Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Update # 183

8 Years

Jeff has had a quiet productive work day.

He had a pretty restful night after surgery. They did give him a bit extra pain med since they move him around in bed for his bath but he really had not complained of pain, only discomfort.

At Midnight, they turned off the sedation so he would be alert for the breathing trial this morning. They also lowered the dosage of pain med.

Jeff’s job today was to breathe on his own. The first step in Jeff’s recovery is to regain chest muscle strength. (all muscles will eventually be worked to regain strength) He has to work these muscles so his lungs will work properly.

A little after 8:00 this morning, the breathing trial began. The vent was still connected to the trach but set as a back-up in case Jeff had difficulty breathing. He did well for 2 hours so they had Jeff continue for another 2 hours. Around Noon, the vent was turned back on for Jeff to be able to relax and rest after his morning work out.

Late afternoon around 5:15, a new machine was brought into Jeff’s room. Jeff was completely unhooked from the ventilator and a collar with a tube attached to this machine was put around Jeff’s neck and over the trach. Jeff is breathing completely on his own but this machine provides warm, moist air that Jeff breathes into his lungs. Warm, moist air will help loosen secretions in Jeff’s lungs. Jeff has completed 2 hours of breathing and the tech said Jeff is doing so well, they want him to continue another 2 hours. But Jeff had us call the nurse and requested to stop after 3 hours since he feels tired.

Mid-afternoon, Jeff had a little discomfort about the trach site so requested a little pain med. This was one Jeff never had before and we’ve requested he never have it again. It was far too strong and within 15 minutes he vomited.

Not bad for Jeff’s first full day with the trach – breathing on his own, working chest muscles for 7 hours. Jeff will again be connected to the vent at the trach so he can fully relax and rest overnight. We have no idea how this will all work tomorrow. I assume they will assess Jeff’s work day and come up with a plan.

We pray this day is just the beginning of many days of working Jeff’s body to regain muscle strength. Jeff is a little more alert today and tomorrow should be even more with the sedation leaving his body. We appreciate all the cards, packages, texts, and emails. Our prayers are for his lungs to work properly so Jeff has no more setbacks.

love,

Marcia