Update: Just before 3 AM the hospital called. Mom’s Oxygen levels are sinking again. I was advised to head to the hospital.
Things are not looking good.
The Doctors advised me this afternoon that Mom likely has only a couple of days left.
Miracles happen and there is always hope.
They are treating her with steroids for the covid and anti-psychotics for the delirium she has experienced.
Steroids raise blood sugar so she is also receiving insulin.
This is on top of her heart medications, Mom suffers CHF.
Mom was resting comfortably this afternoon when I visited though she was unresponsive due to the meds. She’s currently on 15 litres of oxygen.
She was holding steady when I left this afternoon.
Then I received a call from the hospital shortly before midnight.
Mom’s oxygen levels had dropped to the mid to low 80’s. At this level over a relatively short period of time organ failure and brain damage occurs I was told.
I was given a choice – allow non-invasive procedures, primarily re-positioning & suctioning, or intubation i.e. a ventilator, an invasive procedure.
Mom’s lungs are overrun with covid. While intubation is the best means of delivering oxygen there is no guarantee that enough will be supplied given the state of the inflammation in her lungs to raise her levels to an acceptable degree.
Further mom’s heart may not be able to take the strain of intubation. There exists a real possibility based on the doctor’s experience of heart attack or stroke given mom’s condition and age.
It’s not the type of phone call anyone wants to receive. I leaned initially to intubation as the surest way to deliver oxygen but when advised the risk of weaning someone from the apparatus is as great as the intubation insertion itself I backed off and went for repositioning.
The Doctor reminded me to think of what Mum would want given she has a DNR. The risk of being left in a vegetative state is the reason why she elected to have a DNR in place.
Repositioning is just that, move her around and see if the lungs work better and the oxygen intake improves.
I was then advised to make my way to the hospital.
15 minutes later the doctor called. Their repositioning effort worked, Mom’s oxygen level has risen to the mid 90’s, not perfect but acceptable.
I still won’t sleep much tonight and will visit tomorrow.
Thank you all for caring.
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