This may sound strange but the swelling and pain would often be just
before my monthly period. No doctor could ever come up with a reason for
this phenomenon. {Once a doctor said something quite bright to me about
another issue. "Of course there's a reason . We just don't know what it
is yet"}
I know when the pain is at its absolute worst and the swelling is the
greatest, it is about to feel better because it is ready to burst,
usually while sleeping. I will wake up with blood on the trach dressing
and no pain. Usually this is not the time to even attempt a trach
change.
Sometimes I have to change my trach tube beacause of leaks in the
external air balloon, and sometimes because I have just cracked the
collar [into which the inner cannula fits] . I don't suction and I have
to spend a lot of times coughing. My cough is strong and I hit the tube
pretty hard with my tissues as I do this quick motion.
BEADS: Yes, beads are significant to me. I design and sell jewelry made
from old European glass beads, semi-precious stones and fresh water
pearls. I sell in stores in Mass. and do some craft shows. My mother
does the craft shows alone now that I am on the vent full time. [There's
not enough room on our little car for the jewelry and show stuff AND all
my equipment. In a former life, I was an Occupational Therapist working
in rehab. Now I have one patient--------me.
Gail ........The BEAD goes on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!