Would You Like A Trach With That?

Greetings All,

First, let me start by thanking everyone for their patience in waiting for an update. We have been waiting and looking at some interesting developments in the past 48 hours. Here's how it goes:

Sunday morning, we (the family) were greeted by the medical staff, as they had a very specific request for us: they wanted to perform a "trach" (I think its proper name is tracheotomy) as well as insert a P.E.G. tube into Rachel's stomach. We were told that the benefit of the P.E.G. tube would be to give direct access to her stomach for feeding. It is a small connecting valve that pokes through her stomach, and is hooked up to a feeding device when it's meal time. Currently, Rachel has been taking nutrition from a tube through the nose into her stomach.

The benefit of the Trach was supposed speed in recovery. Initially, we were told that this procedure would help in clearing her airway, prevent pneumonia, and help in breathing. It is a small opening that is opened at the base of the neck, right above the breast plate. It is a direct opening into the trachea, and might allow better, more efficient clearing of the lungs.

We considered all options, and talked them over with Rachel. At the end of the matter, Rachel chose to go for the P.E.G. tube (which is a very simple, very routine, very 'easy to heal' procedure with little to no risk) and hold off on the trach (which is also very simple, very routine, but not necessarily 'easy to heal', and definitely higher risk).

The primary reason behind that decision is that it appears that she simply doesn't need it right now. We are all rather baffled that the medical team here even recommended it, as she has dramatically improved her breathing, cough, gag reflex dramatically in the previous 3 days. We are surprised that they wanted to move forward with a procedure that could exponentially increase her risk of infection, as well as increase her general 'risk level' as a hospital patient.

If she continues on this path, she will have no need for a trach, or any other form of aided breathing. At this point, she can get oxygen in her lungs with relatively small effort, which is cool.

Tomorrow, she should have the P.E.G. tube inserted. This will be a bedside procedure, and will be performed by a Gastrointestinal team. Yahoo.

On a lighter note, she has definitely had a shift in spirits. She has been laughing frequently, as she is surrounded by cornball joke-tellers. She knows the amount of mail (gifts, flowers, thank you cards) that has been coming in, and no doubt the many prayers have helped tremendously. Russel, her 80 year old roomie, is feeling friskier this past few days, providing a much-needed comic relief. We just have to be careful when we glance over at him ;)

Rachel has also experienced her first good night of sleep since she has been admitted here. She was out like a light last night, this morning, and multiple times throughout the day today. That's a good thing.

I'll post an update after the P.E.G. procedure tomorrow. Until then, thanks for your continued support.

- Josh