Husband taken off life support

It was requested for me to post as a new topic

This is Mrs Traywick. First of all thank you so much for the thoughts and prayers. It turned out that my husband had significant brain damage and would never regain consciousness. I had to make the decision to remove him off the machine and let him go. He was taken off the ventilator about 12:00pm July 3rd. We are waiting for him to pass now.

He was diagnosed with Hep C in 1996 which he contracted from jailhouse tattoos. In 2000 he was diagnosed with cirrhosis. He tried the interferon treatment but his body couldn't tolerate it. His blood count dropped down too much is what we were told and his Dr told him to not take any more of the meds. In 2009 we found out he had chronic liver failure and was put on dialysis in may 2012. He has been hospitalized many times, for either Hep or high ammonia level. As a matter of fact the first time he was hospitalized for HE he was in ICU for over a week most of which he was kept in a medically induced coma. That was when we found out about his kidneys. Bless his heart, he suffered with diabetes, HBV, kidney failure, and liver disease.

He did not have health insurance so getting him help was nearly impossible. I did not make enough money to take him to the Dr on a regular basis. For a short time we qualified for Medicaid when I lost my job. That was a blessing, but it didn't last long since our daughter turned 18. For about ahead he scarcely saw a dr. Then we moved to a county that offers hospital district insurance (a program for poor people with no insurance and don't qualify for Medicaid.) That was a huge blessing!

Oh I failed to mention that all the while we were fighting the government for his disability. Finally we got a hearing date and he was granted SSI benefits in March of 2012. We were so relieved to have the insurance. We got to work getting dr appointments and going through the system to work our way to liver and kidney transplant. Just didn't make it.
I am thankful for blogs like this one. I spent a lot of time looking up information on ESLD. Because I didn't have much access to Drs most of the time I turned to the Internet for information on what to expect and advice on how to care for my husband. If someone with ESLD is showing signs of high ammonia level, it could be a brain bleed. Hallucinating is a good sign of brain bleed.

God Bless the people who suffer with this disease and God Bless the caregivers. It isn't easy for the victims or the caregivers.

Post Edited By Moderator (hep93) : 7/8/2012 7:34:25 AM (GMT-6)

Mrs. T,

  So so sorry about your hubby.  You are right, it is hard on everyone.  Sorry you and hubby struggled with the medical care end of this disease.  Thinking of you this day, as you and hubby take this journey.

Angie1953

Dear Mrs T,

I am so sorry for you to have to go through this, such a difficult time. So many emotions and working through the phases of grief. What could have been and the what if's.

My husband is passing too. I am by his bed now, listening to him breathe. I don't know what he is thinking, as he can't speak, hasn't been able to for a few days now. I just hope that he is finding his way to God's arms and that this phase can be over.

I am just numb, and tired, and lost. I am sure you are feeling these things to, and I hope for your sake, that it happens swiftly for you now.

Sending comfort and prayers,

Marie

Mrs. T and Mariel,

I am so sorry that you are both going through such heart breaking situations with your husbands.  It is good that you are at their bedsides.  My mom passed in April from liver and kidney failure.  Complications from necrotizing pancreatitis.  My dad, my 2 brothers, and myself were with her in her final days, and all of us were with her when she passed.  It was the hardest, saddest thing we have every been through, but I am so glad that we were all together...holding her hands, giving her final kisses, praying, whispering in her ears.  In that part of things, I have no regrets.  That makes all the grief just a touch easier.

Prayers for you both, your husbands, and your families as you go through this difficult time.

Emma

Thank you Emma and Sandia. It's not easy but I wouldn't have it any other way. I am bitter at the government! There are people getting disability that aren't that bad and my poor husband was already at end stage liver disease when we applied and still had to appeal and then wait for a hearing date that took about six months! It's wrong and not fair at all. I wish I could sue them!

Mrs Traywick

Thank you A.,
He is a fighter that's for sure. He is still with us now. His o2sat is in the 70's and he is having shallow breathing now. If he was to have received a transplant he would have pulled through easily.
I think you miss understood or I didn't make it clear. We did finally get SSI but it wasn't untill This past April. I'm still real bitter about it.
I sure hope all is well with you.

Mrs Traywick

It's so tough... Grab every moment with him and cherish it. I walk with Mike everyday. I actually go over and talk with him from time to time. He's a part of my life even now two years later.  Know that we are here for you . I am praying for both of you and your families. Sandia

Thinking of you this evening, Mrs. Traywick

Marie

"It is really sad that in this day and age, people are still passing due to no health insurance."

You will have a chance to make that a reality in a few months.