Sometime after the stroke, my Mom was intubated (meaning she had a breathing tube put down her throat) and put on a ventilator, though I'm not sure at what stage of the process. When I arrived late in the day that she was found and brought to the hospital, she was already intubated. While the ventilator ensures that enough air passes in and out of the lungs, it can lead to dependency and poorer long term results.
So it's important for a person who is using a ventilator to have it discontinued when he or she is ready. From what I've read, clinically determining readiness is not so easy. Even if someone is ready, the body can become a little lazy and the readjustment to doing all the breathing work again can be difficult. To a person who has been on a ventilator, being off the machine can feel a little like running a marathon. It's taxing.
A short overview of the process and decision-making can be found in a Ventilator Weaning article from Northeast Center of Special Care. Some knowledge beforehand can be helpful. In my case, my Mom's hospital gave us a lot of information on day 2 (not day 1) of the weaning process, so we weren't quite prepared for the process of watching her sleep most of the day.
Be informed. Ask questions. Make sure that the hospital tells you about the steps of the process. And most importantly, be encouraging. Once the weaning starts, your loved one might need a lot of positive support. Remember it's a marathon. Be ready to cheer along the way.
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