My aunt is in ICU now. She is diabetic, has heart problems. Will she get better from ill-health?

Last few months my aunt's health deteriorated despite numerous visits to the hospital and ICUs. She is a chronic diabetic (type II) and has cardiac problems including (LVF, CHF); no high BP or blockades though. Recently, she was diagnoised with low blood volume and her hemoglobin levels were below normal levels.She was being given erythropoetin inj. The levels have come up a little. In addition, she had an injury on her left foot near the big toe which didn't heal properly (probably due to her diabetes) and now the whole foot is in danger of amputation.


With all these complications, she developed a colorectal ulcer for which she went through colonoscopy and treatment to stop bleeding.


Her Na+ and K+ blood levels are lower than normal. She lost her bladder control, is physically very weak and also mentally is not alert. She stares at people w/ no response to questions, unable to speak also. We begin to doubt the merits of medical treatment, is there anything else to make her better?My aunt is in ICU now. She is diabetic, has heart problems. Will she get better from ill-health?
I am so sorry for her and for you.





Nobody here can make an expert evaluation of her problems and prognosis, though. You really need to speak with her doctors. It may be time to let her go peacefully - when my mother was dying, the people in hospice told us that even though she was not able to communicate, she could still hear, and that it was important for us to tell her that we loved her and that it was okay for her to let go. That she didn't have to keep fighting after her body had worn out.





Do consider hospice if the doctor tells you straight out that your aunt is not going to recover. The people who do hospice are incredibly kind and supportive, and they will make whatever time is left for her as comfortable and serene as possible. No more invasive tests or waking her up to take blood pressure or all the other disruptive things that have to get done in regular hospital care.





Again, I am very sorry that her condition is so bad. Don't be afraid to cry - just try not to act too emotional in her presence. And if she does die, it's going to hurt terribly - knowing that it's coming does not make it easy - allow yourself to grieve.

bourjois