25 May 2014

A Warning

From the time we had received the trial BIPAP machine till the time the new machine was delivered, masking C was often met with difficulties, either he was unwell or something just had to break down. For that reason, we had decided that C could enjoy a little more days of natural sleep without machine intervention through careful monitoring. He was doing very well for the longest time I could remember. Drops in SpO2 were rare.

Friday night was different.

The first alarm was triggered before midnight. Oxygen saturation on the oximeter read 84% and it continued to dip by the second - 83, 82, 81...  77, 76, 75...

In the past, C lowest SpO2 was at 72% so I wanted to prevent it from reaching that. I began to gently stroke his chest hoping to wake him up from deep sleep (usually my touch would wake him and send his pulse rate & SpO2 back to normal level). This time, no response.

70, 69, 68... the drop did not stop. Worried, I hasten to wake him but to no avail. I grew desperate and started calling and patting him. My gaze were going forth and back, on C and on the dreadful numbers reflected.

62, 61, 60... finally, C stirred and I breathed in deep for the first time. His SATS started climbing and things were soon back to norm. I did, however, noticed that his pulse rate was fluctuating and SpO2 was at a lower than usual 96%.

Few minutes passed and the alarm sounded again. Two more dips ensued. I then alerted hubby to be on standby while I changed a new sensor probe to ascertain the erratic readings. I had the BIPAP and mask ready too. Things quieten down for the next hour and just as we thought it was over, the cycle started again (even though the drops were not as drastic). By the sixth drop, we were ready to mask him. C usually fights hard when on mask but this time round, he fussed only because we shifted him. He went right back to sleep shortly. No more beeping and no more heart-stopping moments.

Tonight, even though C is doing better but I do see slight drop and decided that he should stay masked. Wondering if it's the Monday jab at the polyclinic which is making him weaker?

Anyway, shall continue to do my night monitoring and I do hope tomorrow will be a better day.

1 comment:

  1. Hope C can gradually accept the mask, and it becomes his new normal. We understand that it is like spectacles - if they don't wear, the degree can increase over time. When there is a period of flu esp, the mask helps Vera to breathe through the mucus and help her to rest to recover.

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