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June 2015 Moms
scottstots
member
Visit my dad in the ICU?
scottstots
member
Hey guys, I know this decision is ultimately mine but could use some support.
I live out of state from my parents and on Friday my dad went to the ER. He had been sick for a whole week with a fever and aches and had been told at the doctor on Tuesday to just get rest, food, and fluids. He tested negative for the flu, but they assumed that's what it was. Friday he was acting confused so my mom brought him to the hospital.
He has pneumonia in both lungs and was put on IVs for fluids and antibiotics. He was doing better Friday night and yesterday morning. Yesterday afternoon my mom called and said he was much worse and was confused again. Even with all the drugs, the fever was back up. They were worried about sepsis, his breathing, and his heart since he has had several heart attacks since age 37. They told her that me and my brother should fly down and prepare for the worst. Then they said it could wait until today when we saw how he was doing in the ICU overnight. He is only 54.
We have flights booked and have 2.5 hours left to cancel them for full refunds. He has been doing MUCH better last night and this morning, but I'm worried about what this afternoon will bring after the last 2 days of him being worse in the late afternoons.
However, I'm also worried about going into the ICU to visit and catching something. I have asthma so anything I caught could have even worse effects. I've had the flu shot, but so had my dad. My sister and her husband live in the same neighborhood as my parents, so my mom does have a support system there.
Not that it's as important as family, but I am also swamped at work and worried about missing time. I'm a graphic designer and only have desktop computers at work and home so I can't really work if I fly out.
Just trying to decide if the risks of going outweigh the risks of not going and it getting bad again. Trying not to stress.
I live out of state from my parents and on Friday my dad went to the ER. He had been sick for a whole week with a fever and aches and had been told at the doctor on Tuesday to just get rest, food, and fluids. He tested negative for the flu, but they assumed that's what it was. Friday he was acting confused so my mom brought him to the hospital.
He has pneumonia in both lungs and was put on IVs for fluids and antibiotics. He was doing better Friday night and yesterday morning. Yesterday afternoon my mom called and said he was much worse and was confused again. Even with all the drugs, the fever was back up. They were worried about sepsis, his breathing, and his heart since he has had several heart attacks since age 37. They told her that me and my brother should fly down and prepare for the worst. Then they said it could wait until today when we saw how he was doing in the ICU overnight. He is only 54.
We have flights booked and have 2.5 hours left to cancel them for full refunds. He has been doing MUCH better last night and this morning, but I'm worried about what this afternoon will bring after the last 2 days of him being worse in the late afternoons.
However, I'm also worried about going into the ICU to visit and catching something. I have asthma so anything I caught could have even worse effects. I've had the flu shot, but so had my dad. My sister and her husband live in the same neighborhood as my parents, so my mom does have a support system there.
Not that it's as important as family, but I am also swamped at work and worried about missing time. I'm a graphic designer and only have desktop computers at work and home so I can't really work if I fly out.
Just trying to decide if the risks of going outweigh the risks of not going and it getting bad again. Trying not to stress.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Visit my dad in the ICU?
Hopefully he will continue to improve but If something happened and you didn't get a chance to see him I imagine you would feel terrible. I would not be worried about catching something. In the ICU, just be cautious and wash your hands a lot. Work will still be there when you get back!
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2nd round exp 8/20/18.
If my dad were here I would have no hesitation visiting, but we all kind of decided that it would be better for me to not be flying during flu season and visiting a pneumonia patient when I have asthma. His doctors and nurses reassured my mom that they think he is on the mend and that I should stay home.
It's a really hard decision when you're the one that has to make it, but I'm comfortable with my choice even if most of you would have chosen differently. I still appreciate the insight and the ICU knowledge.
Once again I'm booked on a 1:00 flight to go down there with my brother and will most likely just go this time. I don't regret my decision to wait a day but I do feel good about going now. I was able to get a laptop I can pick up from work although my give a shit factor is much lower since I've just been trying not to stress and stress out my baby all day. It has been really hard. Thanks for all the kind words.