Re: TRACH VENTILATION VS. NONINVASIVE VENT.
Rebecca Harry (skoots(AT)worldnet.att.net)
Wed, 25 Feb 1998 10:11:42 -0500
At 07:45 PM 2/24/98 +0100, Quiroga wrote:
>
>
> Hi everybody:
>
> As you know I´m a doctor working in Intensive Care and also in Home
>Mechanical Ventilation. One of the things I´m very interested in is what
>you think about tracheostomy. I know there are many people that refuse
>trach. perhaps because they are not well informed about it. Dr. Bach from
>New Jersey (there are people here in this list that know him) thinks that
>trach. can be avoided by means of different types of nononvasive
>ventilatory support, e.g. abdominal belt, nasal and face mask ventilation,
>glossopharingeal breathing, etc. Personally I think the possibility of
>maninteining non invasive ventilatory support in a 24 hours basis relies a
>lot on a good physiotherapy (for example to get a good clearance of
>pulmonary secretions) and that´s not always possible so in many cases we
>have to perform the trach. when ventilatory dependence arrises. But in the
>view of what I´ve heard from vent-users that have a trach. this seems to be
> not so bad. I would like to know your opinion about that, specially from
>people who have been previously using a noninvasive method of ventilatory
>support and finally had to be changed to trach. ventilation.
>
> I´m sure your opinion will be of great value for our better understanding
>of this problems so thanks in advance to all of you.
>
> Dr.J.M. Quiroga
> Intensive Care Unit
> Home Mechanical Ventilation Unit
> Hospital Central de Asturias
> Oviedo. SPAIN
Dr. Quiroga,
Like everyone has said, the trach and ventilator is a lifesaver, but
you couldn't tell me that 6 years go when I 18 and still in high school. I
was born with TracheaEsophageal Fistula, which cause respiratory problems
as I grew older. When I was 18 I ended up in the hospital with pneumonia.
The doctors found out I was a Co2 retainer and needed help getting rid of
it. I tried the bipap and i didn't work for me, I end up having to be
trached. I use my vent and trach just when sleeping or napping, and cap it
off during the waking hours. When I first got my trach I fought using the
vent and didn't except it too well, when your a teenager the last thing you
want is to be different then your peers. But the more I used it the more I
realized it was the best thing to happen to me. I found I can do almost as
much as everyone else. I don't sick like I used too, I usually got sick 2
or 3 times a year before the trach and vent, now it is like 1 time every
2 or 3 years. I don't have to suction very often during the day, about 1 or
2 times. I definitely don't let it stop me from having a life, I belive
whole heartedly if there is a will there is way and by god If I want to do
something I will find that way!
Huggs,
Becky Harry
(24yr w/TEF, Chronic Lung Disease, JTube..now Mic-key, Trach, & VentUser)