I don't remember if I've mentioned this on this list or not. At the time I
had my last big medical crisis in '89 (which was the time that I made the
decision to be trached), my cholesterol level was dangerously LOW. My
pulmonary specialist suggested that I make sure that I get plenty of animal
fat in my diet. It has a very important function in my body; it helps to
break up CO2. I have a lot of trouble breathing off CO2; my body collects
it, and then I can get into some serious trouble. I'm supposed to keep away
from a lot of sugars because they tend to produce CO2 as they are digested.
(So another good reason for me to stay away from candy!) This seems to work
really well for me. It doesn't create havoc with my cholesterol level at
all; as a matter of fact, I just had it checked a couple of weeks ago and it
was 161.
I have to eat small amounts of food many times a day. It works better for my
breathing this way. If I pig out on a meal, I really suffer for it for a
couple of hours afterwards. I get really short of breath and have a really
hard time doing anything.
Sometimes if I have to be gone for an all-day function which is pretty
intense, I take a can of Pulmacare with me. This is a nutrition drink
especially designed for people with respiratory problems. Do any of you take
this? When I was in ICU and intubated before I had my trach, this is the
stuff that they put down my feeding tube. It doesn't taste that great, but
it's palatible when cold; most important it really helps me to find that
extra energy that I need to complete whatever I'm doing. (For example, a
couple of years ago I took some classes at a nearby computer learning center.
The classes were from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and they were very fast-paced and
terribly intense. If I didn't drink my Pulmacare during the afternoon break,
there was no way I could hang on until the end. I also made sure that I
brought along plenty of nourishing food to eat during the morning break and
at noon.) Pulmacare is kind of expensive and the pharmacist has to order it
for me, but I like to keep some on hand because it really works for me when I
need it.
Well, this is all for now. Hope that this might help give someone an idea or
two. I really get a lot out of reading all of your posts. It really is so
great to be able to talk to others who have a trach and/or use a vent too.
Thanks.
Carol in Massachusetts