My mom's dad is apparently Very Very Sick. Been in hospital almost two weeks now with sepsis. His lungs are 2/3 full of mucus that won't drain in its own, so they have to drain it. He can't breathe without severe pain, so he's been on a ventilator for the last week. He's also on a feeding tube (because well, tube down his throat to help him breathe and all). His kidneys have decided to quit working so they're starting dialysis tomorrow. Doctor says the kidneys should regain function once the infection is cleared up.
Prognosis looks good. If he can get off the ventilator by Friday, then he only has to be in the ICU till then. If not, they have to do a tracheotomy, because you can only go so long with a breathing tube. They will move him to a regular room after he's completely off the ventilator (another week or so, they expect, depending on whether or not they have to do that tracheotomy), and then he has another probably three or so weeks in the hospital till the infection is completely gone; he'll be doing pulmonary rehab during that time too. So another month inpatient, and then a month or two at home of rest, PT, and pulmonary rehab with a home health nurse. SHOULD be back to normal (well, what can be considered normal for a 71-year-old man, anyway) by Christmas, but knowing Grandpa as we do, he'll stop resting as soon as he starts to feel better and set himself back. So realistically, probably February before he's completely back to normal.
Thoughts, prayers, good vibes, etc are greatly appreciated, for Grandpa and the doctors, nurses, therapists, and home-health professionals who will have to deal with him. (Grandpa is a very difficult patient who tends to fire his doctors and offend his nurses...)
