OK it's getting old she did it again...

[Mom_to_an_angel]

Jordan took the trach out again this time I couldn't get the 3.0 back in so I had to crack open the 2.5. with tape around the back. Now I have no back up till tuesday. Hubby is at AT for 2 wks and I'm so frustrated and mad that I don't have help to get her 3.0 back in. I'm going nuts. The ENT on call for her says keep the 2.5 in till monday when I can talk to her actual ENT. Even then it's still me yay. I'm sooooo drained. But I need to keep going and I really don't want to drive 2 hrs myself and Jordan just for 20 min. And I hate driving as it is. Words of wisdom would be nice. thanks for reading.

[Alethia]

Vennesssa, I don't really know what to suggest. It sounds like a really c**p situation for you. It sucks being on your own to deal with all of this. I'm a kind of "fly by the seat of my pants" sort of gal, so I'd tend to have a go at changing the trach and seeing if I could get the bigger one in while in a more controlled situation, with lubricating jelly round the bigger trach before insertion, BUT I've never had a kid with airway constriction so I don't know how risky that is. Angus used to pull his trach out really frequently, but you could drive a bus through his airway so no big deal. I'd better shut up and leave the experts in tight airways to give you proper advice. Hope you get some cool answers!! In the meantime,

Love,

Kate
XXX

[lovemymak]

so I'd tend to have a go at changing the trach and seeing if I could get the bigger one in while in a more controlled situation, with lubricating jelly round the bigger trach before insertion,

I agree. Is it possible that you could do the trach change while she is sleeping? We have done that before when Keturah has been irritable and fighting trach changes. It happens so fast that she doesn't have a chance to wake up and figure out what happened. Then I would sterilize the smaller one to save until next week if you actually get it back in. Otherwise, just make sure you have your hemostats handy in case she decides the 2.5 is gonna come out and you can't get that one back in. BTW, how many fingers can you fit under the ties? It's pretty unbelievable to me that she can keep pulling it out like that! I don't want it to sound like you are doing anything wrong, but I don't understand how it can come out if it is tight enough.

[Alethia]

Originally Posted by lovemymak

........ but I don't understand how it can come out if it is tight enough.

Unless Angus' trach tapes are done up to "strangle-hold" tension, he can pull his trach out if he really wants to. If he's got his vent on, he just pulls his vent hose down slowly and long enough, and if he hasn't he either unpicks his tapes, or wangles a finger under his tapes near the front and pulls forwards. Kids will do ANYthing to hack you off, really......

[Alex's mom]

Can you put two sets of trach ties on? Or a set of trach ties and the twill tied on too?

There was one time Alex's trach came out and I went thru two before I could get one in, and it was a lubrication problem. (I was alone at the time) I ended up grabbing a saline bullet to lubricate and it worked. Up until then we had never had a problem. Now we have the gel and I use it every time and keep it with all the spare trachs.

[LeslieML]

KY jelly is what we keep in our sx machine. sometimes we have had to do it "the hard way" meaning papoosing him in a towel and hyperextending the neck, especially if he REALLY doesn't want it to go back in.
Good luck and keep us posted.

[Mom_to_an_angel]

Ok now After a breather for 3 hrs. I got the 3.0 in. even tho the ent on call said do what I think is best. If I wanted to keep the 2.5 in till monday when I talk to my ENT then that was fine. But I opped to put the 3.0 in tonight just so I could have a back up. I had jordan all wraped up and neck over a pillow to tilt her head back. then I got the medical tape around the back where the velcro attaches. That is how she got it off was pull the tab and it comes off ties and all.Now we are all good as clames and if she gets this undone then I don't know what I'll do. She has her tummy full and trach back to normal. Now if I can get through the next 2 wks w/ no problems, then Ill be one happy chicken.

[alizesmom]

I'm glad you got the 3.0 back in. If the little queen is asleep, sit down and eat chocolate. Lots of it. I wish I could give you better advice. Karen

[Kaylie]

Wow, she has really been something else lately, non stop trach pulling out, that little stinker. i know the stress must be making you crazy, because she just keeps doing it and then the back up trach. Do you think she is doing it to just do it? or is it something else? Kaylie has decanned before, but most of the time its been accidental, like once she pulled the passy off and the way she pulled it her trach came out, then once she ripped off the cap right after the nurse left and her trach was twisted up in her neck and it was not fun , i was alone too and the way she twisted it up i thought forsure she damaged her airway and afterwards we had to go to the ENT to make sure there was no damage,( when i had to put the trach back in i had alot of trouble thats forsure, and kaylie kept telling me to get it in. i know these kids love keeping us on our toes. i am sorry that you have to handle this all yourself, that really sucks, i too have to do alot myself because Kaylies mom has to work and her father is not involved at all, and we only have nursing 2 days a week. i hope things get better, with the decan thing, maybe someone can think of something else to do. i sure hope so... take care

[lovemymak]

I'm glad you got the 3.0 back in! What a stinker! Pulling the velcro! I hope the med tape works for you. Here's hoping for 2 good weeks!