Thanks for the insights and encouragements. Christine - thank you for all of the good info. I will contact Dr. Carlson and request the special trach. I am scheduled to leave the hospital and go straight into an assisted living/rehab where PT & Speech Therapy are available. I have experience there with speech therapy. I learned to always have an advocate that is not medicated. My Wife and Mom will be with me to keep the staff in line. I remember as a young diabetic in a local hospital the nurses wanted to feed me then check my blood glucose then give me insulin. That order of events could have been very dangerous. Advocates if you want to live through a hospital visit. Joe - thanks for the support. Your time frames are what I am hoping for now. If I can ride my bicycle in two years then this procedure will be a success in my book. How did you sleep after the surgery (sitting up, on your back, etc...)? Did you have hyperbaric treatments?
