Caregiver Journal – Adapting and Making Plans after Trach Surgery

This is our fifth night in the hospital, the fourth since Mary’s surgery. The last two days have been busy; we had several visitors yesterday who brought food and clean laundry and even some laughs, and a chance for Denise to take a shower! The two nurses who worked with Mary on Saturday after she was moved out of ICU requested to work with her again yesterday, and she also had the same Respiratory Therapist, so that helped our comfort levels. Mary had been experiencing quite a bit of anxiety adjusting to breathing through the trach tube instead of her nose; suddenly unable to feel any air moving in or out makes it feel like you aren’t getting any air. By Sunday evening, we started backing off on the anti-anxiety medication so that Mary would be able to start adapting to all these changes while awake. She slept a little better Sunday night, so did Denise.

Today, Monday, started off much busier. Things never stop in a hospital, but for some reason there is more activity during the week. A new nurse, a new respiratory therapist, a new pulmonologist… so much to re-negotiate. A nurse case manager stopped in to talk about the plan after Mary is able to leave the hospital; her insurance and the staff here feel it is not necessary for her to go to the long-term care facility. Their plan is to discharge her to home as soon as everything is in place. This means the biggest issue is once again caregivers.

I called her DHS caseworker to let her know her status has changed and ask about increasing her hours for in home care. I’m waiting for a response on that.

Our one current caregiver is out of town on vacation this week. I have been trying to find other caregivers, and finally got responses from two potential caregivers over the weekend, at which time I asked for their resumes and told them she was in the hospital. I contacted them both again today to let them know she would be going home sooner than we had originally expected and that I would like to start interviewing this week. Fingers crossed! I also need to call the one agency that is willing to work with us, and let them know the current status and see if they have been able to find anyone who can work with Mary.

Please send your positive thoughts and healing energies for Mary’s anxiety to be relieved and for us to find the right caregiving team for her to safely come home as soon as possible.