Hi Milly 

Thank you for that - you said earlier about the last inflatable wedge pillow - which I bought - it's great when I visit friends. Gives me hope that me day I will be able to sleep 'normally' again 

Andi xxx

Hi Andi,

Pleased the inflatable wedge pillow is good. I should have said my husband was told by the surgeon that he won't be able to lie flat again.

One thing that has surprised me though is that he can do front crawl and backstroke which I  didn't think he'd be able to do . 
 

keeping the faith 

Milly

Hi Milly

That's amazing - I have to be honest and say I'm still a bit scared to swim - but that's very encouraging. Yes - my surgeon said I'd never lie flat again but I do 'slip' down at times. Maybe I should consider the bed!!

Andi xx

Hi Andi,

I'm glad to hear that you're on the road to recovery! If you don't mind me asking, how long were you in the coma for? My dad has been in his coma for a week now :(, and has had his tracheotomy for a day but is still under ventilation and not yet woken due to his body still 'not being ready' and high blood pressure. 
 

Hi Milly,

Thankyou for your reassurance I just hope he pulls through as he's only young (early 50s) and never had any health issues previously apart from his Cancer :/. Weeks are feeling like months for my family and I, never in a million years we thought we would experience something like this but we are still hopeful!

Best wishes,

Poppycake10 x

Poppycaje10 it is overwhelming.My husband was fit and active when he was diagnosed at 62.

 Without going into detail we have experienced trauma in the past but it still seems surreal in a very bad way. However the body is amazing and can recover with the expertise, dedication and care of our wonderful NHS. ICU are fantastic and your dad will be monitored very closely. I wasn't allowed to go in when my husband suddenly became critically ill with internal bleeding. It was truly awful. I pleaded and was allowed in ICU twice during the two weeks he was in there and twice whilst he was in step down. Then I was allowed to take him outside in a wheelchair with his oxygen tank when he eventually got onto a ward. He was told by a consultant after a ultrasound on his lung it was unlikely he'd ever be able to go up a hill again and wouldn't be walking up the high street by Christmas. This would have been true if the surgeon hadn't persisted and got him to see another respiratory surgeon who performed the last op as a planned emergency. He had a total of 10 drain scars plus all the other ones. Fortunately the last op on his left lung was keyhole so the recovery was quicker. 

We climbed up the shorter route of Mam Tor in January and also returned to Goyt Valley just shy of a year when we went before his Oesophagectomy. 
Can you see your dad? If so I'm sure you are talking to him and your encouragement will help him. He is young and it sounds like he was fit with no other issues before this devastating diagnosis, this will help him enormously. Google is not your friend with this type of cancer. 
As I said before take it hour by hour. I called it 'walking the line' not looking too far back or forward- easier said than done I know but the only way at this time. Ask anything you want on here or just have a rant. There are different journeys and outcomes on here but remember your dad is unique.

You have taken a huge step joining this forum - I read this chat for quite a while before I joined - now it's almost addictive! I'm trying to limit how often I check in but please feel free to ask anything/anytime.

keeping the faith for everyone 

Milly

Hi Poppycake

I was in a coma for about 4 days before they did the tracheotomy - and 5 days after - I still don't really know why and my daughters don't want to talk about it. As you know - it's very stressful. I think the worst thing was waking up to having the tracheotomy - and not being able to speak (I'm a chatterbox). It was even worse for me as I'd had one 50 years earlier. Your dad will need a lot of support when he's brought round - the ICU staff are amazing but hopefully visitors are allowed a bit more now.  I'm sure he will be fine xx

Andi xx

Hi Poppy,

Yes it can be cured. I don't wish to repeat myself but my husband had pneumonia. He is also allergic to penicillin which is the usual antibiotic so that was another concern. It is serious but it can be cured. He will get the best care possible and there are lots of different types of antibiotics.
My only advice would be if they say he has developed a pleural effusion and it won't drain it is vital he is seen by a respiratory consultant which I'm sure they  will do as standard. Hopefully this won't happen but better to be forewarned as I didn't realise the link between infection and effusion.

Keep taking it hour by hour and day by day. Can you go in to hospital?

keeping the faith for everyone 

Milly

Don't give up Poppycake - I had double pneumonia - was touch and go - very very I'll - I'm in my 70s - and here to tell the tale (what I can remember of it)

Thinking of you - stay strong - my poor girls went through what you are going through xx

Andi xx

Hi Andi

The sleeping positions take a bit of trial and error , for me anyway and strangely i can only sleep either on my back with at least 2 pillows or on my right hand side , if i turn onto my left side it makes me sick and i am almost 2 years down the line , once you get it right sleeping is ok , i hope everyone else on here is getting on with their recovery plans , i certainly am , take care .

Regards

Douglas