Making a decision on weather or not to pull ventilator tube on my boyfriend.?!
Question: Making a decision on weather or not to pull ventilator tube on my boyfriend!.!?
He's had a heart attack and has been unconscious for six days!. He's off of the blood pressure med!. and is breathing 22-39 breaths on his own and 12 by the machine!. His family and I are going to pull him off of it tomorrow!. But I think its to soon to tell!. His quality of life balances on him!. He's responding to me and I know that because last night I fed him some of my chocolate shake through a straw!. The tube down his throat has to be irritating him, so I figure the shake would feel good!. Is this a good sign!? Can I change my mind if they pull the tube and he cant do it on his own,and have him hooked back up to it!? The family is leaving the decision up to me!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
wow!. i trained in end of life decision making, and am a registered respiratory therapist with over 30 years of experience!. i just spent 45 mins answering you!. my computer locked up and i lost everything!. if you really want some decisive answers and some knowledge concerning your queston send me an email (gmillioni@yahoo!.com) i will then send you my phone number and consult with you on this issue!. really there are some things that need clarified before anything can be decided!. geraldWww@Answer-Health@Com
Wow this is tough! This decision should involve his family and not just you!. If his brain shows no activity, then see if the doctor has declared him brain dead!. If so, let him go in peace!. Yes, his quality of life means alot!. I am sure you do not want him to live like a vegetable with being hooked up to all kinds of machines to keep him alive with no hope of recovery!. Good Luck and I am sorry to hear about your boyfriend!. Www@Answer-Health@Com
if he is responding, it would definitely be a good idea to leave him on it for at least another week!. my uncle, was on everything for about a week and they thought he was going to be a "vegetable" and never wake up but we decided to leave him on it for a while and then he started responding and finally one by one they were able to pull him off the machines, especially if your boyfriend is already responding, you should leave him on it for a little while longer, who knows what could happen!
~i wish you the bestWww@Answer-Health@Com
~i wish you the bestWww@Answer-Health@Com
oh sweetie, it's way too soon to pull that breathing machine!. My mom was on one in a coma for 39 days and she woke up one day breathing on her own!. She remembers that i used to whisper in her ear to not be afraid so he definately hears you and knows u are there!. Best of luck and God bless all of youWww@Answer-Health@Com
If you are in the US, and he is breathing on his own with the ventilator I do not think you can pull it!. Unless he is brain dead or he has a health care proxy, I think he has to stay on the vent!. The doctors and respiratory therapist should do vent weaning protocols!. Www@Answer-Health@Com
Put the decision in God's hands!. Pray that if God wants him to live then help him to breath on his own without he vent otherwise it was not ment to be!. I know I would hate to make any such decision so I pray that God blesses and guides you to what is best in your situation!. My prayers go with you!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
DO NOT give a patient with a tracheostomy tube or an endotracheal tube anything by mouth!!! The risk of aspiration (the material going into the lungs) and pneumonia is particularly high with trached or intubated patients, and is even worse with a patient who is only minimally responsive!.
His family isn't being fair to you!. They need to pony up and make a group decision with you!. This is a life or death scenario, and someone will bear the brunt of the doubt about the decision if he should die-- don't make it so it's only on you!.
Most pulmonologists prefer to do a tracheostomy on a patient after 6 days if there is still brain activity in order to reduce the risk of damage to the airways!.
Talk to the doctors!. You can do this by being in the ICU when they make rounds between 6 am and 730 am!. Find out how realistic it is for him to survive and become functional again!. Then talk it over with the hospital chaplain with your boyfriend's family present!. This is probably the most difficult decision you will ever have to make, and you really shouldn't make it until you have all the info you need to make a good decision that all of you will be able to live with!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
His family isn't being fair to you!. They need to pony up and make a group decision with you!. This is a life or death scenario, and someone will bear the brunt of the doubt about the decision if he should die-- don't make it so it's only on you!.
Most pulmonologists prefer to do a tracheostomy on a patient after 6 days if there is still brain activity in order to reduce the risk of damage to the airways!.
Talk to the doctors!. You can do this by being in the ICU when they make rounds between 6 am and 730 am!. Find out how realistic it is for him to survive and become functional again!. Then talk it over with the hospital chaplain with your boyfriend's family present!. This is probably the most difficult decision you will ever have to make, and you really shouldn't make it until you have all the info you need to make a good decision that all of you will be able to live with!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
If it were me, I'd want at least three weeks of a chance and then I would want to be let go!.
I would never wish to spend several months or years in that condition!. Maybe two months TOPS!. Three weeks is long enough for my loved one not to feel any guilt for the decision since we all are going to die someday anyway!. Also, finances surely play a role in these decisions which is a case by case basis!.
I hope this perspective helps!. I am also saddened for you, your boyfriend, and those who love you!. Losing someone is never easy!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I would never wish to spend several months or years in that condition!. Maybe two months TOPS!. Three weeks is long enough for my loved one not to feel any guilt for the decision since we all are going to die someday anyway!. Also, finances surely play a role in these decisions which is a case by case basis!.
I hope this perspective helps!. I am also saddened for you, your boyfriend, and those who love you!. Losing someone is never easy!.Www@Answer-Health@Com