All,

I'm SO curious about what y'all mean by mucous since my mother has a lot of "secretions" which prompts her LTAC here at Emory to consider her a permanent tracheostomy patient. She saw her surgeon yesterday who disagreed and said her airway is clear and that a trach tube just exacerbates secretions. Being a "trach" patient really really limits our nursing home/rehab options. PLease please advise if y'all have experience with trachs. Mom is doing really well with the exception of this trach issue.

Thanks! Trish, caregiver to 82 yo Mom

Mom age 84 dx stage IV papillary cancer mandible 10/10; non-smoker, drinker, HPV-. Surgery 2/16/2011; mandibulectomy. 0 pos lymph nodes, has been in long-term hospital since March 2011. Returned home 8/11, permanent PEG tube.