Lungs Sound Coarse
I do my best to avoid having to deep suction Ryan. He hates it. I do too. But, I fear it is unavoidable today. His oxygen saturation has been slowly declining over the past few days and he hasn’t produced a strong enough cough to clear it.
I increased the frequency of chest percussion therapy. He has been getting nebulizer treatments. I have used the “inhalator/exhalator” machine to see if I could break it up. This machine pushes 40 psi of air into the lungs and swiftly suction it back out at the same volume. Nothing has had long-lasting results.
A photo of and inhalator/exhalator www.flickr.com
If I do have to clear his lungs, I’ll be sure to record it. Be forewarned, it’s not for the faint of heart to view. During deep suctioning, Ryan will resist and cough violently. It’s common to see tears roll down his face. Sadly, this is a good thing.
So, here’s how it will go down:
- Nebulizer Treatment (20 minutes)
- Chest Percussion Therapy (30 minutes)
- Oral Care (3 minutes)
- Inhalate/exhalate (3 minutes)
- Squirt Saline down the nostrils
- Deep Suction through the nostrils and down trachea (5 minutes)
- Inhalate/Exhalate (3 minutes)
- Suction residual from mouth (1 minute)
I hope it can be avoided!
Does Ryan get Mucomyst with his nebulizers? You have to give it with a bronchodilator like Albuterol but it works wonders. The only downside is that it smells like rotten eggs but it would definitely help to breakup that thick mucus. Patients usually get it mixed in with their regular nebulizers twice a day. Hope this helps!
Is this over-the-counter or Rx?
Unfortunately, it’s prescription and comes in a little glass vial that you draw up with a needle. It breaks down the disulfide bonds in the mucus to thin it out. It’s also called acetylcysteine and can be used for acetaminophen overdose as well. I think it would be very beneficial for him.
Thinking of you Ken. This can’t be easy, but I agree with Paula and the rest of the gals…this is important to see. Just wish the jailbirds could witness what they did to your sweet son. Don’t get me started. I’m still boiling over the Capitol Home Health Care group….. It isn’t pretty.
Sending love and hugs to you and your family.
<3 carla
Ken, do you need more house plants?
Only if it’s not a problem.
Oh Ken, I am praying you do not have to do this. But if you do, I take comfort in knowing that if anyone could do this procedure with exquisite skill and grace, it is you. Please let us know what happens. We all want Ryan to feel better, and we also want him to be feeling good for when the IBRF team arrives this Thursday. Lord, please give Ryan healing, and bless Ken in everything he does. p.s. If you are able, I think taking a video of this is important. People need to understand everything you do to help Ryan stay healthy. And darn it, if Ryan can suffer through it, so can I, though not without heartache. He is a very strong young man, and an inspiration to us all, just like you, Sue and Kari are. Love you guys, Paula
I agree with the comments and lift up the same prayer.
Paula said everything perfectly. Love & prayers to you & Ryan, Sue & Kari.