Day 2 updates

Dad'sfight
Dad'sfight Member Posts: 155
in Esophageal Cancer #1
Dad is still on ventalator. There was some tension brewing inside me because all of this could have been avoided. They tried to get an epideral in but she missed. Dad will be kept on ventalator until they try in am. I'm upset because they wake him while the ventalator is still in. I'm not happy about it...at all. After some thought maybe dad is resting better since he's still out. My point was that dads body is going through more stress then needed, avoidable in my opinion. The surgeon said othetwise dad is doing great. So that makes me happy. The surgeon has been great, anesthia on the other hand not so much.


Is it bad to be on the ventalator this long?
Does anybody think maybe this has been good for him, being out and

not feeling pain?

Thanks for all your prayers, I'm so proud of Dad. He's been very strong!!

Comments

  • WifeOfSurvivor2Be
    WifeOfSurvivor2Be Member Posts: 21
    #2
    It is upsetting

    My husband was re-intubated 3 times after his surgery.  The 3rd time he had the ventilator for nearly a week before they did a tracheostomy.  He remembers little of it.  I was very concerned he would be frightened.  He was not in pain.  I wanted them to keep him as sedated as possible because I was so concerned about his anxiety.  They tied down his arms and sometimes he looked scared.  I would calmly talk to him and explain what was happening and he would settle down a bit.  BUT.....you aren't always there, so you worry how they are when you are not.

    So...best I can tell you is that he truely doesn't remember so I hope that gives you some comfort.  He had his surgery in December.  He may have been left longer on the ventilator becuase this all happened around Christmas and I feel they were a little short staffed.  He still has the trache but I they will work on getting that out shortly.

    One thing you should be concerned about is pnuemonia.  Being on a ventilator that long, he is more suseptible.  Watch for low grade fevers.  

    One day at a time....

     

  • LauraandLarry
    LauraandLarry Member Posts: 184
    #3
    So sorry

    So sorry you are dealing with this. I agree the main concern from being on the ventilator would be pheumonia. It took 3 attempts for Larry's epidural. On day 2 only 1/2 was waorking at all. U of M has an epidural team, specifically pain management team that specializes in epidurals. They were wonderful. I would ask for another attempt. The epidural is great. It allows for better breathing, and they are able to ambulate and get walking much faster. Reducing the risk of pneumonia and blood clots is the most important thing right now. Good luck to you...prayers

  • Dad'sfight
    Dad'sfight Member Posts: 155
    #4
    LauraandLarry said:

    So sorry

    So sorry you are dealing with this. I agree the main concern from being on the ventilator would be pheumonia. It took 3 attempts for Larry's epidural. On day 2 only 1/2 was waorking at all. U of M has an epidural team, specifically pain management team that specializes in epidurals. They were wonderful. I would ask for another attempt. The epidural is great. It allows for better breathing, and they are able to ambulate and get walking much faster. Reducing the risk of pneumonia and blood clots is the most important thing right now. Good luck to you...prayers

    Hi Laura, I hope Party is

    Hi Laura, I hope Larry is doing well. Its day 3 and the did get the epidural in this morning, we can cross that off the list. They attempted to take dad of ventalator, but it didn't go well. He couldn't breath on his own, so it went back in. They ended up finding mucos plugs in right lung so they sucked that out and trying again tommorrow. Its so upsetting to me. I wish he was completely out during all this but he's not. Its going to be harder then heck to get him to do another surgery after this. I've said prayers for you guys everytime I pray for dad.

  • Dad'sfight
    Dad'sfight Member Posts: 155
    #5
    WifeOfSurvivor2Be said:

    It is upsetting

    My husband was re-intubated 3 times after his surgery.  The 3rd time he had the ventilator for nearly a week before they did a tracheostomy.  He remembers little of it.  I was very concerned he would be frightened.  He was not in pain.  I wanted them to keep him as sedated as possible because I was so concerned about his anxiety.  They tied down his arms and sometimes he looked scared.  I would calmly talk to him and explain what was happening and he would settle down a bit.  BUT.....you aren't always there, so you worry how they are when you are not.

    So...best I can tell you is that he truely doesn't remember so I hope that gives you some comfort.  He had his surgery in December.  He may have been left longer on the ventilator becuase this all happened around Christmas and I feel they were a little short staffed.  He still has the trache but I they will work on getting that out shortly.

    One thing you should be concerned about is pnuemonia.  Being on a ventilator that long, he is more suseptible.  Watch for low grade fevers.  

    One day at a time....

     

    That does give me some
    That does give me some comfort knowing he doesn't remember Too much. They couldn't get dad off today, but they said he had mucos plugs, maybe that is the problem. They didn't mention a trach, that sounds scary. Does it hurt? Can he talk? Your husbands success brings us a sense of hope especially with what were going through. Thank you!!
  • Dad'sfight
    Dad'sfight Member Posts: 155
    #6
    WifeOfSurvivor2Be said:

    It is upsetting

    My husband was re-intubated 3 times after his surgery.  The 3rd time he had the ventilator for nearly a week before they did a tracheostomy.  He remembers little of it.  I was very concerned he would be frightened.  He was not in pain.  I wanted them to keep him as sedated as possible because I was so concerned about his anxiety.  They tied down his arms and sometimes he looked scared.  I would calmly talk to him and explain what was happening and he would settle down a bit.  BUT.....you aren't always there, so you worry how they are when you are not.

    So...best I can tell you is that he truely doesn't remember so I hope that gives you some comfort.  He had his surgery in December.  He may have been left longer on the ventilator becuase this all happened around Christmas and I feel they were a little short staffed.  He still has the trache but I they will work on getting that out shortly.

    One thing you should be concerned about is pnuemonia.  Being on a ventilator that long, he is more suseptible.  Watch for low grade fevers.  

    One day at a time....

     

    That does give me some
    That does give me some comfort knowing he doesn't remember Too much. They couldn't get dad off today, but they said he had mucos plugs, maybe that is the problem. They didn't mention a trach, that sounds scary. Does it hurt? Can he talk? Your husbands success brings us a sense of hope especially with what were going through. Thank you!!
  • LauraandLarry
    LauraandLarry Member Posts: 184
    #7
    Dad'sfight said:

    Hi Laura, I hope Party is

    Hi Laura, I hope Larry is doing well. Its day 3 and the did get the epidural in this morning, we can cross that off the list. They attempted to take dad of ventalator, but it didn't go well. He couldn't breath on his own, so it went back in. They ended up finding mucos plugs in right lung so they sucked that out and trying again tommorrow. Its so upsetting to me. I wish he was completely out during all this but he's not. Its going to be harder then heck to get him to do another surgery after this. I've said prayers for you guys everytime I pray for dad.

    Tomorrow will be a better day

    I hope this for you! I am so glad the epidural worked! Hopefully he won't remember any of this. If he does need another surgery it may not be that hard because this surgery is one of the toughest. Please remember that once he is off vent it will be so important to remind and encourage him to use his spirometer. Next step, off that vent and get breathing!!!! You are both in my thoughts and prayers, thank you for the prayers as well. One day at a time.

  • Theresa4Dad
    Theresa4Dad Member Posts: 20
    #8
    Dad'sfight said:

    Hi Laura, I hope Party is

    Hi Laura, I hope Larry is doing well. Its day 3 and the did get the epidural in this morning, we can cross that off the list. They attempted to take dad of ventalator, but it didn't go well. He couldn't breath on his own, so it went back in. They ended up finding mucos plugs in right lung so they sucked that out and trying again tommorrow. Its so upsetting to me. I wish he was completely out during all this but he's not. Its going to be harder then heck to get him to do another surgery after this. I've said prayers for you guys everytime I pray for dad.

    Sending prayers

    I don't know what else to say right now but I am sending prayers and good thoughts your way. It is so difficult to see your parent so helpless. Please hang in there, you will get through this. All the best to you and your family.

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