katekath
Distinguished member
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2008
- Messages
- 148
- Reason
- CALS
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- SGP
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- SG
- City
- SG
Long story short. My sister and I got to learn how to suction for my mum, who is on a trach. I had watched the nurses do it for almost 2 months now, so am pretty sure of the steps, but my friend had warned me beforehand that it is going to be so much different when you do it yourself esp on your own mother. Boy, she was right!
We didn't dare to put in the suction catheter too deep for fear of hurting my mum and was doing it too fast. In the end she still has lots of phlegm in there, but the nurse told us because we can't do it for too long, we had to let her rest and do it again when she needs it.
It doesn't help that both of us have RSI and I have it on both hands! :S Needless to say, the nurse was highly exasperated with us.
Funnily, my mum was happy with us, even though we were so clumsy. We can now help her without waiting for 30 mins for the nurse to attend to her!
Anyway, anyone has any tips to share for suctioning?
We didn't dare to put in the suction catheter too deep for fear of hurting my mum and was doing it too fast. In the end she still has lots of phlegm in there, but the nurse told us because we can't do it for too long, we had to let her rest and do it again when she needs it.
It doesn't help that both of us have RSI and I have it on both hands! :S Needless to say, the nurse was highly exasperated with us.
Funnily, my mum was happy with us, even though we were so clumsy. We can now help her without waiting for 30 mins for the nurse to attend to her!
Anyway, anyone has any tips to share for suctioning?