Catherine Zeta-Jones has a trach scar that hasn’t seemed to detract her sexxayness.
What am I saying? I’m saying you may need to keep Sean Connery away from yer man so things don’t get awkward.
:eek: Really?!? Clearly, I have not been paying enough attention.
<Homer Simpson> "I’m sorry. I was lost in your beautiful eyes … " </Homer Simpson>
Yeah, but you’re giving me an idea how we can pay off the bills … 
I really really really hope you mean an art heist.
Is that what the kids are calling it these days? 
Hoo, boy. Well, I’m just in my first year of practice (kind of an intern), so don’t take me as an authority! But unless they have reason to suspect language or cognitive problems (which honestly you or he would be in a better position to report because you know what his pre-illness status was and they don’t), I’d guess they’re probably going to be looking more at his swallowing and voice. Being intubated messes with both of those things. Passing his swallow eval is great. However, that’s only a snapshot of a few seconds, so they may be keeping an eye on it for a bit (they should be!). Signs to watch for are things like throat-clearing, coughing, runny nose or eyes, etc. during and after meals (particularly on thin liquids like water or juice) which may indicate that stuff is trying to go down the wrong pipe. It happens to all of us once in awhile, so every cough or throat clear is not an indication of pending aspiration pneumonia, but if it’s happening consistently it’s a red flag.
The standard tips we give people when we want to make sure they’re swallowing safely are things like:
-always have him eat sitting upright to at least 75 degrees
-go slow with meals
-small bites and sips
-alternate food and liquids to wash everything down
Having a breathing tube can also mess with your voice because the tube goes between the vocal cords. I know he’s been on a trach for awhile, and a tracheotomy doesn’t do that, but they may want to work with him a bit if he is sounding hoarse or weak.
I’m really hoping the SLPs have told you all this already!
Nope. I asked PT today: they’re goin’ for it tomorrow. No frame, just a walker for him to hang onto, and a sheet around his hips as a sort of sling, and brute muscles (the therapists and Shoe together).
Hard to say, really, since he’s been bedridden for so long. Probably a bit of column A and a bit of column B.
None of these signs. He’s doing great as far as all that is concerned. Really. Can’t I just bring him home already? whimpers
Soon dear, soon.
( and then the happy dancing will really commence)
So did Elizabeth Taylor, apparently. (Visible in about half of these. She accepted an Oscar a couple weeks after getting off the vent.) I know a guy with a trach scar - it’s visible, sure, but easily ignored. Or covered with a shirt, if he’s self conscious about it. Or shown to the world if he likes bragging about it.
Count me as another SDMBer that has been checking this thread daily but hasn’t posted yet. I’m so glad he’s on the upswing! Pretty soon he’ll be home and you’ll be going nuts trying to keep him from doing yard work.
shakes fist
Goes back to looking at pretty movie star pictures.
Patience, poppet. Better to take his time and build up his strength and reserves now than to get home earlier and have to drag him back to the hospital.
I took a few days off from SDMB, come back anxious to see the updates here…and find out that you all took time off too! I feel honored. 
Glad things are going fairly well, horseshoe!
-D/a
On today’s Washington Post, about more virulent West Nile Virus:
Mr Shoe may be part of a new trend :(.
In less-fun news, we’re starting the paperwork for his COBRA (ooooof, I don’t wanna know how much that’s gonna cost…) and my unpaid leave forms. I’m not exactly flush with cash or anything but I’ve been able to keep up with bills (strange how our grocery budget has gone way down … :dubious: ) and I LIKE knowing how the next electricity bill is going to get paid. Not looking forward to leaner times down the road.
In more-fun news, the plan is still to move him out of acute care and into an inpatient physical rehab facility: the goal date is 11/19 (the Monday before US Thanksgiving). At that point, HIS goal is going to be to get the hell outta there, since he’s fine with outpatient rehab. He just reallyreallyREALLY wants to go home. Even for just a couple of hours. 
The physical therapists here at acture care have been working him more, making him stand up (supported) and do some situps and things, and he’s getting stronger.
Also, a day or two ago, the isolation protocol was finally OFFICALLY LIFTED. No more dressing up like a ghost! No more masks! (I was starting to get a rash on my face…) WHEEEEE! Best of all, that means that they can stick him in a wheelchair and take him around.
He said today, “If they take me outside today, it’ll be exactly three months since the last time I saw sunshine.”
Yep. Exactly three months to the day.
(Oh, and his mom took a plate of peanut-butter cookies down to the ICU nurses. They deserve more than we could ever bake for them, but it’s a start. )
ICU nurses are gods who walk among us, truly.
Ouch on the COBRA :(. I gather his employer doesn’t have any kind of disability policies that cover insurance in this situation? Any chance you can get him added to your company’s policy? Even if it’s not open season, losing insurance in this situation qualifies as a life event that allows mid-year changes.
You may also want to look into whether there are any disability-based health plans available. I honestly have no clue, beyond Medicare/Medicaid which I think requires you to be disabled for more than a year. Check with the hospital’s social workers to see if they have any suggestions.
Crossing fingers that they do get him out into the sun - that will be such a huge morale boost!!
What will be the criteria for discharge from inpatient rehab to home / outpatient? If you can find out some of the things they’ll be looking for, it’ll give him a goal to target. Some of that may involve household changes (ramp, grab-bars or whatever). But others may be like “can walk from bed to bathroom with a walker” or whatever and those will give him something to focus on.
Look into getting a handicapped placard for your car for when he does get sprung. He may not like it, but it’ll make outings with him a lot easier until he gains his strength. Between the muscle weakness directly from the West Nile, the atrophy from not having been able to move around for so long, and the lung issues (if any lingering shortness of breath), it may be a bit before he’s up for any long walks into stores etc.
Good news. Here’s hoping that he’s over the worst of it!
Just got a text here at the office that he just got back inside from being out in the sunshine.
Yaaaaaaaa!!! Sunshine.
YAY!!! Good for TOS!!!
Yeehaw! And don’t it feel good!