Dougie was worked pretty hard over the last 48 hours having been free breathing the whole time. As a result he really was exhausted and the Docs decided to put him back on the full ventilator early this afternoon. The problem is that when he is tired his breathing rate goes up dramatically and each breath becomes very shallow. When we saw him earlier to-day he was still free breathing and looking alert but tired. This evening he certainly looked a bit more rested. I think there will be a slight change of tack with shorter free breathing periods and shorter full support periods.
He is progressing satisfactorily towards minimum drugs intervention, all of which is good.
In addition the range of his responses appears to be extending with nods and head shakes more evident.
Any downgrading of status (Intensive to High Dependency) really depends on this breathing issue so I do hope that together Doug and the team can get it sorted.
Sheena and I are going in late morning and staying till mid afternoon (off and on for rounds etc.) and then going back around 9.15ish to see him settled. It's so hard to come away .........
Iain
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Hi Iain, Sheena and family,
Can I just say thank you so much for taking the time to post these blogs. It means so much to us all to get an update on how Barx is doing.
I know it must be so difficult to see such slow improvement.... I wish I could be there to see him. Jimbo T explained how it was to actually see Barx in the flesh all hooked up and I get a sense of how helpless you must feel.
As always we are all thinking of you guys and of course the man himself.... go Barky!
Dave, Meesh and Isla
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