Help! Relative in ICU/ lupus related illness

Hello,

I am new here. I am looking for any information anyone may have regarding Lupus and lung inflammation. My husband's father is currently in ICU and docs are trying to figure out what is wrong with him. He has had lupus for many years and they think it is related.

He was admitted last weekend and progressively got worse. Now he is being kept alive on a ventilator. They say all his organs/including his lungs are in fine condition, but something is keeping his lungs enflamed. They are doing a biopsy on Monday. No one seems to have ANY idea what this could be. They gav him steroids for three days but no improvement yet. He developed a staff infection from the IV but now that is under control, too. He is not improving and they can’t keep him on the ventilator for much longer. Even moving him to do the biopsy could kill him.

I'm sorry if I seem completely clueless, that is because I am with this. I just want to find out as much as a can. The docs can only do so much.

Any ideas???

Thank you

Thank you for your reply, Carol. He took a turn for the worse and now has 12 hours to live. They are giving him a last treatment, butit may kill him, as well. It really sucks to feel so helpless. I can't do anything. But thanks for your kind words.

Hello, Thank you so much for your responses. Here is an update:

He was given a 10% chance of surviving this morning. They gave him a chemo drug that could either help him or just as likely kill him-it is that toxic. But they had no other choice. They are now waiting to see the results. He is still clinging to life. This just happened so quickly.

I know now that my own research isn't going to do much, but it made me feel like I was doing something. I'll let you know if there are any updates. Thanks!

Heidi

I'm so sorry.... I hope he is better...