View Single Post
Old 07-30-2016, 09:53 AM
RobTom RobTom is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 8
8 yr Member
RobTom RobTom is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 8
8 yr Member
Default Strategies/medicines for getting off vent and reversing trach

Hi, I posted here a few months ago when my mother was first diagnosed with MG. She is 87 and had MG crisis with breathing in late May. She was admitted to ICU and intubated, then received Plasmapheresis. Then in early June received IVIG. They then did a a trach. She spent 5 weeks in ICU and now 4 weeks in an LTAC. She is on Mestinon and Prednisone (tapered to 50 mg now). It had been 6 weeks since she received IVIG so we finally got another treatment for her a few days ago. She has been mostly bedridden or sitting in a chair for the 9 weeks. Been trying to wean off the vent for the last 5 weeks. One time she made it 10 days before she needed the vent again. She has been off the vent 3 days now and we are hoping this time it works. She does still have the feeding tube from 9 weeks ago in the ICU. Hoping that is reversed soon.

In your experiences are there other strategies or medicines we should consider to get to the point of reversing the trach? We were told that the plasma and IVIG usually does the trick, but not yet for us. How long have others been on the vent before they got to the point of a trach reversal? We are kind of stuck because don't know how much longer she can stay at the LTAC and there are really no nursing centers with vent units in the area. And she is probably still not ready for a PT Rehab facility. Hearing others experiences would be helpful.

Thank much.

Rob
RobTom is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote