My Uncle is on a Ventilator
By Amber
@AmbiePam (120679)
United States
March 18, 2008 6:49pm CST
Hi guys. I mentioned this a while ago briefly in a discussion. I said my uncle had some kind of barre syndrome, but I wasn't sure of the name. Well, it's been a while and I know a lot more. I haven't mentioned anything because most people recover from this disease, which is Guillain Barr Syndrome (99% sure I spelled that first word correctly).
The past three days they have put him into a drug induced coma so he could hopefully get more oxygen and also get the rest he has so far been denied. He has been on the ventilator for at least a week. He has had a feeding tube, and so far only can orally have ice chips. This is the husband of my aunt Lana, and they are the sweetest people you can ever hope to meet. His concerns when he first lost the use of his legs were that he would no longer be able to work for the Post Office. He kept insisting all he needed was a Diet Coke and his running shoes. He has kept his sense of humor, and my aunt has kept her optimism.
The CDC is now involved because he has developed an infection no one can identify. An infection (not related to an injury) is nothing new, studies show they are quite common, and almost all are from care givers not washing their hands often enough. With so many people to see, I'm sure they forget. I've just read an insightful book about that by a surgeon, but I'll leave that be. : ) Anyway, this infection is of course just making it worse. I ask that you would pray for him and his family. If any of you are familiar with this disease or anyone you know has had an infection not easily identified, I'd like to hear what you have to say if you wish to tell me.
Thanks!
8 people like this
14 responses
@Darkwing (21583)
•
19 Mar 08
I know nothing of this disease, but I sure hope your uncle gets better soon. I'm sorry to hear he has an infection which is making it worse, and I will most definitely pray for him and his family, that he makes a speedy recovery and is able to get back to his job at the post office.
Brightest Blessings, my friend.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
19 Mar 08
Oh my goodness of course I'll pray for your uncle. Even though so far no one has been able to identify what infection you uncle has now, are they giving him broad-spectrum anti-biotics in the meantime? ((hugs))
Infections though don't necessarily comes from caregivers who may not have sanitized their hands...how about with the medical equipment itself??? Could their have been some kind of bacterial/viral "thing" with the ventilator itself??
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (120679)
• United States
19 Mar 08
I should have clarified as another poster seemed to take offense. What I said about the not washing of the hands, I should have said sanitary practices, but that seems so broad. That would have been more fair to say however. It could be from an instrument not being completely sterile, but it is usually through some kind of human error. He had the infection before the ventilator was on, and I know he was on antibiotics before the ventilator. There is so much involved I wish I could remember everything. But what I did get, I wanted to be clear on because it is already quite confusing already.
I can't imagine having to take care of so many people and so many instruments. It's inevitable for someone to come down with something that they themselves did not come in with, and truly disease does not care who it infects, does it. You should be a doctor though. I'd trust you with my life. Think Pyewacket could put you through medical school? : )
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
19 Mar 08
Yes one of the greatest sources of infections actually have come from not proper sterilization of medical instruments as well...and for the poster who said that she never heard of infections spreading from staff/docs/nurses not probably washing hands...not true...that is how that Killer Cold MRSA started...the origins of that infection came from hospitals and nursing homes..
During the Civil War period soldiers didn't die so much from their wounds but by infections from unsterilized instruments (bit of historical trivia there)
Mmmm....maybe I could be both...study medicine AND law...I know enough about how to cut through red tape now don't I? Hehehee
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (120679)
• United States
19 Mar 08
Yes, you do!
Do you remember the book I told you about written by a surgeon? I just reading his second book and I feel having read both, my eyes are much wider opened. I'm amazed he is so open about the medical profession since he is so fully entrenched in it.
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
19 Mar 08
Wow!! Oh my goodness. I will be Praying for this need. We need to Pray for gods hands to guide the Surgeons and everyone involved in his care to be able to help Heal this infection and restore his life back to a better one. As one who is Diabetic, and had a lot of infections, and issues in my life, I know how serious things with this can be. Just keep strong for your Uncle, and know God is in control no matter what happens.
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
19 Mar 08
Hi Amber,
I will certainly pray for both of them. If you say they are wonderful people, they are. I do not know anything about that disorder. However, I have worked in a hospital, and I can tell you that people do not always use gloves or wash their hands. Worse yet some have very long fingernails. There is no room for lack of sanitary skills in a hospital or anywhere else for that matter. No excuses. If the world had OCD, we would live in a cleaner planet.
2 people like this
@terri0824 (5203)
• United States
19 Mar 08
Dear Heavenly Father we lift ambiepam's uncle up to you for a complete healing. You say where 2 or more are gathered you will hear our prayers and they will be answered. You also said, that by your stripes we are healed, so we are believing in a healing from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. You will receive all the praise and glory for this healing and we thank you in advance for what you have done and what you are going to do in Jesus Christ Precious Name. Amen!
2 people like this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
19 Mar 08
I recently read a lot on the internet about that staph infection that so many are gettin after being in the hospital for awhile and there was one docto who told about a hydrogen peroxide therapy that was really cleaning up the staph. Perhaps you could ask your doctor or surgeon about this hydrogen peroxide treatment seems they take it orally by so many drops but I do not remember the web site I was on. it was a medical web site. One of your doctors might well know what I am talking about and meantime I will search for this on the internet and let you know. also I will pray for him and his family. when I worked as a nurses aid I took care of several men who had guillain barre sydrome caused by taking aspirin. some did finally recover but were in the hospital for ages and were paralyzed too. ambie pam I will let you know if and when I find that web site.
@AmbiePam (120679)
• United States
19 Mar 08
Thank you Hatley, I greatly appreciate this. Last year my other uncle had a quadruple bypass. He was recovering nicely until he got a staph infection. That almost killed him. It took him months to get over the consequences of the infection, not the surgery.
@GardenGerty (169450)
• United States
19 Mar 08
I have a friend who was stricken with Guillain Barre Syndrome, and recovered. I hope that gives you hope. The infection is more worriesome to me, as it could be MRSA, or VRE, or gangrene, to name a few. More and more extra care needs to be taken in clinical settings not to spread disease. I like to stay away from doctor's offices and hospitals because that is where the sick people are.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (120679)
• United States
19 Mar 08
Thank you GardenGerty. It is good to hear of someone's recovery. And you are right, the infection is what is very alarming. I can't believe the attention MRSA is getting now days. It's like one day no one knew what is was, and now it is the fastest growing reported infection.
@coffeeshot (3783)
• Australia
19 Mar 08
My thoughts are with you. It sounds terrible but it's great that he's still got his sense of humour. That could very wel be the thing that pulls him through all of this! Stay strong.
@theprogamer (10532)
• United States
19 Mar 08
GBS has multiple possibilities, so more information may be needed. Other than this, I'm not sure if the usual treatment for GBS (antibody addition/infusion) will help the compounded. Unless otherwise told I'll have to assume that its already being done and some other infection has occured. About the recovery time for GBS, I thought it was few or several months time, depending on severity and what phase of treatment we are at.
You know you have my thoughts and prayers Ambie. Despite what is going on, I think there is a chance your Uncle will recover (unless you have to tell me more about this).
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (120679)
• United States
20 Mar 08
We found out today it might not be GBS after all. Even though the infection had nothing to do with the GBS, they always thought his symptoms were on the severe side of GBS in the first place. According to everything known, he should have been getting better even before the infection. So right now they are not sure of anything. They don't want to say he doesn't have GBS, but they can't say for sure now that he does. But the poor guy is wasting away. He has a large family so they send pictures of him to all of us. He could only lift one finger in acknowledgment of the camera.
@theprogamer (10532)
• United States
20 Mar 08
...Understood.
I can't say much else on it for now.
You know you still have me though Ambie. Thoughts and prayers to you and your Uncle.
1 person likes this
@quiltedblessings (1066)
• United States
19 Mar 08
Oh dear, your uncle and your family is in my thoughts.
1 person likes this
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
19 Mar 08
Well, I hope your uncle will get well soon. There are different strains of diseases coming on in this century. I hope they will be able to find out the cause of infection so that they can find a cure. Just tell your uncle to be strong. Our body tends to fight infection,so tell him to be strong. Give him not only your physical support but your words of encouragement as well as affection.
1 person likes this
