Can people be on ventilators for weeks and recover? What are the chances?

What were some medical problems that people you know had while they were on a ventilator?

No, I think the maximum is about 7 to 10 days. My friend was on one for 10 days 4 years ago. It is a tube inserted through the mouth, down into the airway. It requires much medication to keep the patient from feeling a lot of pain and discomfort, and so he/she won't try to remove it. Then a tracheostomy was done and a breathing tube inserted through the neck. She then remained in the hospital for 7 weeks, gradually spending less time on the respirator, spent 2 weeks there in rehab, finally going home on oxygen via nose cannula.

i was on a vent for almost 2 months.i don't know what the chances of recovery are but i did ok.

yes, it is quite possible, but a lot of it depends on what the person is on a ventilator for. and also its hard to know there chances unless we know what is wrong with them.

They can indeed. A person may require ventilatory supprt for a while, for example if they have a temporary condition that affects thier musles or the nerves (eg Guillian Barr syndrome).
The longer someone is on a ventilator, the lower the chance they will come off.

lung pressure devices cause the diaphram muscles to weaken the longer you are on them, so, if it is for a short period the more chance of not having problems!