Hi All. Geoff and I spent a couple of hours in mom's room this morning. We decided to camp out there, so that we could calm her if she became agitated. We had only a couple of opportunities to do that, as she seemed much more relaxed today. Geoff, Heather and I made a playlist with some of mom's favorite more mellow music, so there is now music in her room. I did a little research, and music has been very effective in helping patients, who are intubated, to heal more quickly. It has also been shown to reduce anxiety in patients. It's anyone's guess if it's the music, the anti-anxiety medication, the sedation wearing off more and more each day or having her kids in the room that's relaxing her. What's important, is that she is more calm - her breathing is slower and she's only on the vent at a very low level, just to back her up if she needs it.
This afternoon, they will put her up in a gurney chair. Her doctor wants her to be sitting up ASAP, since she's been laying down for 2 1/2 weeks now. This not only helps her muscles and skin, but allows her lungs to function more properly and provides variety for mom. They did this yesterday, thinking she might only tolerate it for a few minutes, but she sat there for 45 minutes. After that, she was tired and rested well for the rest of the afternoon. Today, they will sit her up again. They'll also take the ventilator tube off of her trach entryway, in order to see how she's breathing completely on her own (no ventilator for back up). Now that she has the trach, they can try things like this, since they can pop the tube off and onto the trach easily. It's much more easy to regulate the vent on the trach than it was when she had the breathing tube down her throat.
We'll be heading back to the hospital to be with her while she's in the gurney chair, so we'll post again later today.
love,
jennifer
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
This sounds so much more positive. I'm sure your Mom enjoys the music and having her family around her! and the gurney chair (?) must be a big improvement over laying flat for more than two weeks.
Best of luck to all of you. You and Sheryl are constantly in my thoughts.
Love, Sharon
Amazing!! What progress. The music will help your mom relax. And, sitting up definitely helps the lungs. I would not be surprised if she breaths totaly on her own today or tomorrow. There is incredible love and strength that you are sharing with her and each other. Later all of you will look back at this with amazement. Keep up the good thoughts. There are a lot of prayers and special thoughts for all of you. She isvery special as her kids are.
Rick
Post a Comment