NotMyDad
Active member
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2016
- Messages
- 70
- Reason
- Lost a loved one
- Diagnosis
- 11/2016
- Country
- US
- State
- VA
- City
- Woodbridge
First, I know I started several separate threads, and I wonder if that's okay. Or should I just start one and stick to it? I start a new thread with each new question, and I'm afraid I may have more questions, and more each day...
My dad's doctor recommends that he gets a trach together with his peg.
My dad is bulbar onset, but I'd say not a quick progression (but that's just my impression??). He was diagnosed on November 2016. He is weaker, but walks (one leg causes trouble so he has to be careful); uses his arms without problems (just less strength). Good breathing. But horrible on the bulbar aspect probably mostly because he should have gotten a peg a while ago...
But his worst nightmare is saliva/mucus - and here also because he won't use his cough-assist or suction. He says he has a very sensitive throat and cough assist makes things much worse.
So he spends hours a day trying to cough things out because something (saliva ,mucus?) constantly bothers him deeper in his throat.
That's why the doctor recommends trach.
But i read horrible things about it and am very scared....
I read many of the threads you recommend about trach, but still don't know what's the right thing to do in my dad's case.
My dad lives just with his wife (who can be of no help because of her health problems). Would he be able to suction his trach by himself? Or would his independent life be over?
If vent is not needed, can trach be still strongly recommended?
My dad's doctor recommends that he gets a trach together with his peg.
My dad is bulbar onset, but I'd say not a quick progression (but that's just my impression??). He was diagnosed on November 2016. He is weaker, but walks (one leg causes trouble so he has to be careful); uses his arms without problems (just less strength). Good breathing. But horrible on the bulbar aspect probably mostly because he should have gotten a peg a while ago...
But his worst nightmare is saliva/mucus - and here also because he won't use his cough-assist or suction. He says he has a very sensitive throat and cough assist makes things much worse.
So he spends hours a day trying to cough things out because something (saliva ,mucus?) constantly bothers him deeper in his throat.
That's why the doctor recommends trach.
But i read horrible things about it and am very scared....
I read many of the threads you recommend about trach, but still don't know what's the right thing to do in my dad's case.
My dad lives just with his wife (who can be of no help because of her health problems). Would he be able to suction his trach by himself? Or would his independent life be over?
If vent is not needed, can trach be still strongly recommended?