posted on July 1, 2007 - 10:11am
When neuromuscular disease weakens the muscles used for breathing, many people benefit greatly from noninvasive ventilation (NIV), which can add years of breathing support.
But when a tracheostomy and ventilator are suggested for better breathing, some people see NIV as “enough” and a trach and vent as somehow “too much.”
When a person’s overall quality of life is no longer acceptable, that’s...
Portable but powerful equipment, skilled guidance make noninvasive ventilation an option for many
posted on September 1, 2003 - 2:49pm
Mike Neufeldt, 25, has been using a ventilator without a tracheostomy tube since he was 15. During the day, he uses a "sip" mouthpiece.
From an evacuation to a power outage to a simple family emergency — do you have a plan that accommodates your special needs?
posted on September 3, 2010 - 10:43am
As storm season whips up, it’s wise to take stock of your emergency plan, especially if your mobility is limited.
Two veterans of weather emergencies — Barbara Twardowski of Mandeville, La. (who has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and uses a power chair) and Shelley Obrand of Davie, Fla. (who has a nonspecific form of muscular dystrophy and uses a power chair and respiratory assistance device) —...
A physician with mitochondrial myopathy describes undergoing and taking care of her tracheostomy
posted on March 31, 2011 - 10:23am
I am writing this article about getting a tracheostomy for others with muscular dystrophies. Many patients are reluctant to have the procedure done because they fear they will lose the ability to talk or to swallow. Neither is true. And, the new trach tubes make it possible to easily take care of a tracheostomy and the tubes.
Short, free guide answers questions about the ADA and other disability rights laws
posted on July 13, 2009 - 4:27pm
“Individuals with disabilities are a protected class under civil rights laws, and it is the one protected class that anyone can join, usually involuntarily, at any point in their lives.”
So says attorney Jacquie Brennan, the author of a new guide to disability rights laws, The Disability Law Handbook, that recently was released by the Southwest Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center...
