NURSES PLEASE: Septic shock?

I haven't been on here in forever and it seems I never have good news, so sorry.

Anyways, my grandfather (pretty much my dad), is in ICU with septic shock. He's on full life support with multiple organ system failures (liver and kidney).

Not a good chance he will come out of it right? If he does come out, he is likely to have brain damage right?

He is 73 years old and my mom found him on the floor face down this morning with a 106 fever. They had to take drastic measures to get his temp down. He is on constant norepinephrine (15 mg I think in a drip). He is on a ventilator, and some machine that regulates body temp. We think he was down for 4-6 hours before she found him, though we have no way to know how long his temp was that high.

Any thoughts on this? Outlook seems pretty bleak. Any information would be greatly appreciated as the docs aren't saying much yet and we are tore up.

It's always best to stay positive. People defy odds every day. I'll keep your family on my prayers. *hugs*

I'm sorry I have no advice or answers for you but, I really hope he's okay. *Hugs*

Quoting Always♥Faithful:" It's always best to stay positive. People defy odds every day. I'll keep your family on my prayers. *hugs*"

I just don't want to have false hope. He is stable on life support, but I don't want to keep thinking "oh he will come out of it" and then he doesnt. We also really need to know how big of a possibility brain damage is and what the repercussions of the brain damage would be. I am stressed and I am tired of family members dying. I am 25 years old and I feel like I've been through too much of this already   I feel terrible for him. Did he suffer when he was laying there for hours?
The worst part is, my almost 4 year old daughter is really close with him and I am just so hurt for her. She pretty much knows what is going on and I hardly know how to talk to her about it but she has a lot of questions.

bleh sorry verbal diarrhea

In dec we were told my grandma had pnommina and demincia (spelling for both? Lol) she refused Meds and food. She had no idea who her kids were. They said she would pass by the new year. Yesterday she called me to ask how my husband is and what ds wants or his birthday   doctors can be wrong and people can pull out of even the worst situations. My grandma is proof.  

Omg   I have nothing helpful to say because I don't know much about septic shock or anything alone those lines but just sending a whole bunch of hope his way and love for your family *hugs*

<blockquote><b>Quoting "The Boob" [HM]:</b>" I just don't want to have false hope. He is stable on life support, but I don't want to keep thinking ... [snip!] ... what is going on and I hardly know how to talk to her about it but she has a lot of questions. bleh sorry verbal diarrhea"</blockquote>



No need to be sorry. I understand. Have they done tests for brain activity?

Quoting Always♥Faithful:" <blockquote><b>Quoting "The Boob" [HM]:</b>" I just don't want to have false hope. ... [snip!] ... bleh sorry verbal diarrhea"</blockquote> No need to be sorry. I understand. Have they done tests for brain activity?"

No this just happened at 11 am this morning and they have been focused on stabilizing him and finding the infection so they can treat it properly.

<blockquote><b>Quoting "The Boob" [HM]:</b>" I haven't been on here in forever and it seems I never have good news, so sorry. Anyways, my grandfather ... [snip!] ... Outlook seems pretty bleak. Any information would be greatly appreciated as the docs aren't saying much yet and we are tore up."</blockquote>




There are sooo many more issues to factor into if he will recover or not. The fact that he is elderly and his kidneys/liver are involved isn't a good sign and I assume you mean that he's on a ventilator by saying "life support"? Honestly, if the intenisvist (icu dr) on duty is a good one, and you pull him aside privately and ask him to be completely frank with you about what all of this means, what signs you need to look for to see him better/worse and what he thinks his odds of survival are. Actually If they haven't had or tried to have the "DNR talk" with you, that may be a positive sign. If they think chance of survival is futile they'll talk to you about making him a DNR

Quoting StinkyPossumLover!:" <blockquote><b>Quoting "The Boob" [HM]:</b>" I haven't been on here in forever and ... [snip!] ... with you, that may be a positive sign. If they think chance of survival is futile they'll talk to you about making him a DNR"

Just wanted to update. Yes he was on a ventilator, norepinephrine, etc. As of today he is off the ventilator but mildly sedated. He is on 3 liters of oxygen and holding his own. He uses 3 to 3.5 at home normally so that is really great. There doesn't appear to be any severe brain damage. I spoke with him earlier and he told me to give the babies (my kids) a kiss. He seemed to know where he was and who we are, etc and be pretty coherent besides that he is drugged at the moment. His white count is back down the normal and he has his organ system function back. They never did find the source of the infection, but it seems he is pulling through this fine. He is still in ICU, and will probably need a lot of physical therapy because he had rhabdomyolysis (sp?) i.e muscle tissue destruction.

Quoting "The Boob" [HM]:" Just wanted to update. Yes he was on a ventilator, norepinephrine, etc. As of today he is off the ventilator ... [snip!] ... in ICU, and will probably need a lot of physical therapy because he had rhabdomyolysis (sp?) i.e muscle tissue destruction."

Miracles do happen   I hope he continues to improve!!