Re: Speaking valves and life in general

Annette Hanna (nete1(AT)midwest.net)
Mon, 28 Apr 1997 21:44:17 -0500

At 05:40 PM 4/26/97 -0600, you wrote:
>Hi. I am an occupational therapist who works in the acute care setting. I
>am not a vent user myself. I have worked with a couple of pt's with hi
>spinal cord injuries who required the use of a vent. Recently I heard, that
>it's better not to use a speaking valve, as they are the source of other
>problems, and it is better if one can completely deflate the cuff and speak
>that way. Do you agree? and how well can you speak with a deflated cuff?
>
>I recently got into a heated discussion with the rest of the rehab staff I
>work with (PTs, PTAs, COTAs) about...I don't know what to term it. A
>student noted that she didn't understand why people who were in accidents
>with severe injuries were saved when they would be unable to move. She
>noted that she would rather die, and everyone else agreed, except me. I
>noted that a person with a hi injury does not have brain damage and can
>still think and be with family. I was surprised with the animosity that my
>opinion received from my fellow colleagues. One of them told me it would
>be easier for family if the injured were dead, because then there would be
>"closure."
>
>Perhaps what non vent users think is irrelevant, but I am wondering how any
>of you would respond to such notions.

Hi there..
I have "molled" over this post for a couple of days trying to figure out
what to say and how to say it. I decided that the best thing to do was to
just write from the "heart" about this issue, being a vent user myself.

I can't believe people that are supposed to be in the "Helping" profession
to people with disabilities feel this way. I know it is a free country and
everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but why be in the medical
profession if "you" feel that life is not worth living after a traumatic
injury?

This opinion whether your co-workers belive it or not, can come accross in
their interactions with the patients they rehabilitate every day. And
believe you me, that is the last thing an individual needs as they are
fighting for survival, when dealing with the transition of trying to adjust
to a wheelchair, vent, and the new adaptations for daily care, etc.
Probably more important than that, individuals are dealing with the
psychological aspects of their new found disabilility. The last thing they
need is someone with a negative attitude rehabilitating them. In all my 38
years of having a disability I have come accross medical professionals that
their "ignorance" or misinterpretation of disabilities do come accross in
their interactions.

I have had 3 respiratory arrests, which caused me during the last one, to
have a permanent trach and vent. If I or my parents listened to every word
of the medical community I would be dead. Some of the medical community
who believed life wouldn't be worth living or "quality" of life, wanted to
pull the plug on my vent, but my parents determination, (and mine) said no.

Life is what you make it...and until your medical co-horts are in the same
position, they will begin to think differently.

I commend you on your position, and "pity" the rest of the rehab staff. I
think you should print out all the responses you have gotten by vent users
to see that indeed life can be worth living.

Annette M. Hanna
nete1(AT)midwest.net