Plugged

We have been taking it easy, just trying to get to Wednesday and complete the scans.  Most of our time has been spent on symptom management.

A trach is essentially a second nose.  If your nose is running all the time, it is very uncomfortable.  If things get too dry, that can cause problems too.

After stretching Ernies esophagus, the ENT doctor felt Ernie had way too many secretions.  So he started Ernie on a medicine to dry him out.  This seemed like a blessing at first.  Far less "nose" blowing means far more sleep.  However, things took a turn for the worse this morning.

Not long after breakfast, Ernie felt he could not get his breath.  Since the ER is closer than Urgent Care, off we went.  Long story (4 hours) short, Ernie had dried "crud" in his airway (aka plugs).

The solution to plugs is "saline bullets."  We had recently gotten a supply but they came without instructions.  So, the nurse demonstrated.  Basically, you pour sterile salt water down the trach tube into your lungs!  Imagine jumping in the ocean and swallowing at the wrong time.  The idea is to induce coughing.  Works like a charm but not the most pleasant experience. (WHO THINKS OF THESE THINGS?)  It did make Ern feel a whole lot better after he got over it.

Now we can refocus on tomorrow.