Hi Kim
Hi Jeannie:
Sorry about your mother, believe me I know what she's going through, let me tell you
that it is very important that she get's training about the use of the ventilator, how to do the suctioning, etc. etc.
At the beginning she may feel she can't do it, but believe me we CALS do learn, I spent six month's at the hospital with my husband, and there were times when the technician did not come on one of the shifts, my husband had to be nebulized on three shifts, and suctioned whenever he needed it, and some of the nurses, didn't have enough experience or didn't like doing this, one of the technicians showed me all the procedures, and at first my husband refused me doing it, but later he only wanted to be suctioned by me. I thank God for all I learned there because once the the ventilator stopped working and I had to get the ambulatory don't know how you say that in English, it looks like an American Football ballon, and get air into his lungs, till the machine was changed, I stayed for 30 minutes pumping air into his trachea.
Does your dad have a PEG? That is something else I learned to do, to feed him myself and to wash the tube thereafter.
The book that Sharonca is suggesting will help her a lot, me at the beginning the two years I spent at home taking care of him by myself, only going out to do the groceries, living him home alone (using a Urinary cathether, so he wouldn't have to wait for my return if he felt the urge) worned me out, my back suffered a lot, my husband was tall and I am petite, at that time my husband couldn't move, talk, everything that comes with this horrible sickness, we communicated through an alphabet and with eye signs,
I fed him, bathe him with my son's help, shaved him, and sat him on a commode, at home he never used diapers, I managed to pull him from his hospital bed to the commode using his nylon pajamas so that he wouldn't stick to the bed sheets.
I am sorry to extend so much on this, but your mother should be able to ask for help from friends, family or church friends to help her with house chores, and with the dogs, I
had at that time three German Shepherds.
I hope she decides to come to the forums, here we can vent, make friends and we don't feel lonely.
I hope I could be of help, feel free to send a private message or e.mail me whenever
you need to vent, or ask questions, my e.mail is
[email protected]
Paty
Baja California, Mexico
Cals to late husband Jorge
Dx 10/17/05
Died 20/12/07
P.D. EVERYBODY HERE IS WONDERFUL