Recent content by katekath

Hi, My mum is using a Breas Vivo 40 bipap 24/7. The internal battery needs replacement as it only runs for 10 minutes instead of 1 hour now. We are thinking of getting an external battery. Does anyone has any experience with getting a compatible external battery for their bipap? I was...

I will try to contact the local distributor for the pump. It didn't cross my mind because they had been rather unhelpful, but I'll try. :) Barry, I tried to put foam underneath it, but it didn't helped as much as towels and was still as loud. I don't remember using something as thick as 2...

Hi, does anyone has any tips for reducing the amount of noise from the suction pump during suctioning? I tried to put towels under the pump, but there isn't much reduction in the noise level. Should I surround the pump with foam or would that hinder heat dissipation from the pump when in use?

I am so sorry to hear it had been so bad. *hugs*I hope the suctioning will lessen as time passes. My mum required very frequent suctioning when she first got her trache and only stabilize after a while. She did require more suctioning when her trache tube gets changed, but the frequency dropped...

Hi Hal, I am sorry for your loss. My mum had a trache after she collapsed and was in ICU for 7 days on the ventilator. She was rather weak when the operation was done and took more than 3 months to stabalise. From my understanding and Joel's experience, the time required to "recover" from the...

My heart just sank. My condolences to you and your family. I had been thinking about Joel for a few weeks. Please know that he is and will be greatly missed.

Subo, did you try what abbas said? Did it help? The thing is my mum had a follow up appt with her urologist and now she has an overactive bladder, but she cannot pass urine by herself. We're still draining her every few hours and more frequently if her diet consisted of a lot of water/watery food.

Katie: Yes, we can't. This is Singapore's medical system for you. LOL. We tried leaving messages with the nurses before, but it never gets through to the docs. There's no point complaining to the management. It is just the way it is in Singapore. Brook: Thanks! I'll ask the doc about that. :)...

Hi Monique, Thanks. ;) She has an appointment with her respiratory doc in January. I can't wait for it to ask the doc. For now, I'm resorting to ear plugs, which helps to reduce the noise level, so I can sleep for at least a few hours. Wan

Hi, Ever since my mum's respiratory doc increase her bipap settings, she had been making a lot of grunting/snoring sounds, when she sleeps. She is not aware of it, but we had been kept awake by all the loud sounds she had been making. Before her settings were increased, she had been...

Joel, thank you for your encouragement and prayers. Abbas, I just read up briefly on the Suprapubic Catheter. I doubt my mum will want one, given where it will be, but I will ask her. Thanks for mentioning it! As far as draining goes, my mum told me she prefer to be drained than have a foley...

So after an hospital stay that involves UTI, my mum hasn't been able to pass urine by herself. The urologist saw her and diagnosed her with neurogenic bladder. We now drain her every 3 to 4 hours and monitor her urine levels. Mum was initially shocked and upset, but got over it quicker than my...

Hi Courtney, I am also worried that it might be carbon dioxide build up. Before my mum has a trach, she was constantly tired and sleeps a lot. A lot more than usual. After she collapsed at home and was brought to the ER, the blood test revealed CO2 build up up to 80%. The docs told me the...

Ah, thanks for the foam rubber idea, Barry! I had initially thought I'll need to encase it in something.

Thanks for the advice, Ann. She has a lung infection previously and apparently during her stay at the hospital, the nurses didn't clean her properly and she now has UTI. We brought her to the ER and she now has a catheter and a bag. I am thankful they allow me to bring her home where she is in...