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Question about life support

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lonesomeone

Greenlighter
Joined
Dec 25, 2015
Messages
3
My wife went into hosp. on Dec. 13th with pneumonia. She was transferred to CCU on the 15th because she started having a problem breathing without it being a real struggle. She has been there ever since.

She is 73 yrs old, diabetic, kidney failure, and high blood pressure, and is on Medicare. They have tried twice to wean her off of the breathing machine, but had to be put back on it (most recent time was yesterday, Dec. 24th).

There is no living will, dnr, or anything else of that sort. My question is: How long will the hosp continue to try to wean her off of the machine and then put her back on it, before it becomes an exercise in futility? (I hope that doesn't sound uncaring or "cold blooded". I'm simply trying to be clinical about this just so I can get this question "out there".)

I want more than anything for her get better and come home. I'm in uncharted waters here, and I'm simply trying to find out how this sort of thing progresses.
 
Hey lone sorry to read about this over holidays. Not sure where you at via state/country laws etc.. but without a legal directive, living will, etc I think the medical persons do everything and anything they can to preserve life, I have seen circumstances where they ask significant other what their partners wishes would be but legally it's a fine line let us know how things are going bono
 
Thnx for your post bono. I'm guilty of a small amount of cerebral flatulation---I forgot to mention my location. League City, Texas (about midway between Houston and Galveston Island). I retired from otr truckdriver in 2011 to stay home and be wife's fulltime caregiver. I'm guilty of that old, pathetic excuse---I/we just never got around to doing all those necessary legal things (dnr, living will, etc. etc.).

Thnx for your comments and good wishes.
Lonesome
 
Hey there, lonesomeone! This is actually my first post, having "lurked" the BL Forum for the better part of a year, now, and while I've been mulling over an introduction in the New Member Intros, I simply had to respond to your post as I am also an OTR truck driver (albeit a 29-yr-old female and a rookie), and I am a native-born Houstonian, no less!

I do not have any insight to offer your situation, as I am not knowledgeable of the relevant laws and have no relevant personal experience, so I hope you don't mind a friendly hello. You are in my prayers regardless, and I am sure a quick Google search into the state laws should shed some light on the responsibilities of the hospital and your possible options. Have you sat down with someone of authority, maybe an admin, at the hospital and pointedly asked them this question?

I'm sure it is a difficult time for you and an even tougher position to be in, and I would like to offer my condolences and support, nonetheless.

I have to say that Bluelight is an absolutely stellar community and resource for all manner of people and lifestyles and challenges. The admins work their asses off to keep this forum on-task for the purposes of harm reduction, self-empowerment, education, community support, and invaluable objectivity. I am endlessly fascinated by the wealth of information, a complimentary balance of clinical facts and personal experience, with a clear distinction between.

Even if you have a question that Bluelight cannot answer, you will never be without support, encouragement, and at least a point in the right direction.
 
Hi Greenlighter-just read your post and your wonderful thoughts. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And coming from a fellow-trucker and a Hustonian no less. How Cool!

I'm starting to try to figure out what the rest of my life is going to amount to. I had to take her off of life support and let her pass on New Year's Day. On top of the pneumonia, after Xmas day she developed a BAD intestinal bacterial infection which brought with it a high temp (103). Her weak body just didn't have enough strength to be able to fight it.

I'm sure that anybody that's ever had to do it to a loved one will (hopefully) agree. "Pulling the plug" on someone you are very close to is EXTREMELY hard. It was the hardest decision i have ever had to make in all my born days. But keeping her around only to spend the rest of her life in a nursing home hooked up to a breathing machine is not living---not in her case anyhow. Anyhow, her poor, frail system was so weakened that it only took her about 20 minutes to pass on after the machine was turned off.

Her days of being wheelchair bound, having to deal with dialysis every other day, being in pain every day, etc. are over. She's going through Angel orientation right now. (Do new angels spend time with a trainer like we new drivers have to do?) lol

Greenlighter,thanks you for your good thoughts. Be safe out there. As I used to always say...Look out for the Crazies! I drove for a little over 20 yrs before retiring in 2011.
 
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