Hi my mom has been in S.I.C.U.?

for 2 months with sepsis and Ards. Is it possible that she lost any memory during this time? she has a trach ventilater in her throat is there any thing for us to do so we can avoid her getting upset with us when we don't know what she is saying her teeth are not in her mouth and the nurses don't know either

she can't write or walk

Give her a note pad. Tell her you all don't want her to tired herself out trying to speak. Let her write down everything and that way you will hopefully be able to understand her and make things as comfortable as possible for her.

Best Wishes to you and your family!!

Heres a hint, the notepad thing rarely works with patients that are very weak from being septic for a long time! Report It

I am very sorry to hear that. My best advice is to be patient. Things have a way of working out when you least expect it. I hope everything turns out ok.

Depending on the severity of her sepsis, its hard for us to determine how lucid she is. Also, her medication can make her quite a bit disoriented. She probably doesn't know what she's saying, either.

I'm sorry she's sick and I sincerely hope she gets better for you. I'll pray for her.

can she write down what she wants to say? Alot of people with trachs have either pen and note pad or one of those dry erease boards. Some people use speak board, they have certain pics on them that a person can point to or a ABC board were they can spell out the words for you. There are many ways to communicate with someone you just have to find the one that works for her. Good luck

Ask your doc (pulmonologist) for a speech pathology evaluation for possible use of a Passy-Muir valve, which will help her speak in spite of her trach. Her lack of teeth will barely affect her speech, if at all. If she is not a candidate for the Passy-Muir (the ARDS may interfere with voice production), then a professionally designed communication board will help (also from the speech pathologist).
Her memory may be impaired for the period when she was really sick, because the sepsis may have made her very confused.

I used to work at a hospital where many of my patients were long term vent patients and many post ards patients. It will take a lot of time to work with her and get her going again, but it can happen. Not many patients loose the memory of this, they do remember voices and people being there.

Have they considered getting a speech therapist to see if they can use a passymuir valve (aka speaking valve) they can place it on her trach and even when she is on the vent you can talk to her and hear her voice, it takes a few days before it gets clear sometimes.

Good luck! It takes time and a lot of rehabilitation after being sick for that long. I have seen many many patients go through it and walk out of the hospital.