dr appt update

Quick update from my appointment last Friday… My doctor said it’s time to start thinking about whether or not I want a tracheotomy. He brought it up now because he said he thinks I would fall into a small percentage of patients that would be able to initially use the trach for night use only and cover it during the day if I have the procedure done in the next couple of months. He reviewed basic information with me so that Bob, my family, and I can create a list of questions to discuss with him in more depth at clinic on 8/5. He said that if I chose to have the trach placed that I would only use it for as long as I felt my quality of life warranted, which he believes will be about a year. If I decide to have a trach placed, I would not be able to eat any longer and would only be able to speak if it was covered or on the exhale if it was uncovered. Once I didn’t feel like my quality of life warranted using the trach any longer, we would cover it and I would be moved into hospice care. I was not prepared for this conversation so I have a lot of questions that I didn’t think to ask at the time, the most important being how long he thinks I have if I chose not to have the trach. I am opposed to invasive measures, like the trach, but if I have considerably more time with one, I may change my mind.

I’ve had a hard time handling this information, although Bob is starting to suspect that I’m milking this for a little extra sympathy =) (However, it did get me some great Mexican food this weekend!)

PS I still plan to be at the walk in Oct., so make sure you sign up, donate, or both! (link is below)