Husband in intensive care

[KAG71]

This is not so much a question  as just letting you guys know the latest.    I have just returned from hospital, my hubby (Gixerboy) was taken by ambulance there about midnight.

He was on Oxycontin 8 80mgs a day for almost 3 years due to a severe back problem.   Anyway, he has been tapering over two months (got down to about half that) due to pressure from the doc and the fact that it was beginning to affect him badly etc

When the doc and pain clinic started telling him that rapid detox and drug rehab were options he got really scared.  He didn’t want to leave our daughter and me, instead he wanted to stay here.   Hence the decision to go cold turkey on Wednesday night (his last dose).  

It all started at around 5pm Friday night when he lost the ability to speak verbally, and instead we were communicating on paper.  He told me that he kept going into massive spasms, hot, cold etc.   He was in soooo much pain and just wanted it to end.  But he didn’t want a tablet, and kept telling me not to panic and not to call an ambulance, he would be fine!

This went on and on for hours, until about 9ish when I went to get our daughter from youth club.  He wanted me to get tablets downstairs that we had that would help him to sleep, and hence combat the withdrawals.  I did this and had to dash off for our daughter….   When I came home he was suddenly speaking again and told me that he taken several sleeping tablets as he needed to ensure sleep.       About half hour after this, he started having massive involuntary movement in his arms and legs.   These got worse and worse, and we now had no communication at all, as he could not speak and could not write as his arms wouldn’t stay still.     I tried for about 2 more hours to help him but it did not stop and just got worse….. he kept falling off the bed, banged his head etc…. It got to a stage where he was endangering himself and everyone around him.  At this point, despite his wishes, I had no choice, I called an ambulance.

Sorry for the ramblings guys, I just need to talk to someone, I am so scared, keep thinking that I am going to lose the guy that I love sooooo much.   Been so strong all night so our daughter didn’t get any more upset than she already was, now I can’t help it.   I am supposed to be getting a few hours sleep as they have sedated him now and will let him sleep until 9ish when they intend to wake him up and see how he is.   Daughter is asleep but I just can’t.  The hospital seems to think that this has been caused, not by withdrawals, but an overdose of sleeping pills.   Will not really know anything else  until later this morning but will keep u posted.

Thanks for listening guys.

Karen (Gixerboy’s wife)

[Ronnie152]

I don't know you or Gixerboy, but i am so sorry to hear that he is sick. You do need to get some sleep though, he is in the best place he can be. Give the hospital a call and check on him, have a cup of tea and know things will look better in the morning. best of luck to you and your family.

[freebird227]

I will keep you and yours in my prayers. I will lift you up and pray for a super natural healing....... Be Blessed...Debra

[KAG71]

Thank u I appreciate it.  I will go and have a lay down and see if I can sleep but don't hold much hope.

[kim715]

I will be keeping your family in my prayers.Please keep us posted when you can....Peace...Kim

[10356]

Hi Kag71.. I hope you are resting right now.. Gixerboy is in the best place he can be right now.. While he is there are you going to be honest with the Dr. I remember how bad it was getting and I know he wants off.. I have you both in my thoughts and prayers and wish nothing for the best for gixerboy.. Make sure you do not forget about yourself.. gixer is being taken care of. You need to take care of yourself.. This may be the beginning you both have been looking for.. warmly lesa

[dominosarah]

Gixerboy is being taken care of right now so i hope you can get some sleep.  I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers........Lets us know how it is going when you can.......sara

[lady67]

Sent a prayer up!

[LONESOME]

so sorry to heard that i don't now your husband but i really think he will be better there he probably needs more tham just alone.

Good luck

[KAG71]

Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers.  It's a comfort to know that you are all thinking of us.   I did get a couple of hours sleep last night, enough just to keep me going through today.   I just phoned the hospital and theres no change at the mo.  He is still under sedation but they are going to wake him up shortly.  If he starts thrashing around again they will sedate him instantly again, but they are hoping that he will be calm and able to communicate, we'll see.

Anyway, I'm now getting ready to go there again, so will keep you posted later.

Thanks guys.

Karen

[sickntired08]

Hi there,
I am thinking of you, and even though I really just started praying this last week, I put some in there for you and your hubby and daughter too.
I just hope that everything gets straightened out, they get his pain under control, and you can all get through this.

I really hope he will be ok, please keep us posted the best you can.

Love and Light,
Stacy

[Dezdon]

Im SOOO sorry this happend! Im sorry you guys are going through this. Your husband is going to get excellent proper guidance now. I do have to say, I admire his strenth to stop. I mean holy smokes, the symptoms you explained...... I would have bailed hours ahead of those. He was on a pretty big dose. I bet his w/d's were incredible. (no thanks) But geez, his determination is respectful. You can tell he wants this change in his life bad to go through all that. Keep us posted.
Take care of yourself too!
-Dez

[KAG71]

Hi all,

Thanks again for the posts.  Just returned from the hospital for a little while for lunch and to see to daughter and dog etc.

An update, they woke him up earlier this morning to see what he was like, but he was still in a bad way.  He was jerking, not communicating etc, no real improvement, so they had to sedate him again.  They have been feeding him a opiate drip this morning to try and help him, as all they want to do right now is to get him off the ventilator and get him awake and calm if possible.    Once he has had this for a while, they will wake him again and see if theres an improvement (lets hope).

Its just so difficult seeing him like this, his body is there and the nurse says that he can hear me, but theres just no response, nothing.

I really should try and eat something but don't think I can.  To add to it I have a dreadful cold and cough and feel like ****!

Sorry, I'll stop moaning now.

Karen

[Ronnie152]

glad to see u back, moan away, ***** away, yell, what ever you want! I hope you got a little sleep last night. Try some soup, its not to heavy and good for a cold. comfort food...lol... sorry to hear there is no change in hubbie, but as i said last night hes in the best place. try to rest before going back. I will look for your post later. good luck.

[merrymaria]

thoughts and prayers are with you both.  try to relax....you know he is well cared for.  please let us know how everything is...maria

[KAG71]

Just phoned them up and they have taken the sedation off now and he's not thrashing around now, but he still hasn't opened his eyes yet or communicated.  They are going to leave it an hour or so and see how he is before deciding if he needs to go back on it or not.

I am just having a cup of tea and a few mins before I go back in again.  Will post again later.

Karen

[aws01]

Hi, I am new here and don't know you or your husband, but I can tell you that I am really sorry about the problems you and your husband are having.  I pray the hospital can keep his pain under control and find out what is causing him to not be able to communicate.  I will be praying for you and your daughter also.  I know its just as hard on family members when a loved one is in the hospital just in a different way.  Please post when you are able , I will be waiting to hear how everyone is.  (((HUGS)))   April.

[luppygirl]

So sorry to hear about this, hopefully they will also be able to help get through the detox as well as getting him better.  My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

[road2recovery]

Just wanted to say i am praying for you and your husband...He is in the best place he can be right now...you need to rest and take care of yourself, and your daughter as much as you can....He is one tough guy and will be fine...God bless....
r2r

[HelpinUtah]

Prayers are there for you and your husband as well as your daughter!  The hospital will take good care of him!  Hugs, Janet

[lovemypillhead]

What is going on tho?  Why is his body going thru this? I am kinda confused......what is the diagnosis? Maybe I missed it above.

Regardless, good luck and my prayers will be with you.

My dad just went thru severe alcohol withdrawl/detox.  He was heavily sedated and put into a coma.  sadly, tho, he didn't make it and passed away Jan 19. again, tho--he was an alcoholic..........that is a different tyoe of withdrawl than opiate withdrawl. point is....i am here for u.  been there. it is hard. i know.

[KAG71]

Hi again all,

Thank u all so much for the thoughts and prayers, you are all wonderful and are helping a very difficult situation easier.

The latest is, as mentioned above he was taken off sedation and off the breathing tube this afternoon and didn't thrash around this time as he was before, so they left it off for a while.  During this time he actually opened his eyes whilst we were there and although he couldn't speak due to the tube in his mouth still, he was able to smile at my daughter and I, and nod his head which is a massive improvement!  He definitely knew that we were there and knew who we were, he also squeezed my hand a couple of times.

It is now 7.45pm here and they have sedated him again just to ensure that he sleeps tonight.  Then tomorrow morning about 8ish the doc will be round again to assess him and they will take the sedation and ventilation off again.    If he improves enough tomorrow then they will be able to leave the tube off.  

They are currently drip feeding him an opiate liquid of some sort to take away the withdrawal.   They had it on quite a high dose earlier today after he started jerking etc again this morning, but now they have reduced it back down again.  I guess the fact that as soon as they started the opiate liquid the withdrawals eased proves that this reaction must be from withdrawals.   In answer to “lovemypillhead” they were ensure originally what the problem was, it was either oxycontin withdrawal or a reaction due to taking too many sleeping tablets that he used to try and sleep through the withdrawal.   Hope that makes sense.  I am so sorry to hear about your Dad, my thoughts are with you too.

In answer to luppygirl, yes that thought crossed my mind too.  I am hoping that this is going to turn out well, and if it does then it should help him get through the oxycontin withdrawal.  I have no idea what liquid they are giving him, but it can’t be as strong as Oxycontin, so I guess that it won’t mean that he effectively has to start again with the withdrawals when he comes home.   We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it I guess.

Anyway, I am now home for the evening and night unless there is any change and the hospital call me.  I am now going to eat something (hopefully), then relax with my daughter, and hopefully get good nights sleep later.

I may come on later tonight, but in any case I will post again tomorrow and keep you informed.

Thanks so much again for all the posts.

Karen

[SophieShine]

Hi Karen,
I just read all the posts. I am so sorry for what you are all going through. I sincerely hope that everything is gonna turn alright for your hubby, but it seems he's in good hands and with the love of a great wife like you and a beautiful daughter he can only get better. Keep us informed.
Sending huge hugzzz your way.
XXX

[stilltrying1965]

just a note to say we are thinking of you and hope everythings ok.i am new to this site but when i read your story i thought how determind he must ne i too would probably caved in hours before as his withdrawals must be horrendous.Anyway get some rest and i hope you all come through this okay

[steveo30]

you do need to get some sleep for your self and for your daughter,he will be taken care of.when he awakes i hope that they will be ready to help him with the withdrawal which will be horrible.hopefully they will keep him there,it's the best place for him now.really hope for the best and please keep us informed