Finally mum is at weaning stage after 7 weeks on trachy vent

[Anuur44]

So they finally started mum on the pressure support she’s now at high 20rate and heard that if she reaches 8 comfortably she’s ready to get trachy removed. How long did it take your loved ones to wean of the trachy and with pressure support?

[Fahimafani]

DrARDS or Sepsur might be able to help?

[FamilyHistorian]

That’s one thing I think I can remember! Again it will depend on the individual but I can remember them experimenting with different voices for me and having an artificial voice. They experimented with deflating the trachy collar to allow me to breath naturally and then the trachy was removed and the wound dressed. I had to be very careful using my voice and I had exercises to do to learn to swallow these were quite strange and done with ice chips - magical. I was still being fed by tube!

[Anuur44 in reply to FamilyHistorian]

Wow you’re a inspiration FamilyHistorian I think my mum is still a long way away from learning to swallow but she’s making slow progress towards weaning.

[LeopardGecko]

Everybody will be different. My husband had his tracheostomy for just over 2 months but not all of this time was with pressure support (I can't quite remember all of the details but I know that after a while he moved onto Vapotherm which was humidified oxygen). Hopefully your mum will continue to move in the right direction xx

[Anuur44 in reply to LeopardGecko]

Thank you LeopardGecko how is your husband doing now? Is he back to his old self?

[LeopardGecko in reply to Anuur44]

His voice isn't quite as strong as it used to be but hopefully that will continue in time. He is now able to walk short distances with crutches. Being in hospital for around 5 months left him unable to sit up, walk or stand on his own so he has been having physio and moved to a rehabilitation centre just after new year.

[Sepsur]

It took me 11 days from moment trachy was fitted to sedation being removed, weaned to being awake - so don’t worry if it doesn’t work straight away. I was then on some form of support for about 30 days. I went onto cpap, then peep, then nebulisers and nasal prongs, once trachy was removed. I often was moved down to less requirement only to bounce back to high dependency

[Anuur44 in reply to Sepsur]

Wow 30 days support after the trachy was removed. You are strong indeed. I think that’s how icu is. Moving less then bouncing back up

[Sepsur in reply to Anuur44]

Badly worded on my part - i was intubated for 57 days, I was on then on some form of support for the next 30. I think the trachy was removed about day 75. I left ICU day 90, I was on nasal prongs & nebulisers when I moved to wards. I left hospital day 120 😊

[Anuur44 in reply to Sepsur]

Omg 120 days in the hospital. 😥 I can’t imagine how hard it was for you and your family. How is your breathing now Sepsur do you think you will be able to get back to how you was prior to intubation? Do you require some form of oxygen? Can you walk unaided?

[Sepsur in reply to Anuur44]

I’m 4yrs out of hospital, despite having had avian flu, double pneumonia, septic shock, multiple organ failure inc. heart, kidneys & respiratory system, severe ARDS, a lymphoma & leukaemia ( which I’m being treated for) & a whole host of other infections that I survived including a pleural effusion on my left side - I live a normal life and do most things I want to. No oxygen, minimal scarring, no heart issues, no kidney issues, mostly no respiratory issues, overlooking - We are all slightly restricted at present 😊

[Anuur44 in reply to Sepsur]

Literally you need to get your story out there. A real life miracle. Hope you beat the lymphoma and leukaemia. You are a real fighter and your courage is what’s giving me a lot of hope in my mums fight

[Offcut]

I was in ICU 32 days and on a thraci for 25 of them They tried a number of times to reduce it but kept putting it back to the original then something in me changed and I was reduced quite quickly then removed. but still had nasal O2 until they moved me into a standard ward.

Be well

[Anuur44 in reply to Offcut]

Thank you for sharing your response Offcut this is giving me a lot of hope. Hope you are back to your pre hospital self 🙏🏾

[Offcut in reply to Anuur44]

I lost 3 stone while in hospital and it took a long time to get it back then went the wrong way and struggling to get the excess off now

[Jess0186 in reply to Offcut]

My god 32 days my husband is in there at the moment 10 days so far trying to get him off sedation but a lot of agitation so back on it again. His not a tracheostomy yet I don’t know what to think or do xx

[Offcut in reply to Jess0186]

From my own ICU experience they are doing as much as they can. It takes time. I know my wife went though it but had a good core of support. Which under the present situation of shielding etc. can not be easy pick a phone and talk to those that will listen

[Jess0186 in reply to Offcut]

Yes I know and it doesn’t help with this Covid either x I didn’t realise it took so long when he was put in icu I was a bit naive xx

[Offcut in reply to Jess0186]

He is in the best place

[Jess0186 in reply to Offcut]

I know just feel like every day is the same he tries to get weaned off but gets agitated so try again tomorrow, it’s not their fault xx

[Offcut in reply to Jess0186]

I am let's say strange in the way I am with anesthetics. I have woke up twice in theatre much to the op teams surprise, When I was in ICU and awake I did see how different people reacted to getting as near to normal as they can. There is no real normal I am afraid but think in a Positive way and keep encouraging him.

[DrARDS]

Hiya, It’s very variable.

Will depend on so many parimeters -oxygenation levels, PEEP, their cognitive state and degree of sedation, their CRP levels (degree of existing infection), any co-morbidities...

[Anuur44 in reply to DrARDS]

You are right DrARDS i think me not being from medical background I find myself fixated on one aspect and forget it’s a combination of other parameters. What would you say is the most key parameter. Is it the oxygen demand?

[DrARDS in reply to Anuur44]

Difficult to say, but yes lots of factors. By all means ask to speak to a senior doctor who can give you more clarity and talk you through things better.

[Hidden]

My mom is currently on weaning protocol with a trach; she's had the trach since Dec 8 and that was after 2 failed mechanical extubations in November (she made it 4 days each time before crashing and having to be reintubated). Yesterday she was on Pressure Support and today, if that went well, she'll be moved to humidified oxygen. She doesn't/didn't have COVID but was a life long smoker so does have decreased lung function.

We were told that one of the best indicators to look for is the tidal volume because that is what gets the CO2 out of the blood and keeps it from building up. Respiratory rate also plays into the removal of CO2, the Respiratory Therapists said 8-20 is 'normal', but my Mom's baseline is 33 so it is skewed for her.

[Anuur44 in reply to Hidden]

Hidden hope your mom recovers soon and transition goes smoothly. Does your mum develop bacterial infections? I feel like with my mum whenever she finishes a antibiotic few days later she develops a new infection. Is this similar in your case?

[Hidden in reply to Anuur44]

She had pneumonia when she first went into the ICU in Nov and then had another infection last week that they treated with antibiotics, but it hasn't been back to back infections.

[Keenrunner in reply to Anuur44]

Hi my husband is a bit like that at the moment. He had a trachy fitted yesterday and his sedation has been lifted, most of the time, but his temperature keeps spiking which is worrying. They have given him general anti- biotics and are doing lots of tests. Hope it goes down soon. Hope your mum is improving too.