Archie's been in PICU- worst experience ever...
Well Ladies I'm back from nightmare 2 weeks....
Archie was unwell at end of Nov so I took him to emergency Dr who said his chest was clear and it was just a cold. Next day he was still throwing up feeds and was distressed so I took him to my GP who sent him to hosp as a precaution but didn't seem really worried.
Within hours he deteriorated and needed putting on CPAP which is partial ventilation and they started talking about transferring him to a hosp with an ITU cot. He continued to worsen and I was advised to get my husband there as they put him on full life support. We couldn't believe what was happening and the staff were totally panicked as they couldn't stabilize him. Birmingham sent a retrieval team who swept in like ghostbusters with their packs, equipment, machines and incubator. Thank God they arrived when they did as he suffered a respiratory and cardiac arrest and needed resusitation. After we got to Birm he stayed on the life support for 5 days and had another arrest and lots of scary episodes where his heart rate and oxygen levels fell. The staff were fantastic though and we had total faith in them. Last weekend he came off the ventilator and we've just brought him home !!
They diagnosed pneumonia/ bronchiolitis and have tested for whooping cough. They also found he has a small right kidney, shrivelled left kidney and a hole in the heart (ASD).
So scary and totally wiped out physically and emotionally. We couldn't hold him for 5 days and while paralised on the ventilator he couldn't cry/ open his eyes/ feed. Tom was a little star staying with my in-laws and visiting when they could. So nice to get my family home together and am going to wrap them in cotton wool from now on!!!
Archie was unwell at end of Nov so I took him to emergency Dr who said his chest was clear and it was just a cold. Next day he was still throwing up feeds and was distressed so I took him to my GP who sent him to hosp as a precaution but didn't seem really worried.
Within hours he deteriorated and needed putting on CPAP which is partial ventilation and they started talking about transferring him to a hosp with an ITU cot. He continued to worsen and I was advised to get my husband there as they put him on full life support. We couldn't believe what was happening and the staff were totally panicked as they couldn't stabilize him. Birmingham sent a retrieval team who swept in like ghostbusters with their packs, equipment, machines and incubator. Thank God they arrived when they did as he suffered a respiratory and cardiac arrest and needed resusitation. After we got to Birm he stayed on the life support for 5 days and had another arrest and lots of scary episodes where his heart rate and oxygen levels fell. The staff were fantastic though and we had total faith in them. Last weekend he came off the ventilator and we've just brought him home !!
They diagnosed pneumonia/ bronchiolitis and have tested for whooping cough. They also found he has a small right kidney, shrivelled left kidney and a hole in the heart (ASD).
So scary and totally wiped out physically and emotionally. We couldn't hold him for 5 days and while paralised on the ventilator he couldn't cry/ open his eyes/ feed. Tom was a little star staying with my in-laws and visiting when they could. So nice to get my family home together and am going to wrap them in cotton wool from now on!!!
0
Replies
what are the doing about his kidnes and heart does he need an op or is it okay /?
love to you all
xx
I hope your looking forward to a nice family christmas now
lisa and louise
Am gald you're all home-will they need to do more for Archie (top name by the way, was the other name on our list but plumped for Alfie instead!) for kidneys etc?
Know we've never met but sending you all hugs.x
xx
can sypmathise with being on oxygen due to levels falling as Ollie needed it while he was in, but you must have been so scared with all that happening! It is such a relief to be able to bring them home isn't it.
sounds like a good GP there! Hopefully they can do something for his heart and kidneys and he'll get better.
Agree with the cotton wool! I let Ollie go to nursery and he picked up too many viruses for my liking so he's being kept home for a while till he's really better.
Sending lots of hugs, make sure you get as much rest as you can because you need to keep your strength up as well.
XXXXXXXX
Sending huge hugs to you all! xx xx
Elaine xx
Sending lots of ((((hugs)))) xxx
Phil & Gabe xxx
so glad you are all home together again
xx