Hello, I've been keeping up with all the encouraging and informative posts on here so I figured I would share my dad's experience as well. My dad who's 55 and with no health conditions was admitted to the ICU on Dec 24th and on the ventilator since 31st. They just did a tracheostomy yesterday on Jan 25th after he showed to be stable but not able to wake up from sedation. He was on propofol and fentanyl and when they tried to switch to precedex he had a rare allergic reaction to it. Mind you, he had a scary case of pneumothorax and had a chest tube insertion early on as well, his lungs are still stiff from being collapsed and damaged. About a couple days ago he also had a case of a bladder infection and associated fever which was thankfully managed before his tracheostomy. At this stage, all we are praying and hoping for his for him to slowly start to wake up from what they call sedation vacations and from what I've been reading was that it might take a while. I will continue to update on his recovery.
Dad with tracheostomy in ICU covid : Hello, I've... - ICUsteps
Dad with tracheostomy in ICU covid
I hope your dad continues to make improvements. Having a tracheostomy sounds like a positive step 🙂
Wishing your Dad a steady recovery & best wishes to you
Positive news! Wishing your Dad a speedy recovery. I went through something very similar with my Dad in the first wave (see my posts).Stay strong and hopefully you’ll be ferritin good news soon 🙏🏾🤞🏾
Wonderful news, wishing your dad a speedy recovery . xx
It sounds like mine and yours dads are in the same place! My dad didn’t have covid but his having a tracheostomy today after not coming around after sedation, his been on a ventilator for 8 days after major heart surgery. Like you I’m praying this improves things as he kept going into distress when they’ve tried everyday since the op to wean him off the ventilator despite his oxygen levels being ok. I will be thinking of you x
Wishing your dad a speedy recovery ❤️ Just heard from the nurse that my Dad opened his eyes! Guess the tracheostomy did make it better for him to wake and not feel as agitated but he is not yet responsive to any commands. I know that will take time. Also they noted his heart rate and breathing rate increased but that is normal coming off sedation. We will be video calling the nurse to let him hear our voice. Let's both keep positive!
I’m so pleased the tracheostomy has calmed him. That’s great news! Sounds like it’s going in the right direction! My dad should be having his fitted today, they couldn’t do it yesterday as he developed a temperature x x
Hope your Dad's fitting goes well! A little update although the tracheostomy calmed my dad to an extent, he keeps feeling anxious and breathes very fast when coming off the sedative so the nurse had to give him a low dose of opioids to calm his anxiety. When he wakes again, we requested that the nurse can call us so we can talk to him. Praying for both our dads recovery. ❤️
So sorry only just saw this! How is your dad doing now? My dad finally had the trachy fitted yesterday so they are going to try to take him out of sedation today. I hope your dad is okay x
Thats amazing news! My dad is still trying to wean off sedation. A couple days ago he had another pneumothorax so they had to do another chest tube insertion for drainage and he is also getting treated for pneumonia most likely caused by the ventilator. Every time he comes off sedation he gets very agitated and his heart rate increases. It’s a waiting game for us right now unfortunately.. Hope your dad can come out of his sedation smoothly 💓
Oh no bless 😔 how old is your dad? Dad has been off sedation since this morning but no change yet ☹️. I’m thinking of you. X
Please see my post today 1 year on part 2. Don’t set your expectations too high. I was on my trachy from just after my op to well after I came round. I’m not talking about weeks either!
The weaning process can go on fir some time, I kept picking up infections too, which slowed down the whole thing.
It's hard to wait for them to wake up! I took in an iPad and had the nurse turn on in the evenings. As he lay there I talked to him, read to him and played his favorite music. I did this for 3 weeks every day for 3 hours. First he started blinking, then tracking and following commands. He finally became aware 7 days ago! Now he can nod yes and no!He still has infection and is trached and on a ventilator. Slowly he is improving!
Hi there, just wanted to find out how everyone's loved ones are doing? My father is in ICU 3 weeks on the Trach and we finally are seeing some response!
That's wonderful! Currently my dad is day 68 on the vent, he's going through breathing trials and physical therapy to help regain his strength. Agitation finally settled down after such a long time off sedation. Had some setbacks along the way (lung collapsed several times), but seems to be slowly on his way to recovery.
That's amazing! Breathing trials is a good thing! When did they start doing breathing trials if I may ask? What was his oxygen peep levels? I'm getting so frustrated with lack of information from hospital and lack of calls with dad
so glad your dad on way to recovery Gives me hope! 
From his last update his peep was at 5 and and is needing 40% oxygen which the doctor said was pretty minimal. Once my dad became less agitated and could follow commands just last week, they were quick to start physical therapy which included the breathing trials and mentioned having him eventually referred to the long term acute care to wean off the ventilator. I understand! the doctors call so infrequently so I just make sure to call during the day everyday with his nurse to get updates and facetime. Keep up the hope!!
Dad in ITU with Covid19
Swallowing difficulties after long stay in ICU including incubation and tracheostomy 
Severe Pneumonia Tracheostomy 
4 weeks in - tracheostomy planned 
