted to do was go home and crying. We had to explain that he was extremely lucky that he wasnt home otherwise we have lost him. (He nearly had been sent home on the first day) When he heard this and the fact that he had coded 3 times he just started crying uncontrollably. I dont think the reality has even fully sunk in yet, but he is slowly coming to terms with the situation.

At least he is beginning to recover. The doctors seem to think this is going to take a while and are taking a one step at a time approach as they dont know if and when he may have another episode.

[whitak24]

hope he continues to get better. my thoughts are with you.

[Emqtee]

Glad to hear your step brother is doing better. It really sucks to have family in the hospital. I just found out from my mom that my grandma was transferred to the ICU last night. Hope everything goes well with the both of them

[ufcrusher]

Update: Sorry for the period without updating this...but life gets in the way. :)

My step brother was released from the hosptial yesterday and is at home recouperating. Still not himself, suffering headaches and blurry vision, but no longer in danger so that is all that matters.

To fill in the back information, he was switched from the ICU to the regular hospital on Thursday, Dec 2. He has not coded since the last time and the arythmia has all but gone away. While he was in the regular hospital room, they were slowly weening him off of all but 2 of the medications.....1 which will be phased off of in a month, as that is the time it will take the other to build up to theraputic levels.

The doctors are still puzzled about the genesis of the condition but are holding steadfast to the idea that it was a result of one of the medications given to him in the ER. They believe that the symptoms which led to him coming to the ER were the result of my step-brother having a bad reaction to a new drug, which caused him to becoming mentally cloudy. This led to him not taking his medication, drinking, or eating as he was supposed to which further excacerbated the situation. They have no idea why his seizures changed pathology but they have returned almost to their normal presentation again.

All in all, everything is back to the norm. Pheww!

[AWM]

Really damn glad he seems to be doing better! I sincerly hope you and your family cherish this holiday Season together!

[Kim]

I'm glad he is doing better!