Need good vibes here please

Just got a call from my father.... my mom is in intensive care right now with
severe breathing problems.

We had a family reunion last weekend, and the hotel room they were in was
growing mold. Naturally, Mom has a high sensitivity to molds, and didn't have
her prednisone with her, so she was unable to start any heavy treatment until
she got home on Sunday night. By Wednesday morning, when she had a scheduled
appointment with her doctor, her peak flow was at 60 (I don't know what 60
exactly means, but her normal is 250 and a non-asthmatic's normal peak flow is
anywhere from 400-850). My brother got her to the ER, where they started
intensive breathing treatments and at some point managed to get her peak flow
up to about 100.

They left me a message on my voicemail on Weds saying just "call me when you
get a chance", but I wasn't able to get to my messages until this morning.

Within two days, still in IC, she was back down to 60. At this point, the
doctors are really pushing for her to go onto a ventilator, but she's scared
that if she goes on a vent, she'll never get back off, especially since her
normal peak flow of 250 doesn't meet the minimum standard to be removed from a
vent.

My father is in the process of calling in the troops because Mom wants us all
at the hospital tomorrow afternoon. NOT looking forward to this!

So we could really use some good wishes / happy thoughts / prayers / whatever
you believe in over here!



Jenn L.
View My Webshots: http://community.webshots.com/user/jaliace
Current projects:
Chicago Skyline (The Needlecraftsman)
Lady of the Flag (Mirabilia)

"JAKL" wrote in message
...
Just got a call from my father.... my mom is in intensive care right now
with
severe breathing problems.

We had a family reunion last weekend, and the hotel room they were in was
growing mold. Naturally, Mom has a high sensitivity to molds, and didn't
have
her prednisone with her, so she was unable to start any heavy treatment
until
she got home on Sunday night. By Wednesday morning, when she had a
scheduled
appointment with her doctor, her peak flow was at 60 (I don't know what 60
exactly means, but her normal is 250 and a non-asthmatic's normal peak
flow is
anywhere from 400-850). My brother got her to the ER, where they started
intensive breathing treatments and at some point managed to get her peak
flow
up to about 100.

They left me a message on my voicemail on Weds saying just "call me when
you
get a chance", but I wasn't able to get to my messages until this morning.

Within two days, still in IC, she was back down to 60. At this point, the
doctors are really pushing for her to go onto a ventilator, but she's
scared
that if she goes on a vent, she'll never get back off, especially since
her
normal peak flow of 250 doesn't meet the minimum standard to be removed
from a
vent.

Actually, a good pulmonologist gauges readiness to come off the vent on
several different factors (also called weaning parameters). The most
predictive index is called the Rapid Shallow Breathing Index (RSBI)--it's
the respiratory rate divided by the amount of air taken in each breath
(expressed in liters). If the RSBI100, the success rate of coming off the
vent is 80%+. Peak flow is used more as a early warning that you need to
take your rescue inhaler/call you doctor; in other words, it is mostly an
outpatient device. Quite a lot of times, a patient only needs a few days of
rest on the vent (usually well-sedated) while heavy-duty IV steroids and
antibiotics/antifungals do their work. Then we just let the sedation wear
off and start breathing trials. If your Mom is concerned, tell her to have
a discussion with her physician about her wishes about how long she wants to
be on the vent before she wants to come off the vent, ready or not.

My father is in the process of calling in the troops because Mom wants us
all
at the hospital tomorrow afternoon. NOT looking forward to this!

So we could really use some good wishes / happy thoughts / prayers /
whatever
you believe in over here!

Prayers are on the way for you all.

LittleBit

JAKL ) writes:
(snip)
So we could really use some good wishes / happy thoughts / prayers / whatever
you believe in over here!



Jenn L.

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Jenn}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
--
Jim Cripwell.
The gods do not subtract from the allotted span of one's life, any
time that is spent in stitching.
Adapted from a sign on The Cobb, Lyme Regis, England.

So we could really use some good wishes / happy thoughts / prayers / whatever
you believe in over here!

Jenn,

You, your mom, and all your family will be in my thoughts today!

Sending bestest vibes!

Caryn
Blue Wizard Designs
http://hometown.aol.com/crzy4xst/index.html
Updated: 7/7/03 -- now available Dragon of the Stars
View WIPs at: http://community.webshots.com/user/carynlws (Caryn's UFO's)

Good vibes and cyberhugs coming your way!
Dianne

JAKL wrote:
Just got a call from my father.... my mom is in intensive care right now with
severe breathing problems.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

I don't know what state your mother lives in, but something to keep in mind
is that she has the necessary powers of attorney (medical and otherwise) in
order to take care of any eventuality.

Bonnie

"JAKL" wrote in message
...
Just got a call from my father.... my mom is in intensive care right now
with
severe breathing problems.

We had a family reunion last weekend, and the hotel room they were in was
growing mold. Naturally, Mom has a high sensitivity to molds, and didn't
have
her prednisone with her, so she was unable to start any heavy treatment
until
she got home on Sunday night. By Wednesday morning, when she had a
scheduled
appointment with her doctor, her peak flow was at 60 (I don't know what 60
exactly means, but her normal is 250 and a non-asthmatic's normal peak
flow is
anywhere from 400-850). My brother got her to the ER, where they started
intensive breathing treatments and at some point managed to get her peak
flow
up to about 100.

They left me a message on my voicemail on Weds saying just "call me when
you
get a chance", but I wasn't able to get to my messages until this morning.

Within two days, still in IC, she was back down to 60. At this point, the
doctors are really pushing for her to go onto a ventilator, but she's
scared
that if she goes on a vent, she'll never get back off, especially since
her
normal peak flow of 250 doesn't meet the minimum standard to be removed
from a
vent.

My father is in the process of calling in the troops because Mom wants us
all
at the hospital tomorrow afternoon. NOT looking forward to this!

So we could really use some good wishes / happy thoughts / prayers /
whatever
you believe in over here!



Jenn L.
View My Webshots: http://community.webshots.com/user/jaliace
Current projects:
Chicago Skyline (The Needlecraftsman)
Lady of the Flag (Mirabilia)

Actually, a good pulmonologist gauges readiness to come off the vent on
several different factors (also called weaning parameters).

Elizabeth, thank you for the wonderful information you posted. We weren't
aware of any of this. I'm printing it out in hopes that it helps Mom to agree
to the vent if that really is what everyone decides.

Jenn L.
View My Webshots: http://community.webshots.com/user/jaliace
Current projects:
Chicago Skyline (The Needlecraftsman)
Lady of the Flag (Mirabilia)

omething to keep in mind
is that she has the necessary powers of attorney (medical and otherwise) in
order to take care of any eventuality.


Good thing I work for an estate planning attorney, Bonnie, I'm running into the
office this morning before going to the hospital to draw up all these forms.
But thank you for making sure we thought of it!

Jenn L.
View My Webshots: http://community.webshots.com/user/jaliace
Current projects:
Chicago Skyline (The Needlecraftsman)
Lady of the Flag (Mirabilia)

Jenn-

Sending prayers and good thoughts your way.

Cathy in Wisconsin

"JAKL" wrote in message
...
Just got a call from my father.... my mom is in intensive care right now
with
severe breathing problems.

We had a family reunion last weekend, and the hotel room they were in
was
growing mold. Naturally, Mom has a high sensitivity to molds, and
didn't
have
her prednisone with her, so she was unable to start any heavy treatment
until
she got home on Sunday night. By Wednesday morning, when she had a
scheduled
appointment with her doctor, her peak flow was at 60 (I don't know what
60
exactly means, but her normal is 250 and a non-asthmatic's normal peak
flow is
anywhere from 400-850). My brother got her to the ER, where they
started
intensive breathing treatments and at some point managed to get her peak
flow
up to about 100.

They left me a message on my voicemail on Weds saying just "call me when
you
get a chance", but I wasn't able to get to my messages until this
morning.

Within two days, still in IC, she was back down to 60. At this point,
the
doctors are really pushing for her to go onto a ventilator, but she's
scared
that if she goes on a vent, she'll never get back off, especially since
her
normal peak flow of 250 doesn't meet the minimum standard to be removed
from a
vent.

My father is in the process of calling in the troops because Mom wants
us
all
at the hospital tomorrow afternoon. NOT looking forward to this!

So we could really use some good wishes / happy thoughts / prayers /
whatever
you believe in over here!



Jenn L.
View My Webshots: http://community.webshots.com/user/jaliace
Current projects:
Chicago Skyline (The Needlecraftsman)
Lady of the Flag (Mirabilia)

etent (JAKL) wrote in
:

Just got a call from my father.... my mom is in intensive care right
now with severe breathing problems.

We had a family reunion last weekend, and the hotel room they were in
was growing mold. Naturally, Mom has a high sensitivity to molds, and
didn't have her prednisone with her, so she was unable to start any
heavy treatment until she got home on Sunday night. By Wednesday
morning, when she had a scheduled appointment with her doctor, her
peak flow was at 60 (I don't know what 60 exactly means, but her
normal is 250 and a non-asthmatic's normal peak flow is anywhere from
400-850). My brother got her to the ER, where they started intensive
breathing treatments and at some point managed to get her peak flow
up to about 100.

They left me a message on my voicemail on Weds saying just "call me
when you get a chance", but I wasn't able to get to my messages until
this morning.

Within two days, still in IC, she was back down to 60. At this point,
the doctors are really pushing for her to go onto a ventilator, but
she's scared that if she goes on a vent, she'll never get back off,
especially since her normal peak flow of 250 doesn't meet the minimum
standard to be removed from a vent.

My father is in the process of calling in the troops because Mom wants
us all at the hospital tomorrow afternoon. NOT looking forward to
this!

So we could really use some good wishes / happy thoughts / prayers /
whatever you believe in over here!



Jenn L.
View My Webshots: http://community.webshots.com/user/jaliace
Current projects:
Chicago Skyline (The Needlecraftsman)
Lady of the Flag (Mirabilia)


Jenn,

Best wishes and prayers for a safe and hopefully quick recovery from
here!!!! You just concentrate on your mother and hopefully all will turn
out just fine!!!!!

Linda
owner, eStitch.com