Update on my dad (how do we handle depression?)

[Deb Roy]

My dad moved out of ICU Friday and Friday night had hallucinations all night, he thought he was at home in a new condo, was seeing things that were not there. He was refusing to use the oxygen mask most of the night. He had many doctors and nurses in most of the night. He had a temp of 102 and they started him on antibiotics. They had to stop the Cytoxin due to his white blood cell count being extremely low and are running tests to see where a infection may be.
They have called in a wound specialist now for the lesions that have not healed and also a kidney specialist. His potassium level continues to be low.
I am not sure what will happen with the doctors stopping the Cytoxin, we were told it would be for a couple of day, isn't that what helps the Wegener's?
Did anyone have depression? It seems the doctors and nurses are concerned now about his depression. The nurses last night made a note and spoke to the day nurse and doctors about him being depressed. Is there anyway to help him with this? It is harder for him to fight the more depressed he gets.

[Sangye]

The hallucinations sound like ICU psychosis. It's quite common. You can read about it on the internet. His docs will know about it, but it might be good to bring it up and ask for an evaluation to make sure all is well.

Depression is also common. Pred disturbs the brain chemistry and actually induces anxiety and depression. Some people are more sensitive to it than others. I can't even tell you how devastating it is to get a diagnosis like Wegs and then to have a continual cascade of major complications right away. It feels like being punched in the gut over and over. It will take everything he's got to get through it. I suffered terrible depression and anxiety in those early days for all the above reasons, but most people didn't know it. I have a cheery and optimistic personality that disguised my intense suffering. I suggest you ask for a psychiatric consult asap if you think the depression is affecting his will to live.

I also recommend finding a therapist for once he's released. I've seen one since I was diagnosed and it makes a world of difference. It was a major factor that kept me from falling into a dark hole and giving up.

Don't worry about stopping the ctx for a couple days. It continues to have an effect.