Ventilators normally don't cause pain. The breathing tube in your airway may cause discomfort. It can also affect how well you eat and talk. You may be able to talk if you have a trach tube, face mask, or helmet.
\nA ventilator limits your movement, which may prevent you from carrying out your activities. When you are on the ventilator, your doctor may have you lie on your stomach instead of your back to help more of your lungs get oxygen.
\nWhile you're on a ventilator, your healthcare team will watch you closely. The team may include doctors, nurses, and respiratory therapists. You may need regular chest X-rays and blood tests to check the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your body. These tests help your healthcare team find out how well the ventilator is working for you. Based on the test results, they may adjust the ventilator's airflow and other settings as needed.
\nA nurse or respiratory therapist will suction your breathing tube from time to time. This helps remove mucus from your lungs. Suctioning will cause you to cough, and you may feel short of breath for several seconds. You may get extra oxygen during suctioning to improve shortness of breath.
\nInstead of food, your healthcare team may give you nutrients through a tube in your vein. Or you may get food through a feeding tube placed in either your nose or mouth that goes to your stomach. A tube may also be put through a surgically made hole in your abdomen that goes directly into your stomach or small intestine.
\nIf you need a ventilator long term, you will get a tracheostomy and you may be given a portable machine. This machine allows you to move around and even go outside, although you need to bring your ventilator with you. You will need to take precautions not to displace your tracheostomy tube, or the tubing that connects it to your portable ventilator.
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