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Husband in ICU since Thursday due to a fall, probably due to Covid. There are no beds available in stepdown unit (holiday weekend of course).


Stats OK per doc. Huge blood clot between lungs was removed. He will probably be discharged tomorrow.


I forget to ask, but shouldn't he be walked a little before discharge ?

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WHY?

"Should a patient be walking before leaving the hospital?"
"Walking before leaving hospital Asked 6 min ago by Betsysue2002
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Reply to Sendhelp
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Was he walking before he fell ill?

So your husband is one for whom the clotting problems happened secondarily to covid? That is one of the most dangerous problems they are seeing with covid. Are you suggesting that they have removed a "huge clot" as you say, and then, without progressing to a step-down unit he will be sent directly home, just discharged just like that?
How many days has he been in ICU?
Is he still testing positive for Covid?
What blood thinners have they put him on and what followup will he have?
How old is he?
What is his overall condition? That is to say does he have a history of clotting problems, heart problems, lung problems?
Do they even know if he CAN walk?
And are they WISHING him to walk for clot prevention?

I can't know your husband's condition at all. I can only say as an old retired RN that this wouldn't have happened in "my day". Cardiac stepdown was where I worked. There was no case EVER that I saw that went home from CCU or ICU without stepdown care.
I would be scared to death if I were you.
I honestly cannot assess what is happening here, or has happened; what you tell us is just to little to go on, but the removal of this clot does not sound good to me.

I wish you the very best. As I said, I would be scared. What, honestly, are they even wanting you to watch for, assess him for, act on "if"???
This seems pretty outrageous to me.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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Betsysue2002 Jan 2, 2024
Thank you so much for your advice.

husband home yesterday monday afternoon and seems ok.

he went to “stepdown” unit … i dont know how familiar you are with that … the unit between icu and regular admit or discharge … and was able to walk 150 feet … apparently medicare criteria for discharge … so he came yesterday and seems/feels ok.

problem with all this for both of us is that it seemed like only a cold to suddenly hitting the extreme.

The only way to deal with this now … in addition to phone appts with docs … is to put it behind us and move on.

personally i couldnt tell difference between my own sickness and anxiety attacks.

HIS own extra problem was that “clot from hell” i mentioned … i have a picture too … almost-filled vein from lung to lung.

i did use words “unsafe discharge” tho to stop discharge just as it was getting dark sunday night.

thank you so much !
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Should be walking.
No fever present.
Proper home care or rehab planned.

No unsafe discharges on my watch!
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Reply to Sendhelp
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Unsafe discharge. Use those words and good luck
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Reply to Southernwaver
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Either Placed in a rehab or Physical therapy coming into the home and a VNA Nurse and CNA which the doctor at Hospital can order and is covered by medicare .
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Reply to KNance72
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Betty Sue, welcome.

We want to teach you a phrase. It's "unsafe discharge".

Your husband should be discharged not to your home, but to a rehab facility.
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Reply to BarbBrooklyn
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I’m sorry to hear about your husband falling. Have you spoken with his doctor about him entering rehab to gain strength and balance? Has the doctor ordered home health for him?
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Reply to NeedHelpWithMom
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