Ex marathoner can barely stand after covid and time on a ventilator

It takes a long time, I think, to recover strength after being so very sick, no matter what the illness.
Ventilators aren't great for the lungs even in 'normal' times and I've read statistics that prior to this around 1/2 the patients wind up making it off a ventilator.

I was surprised with the initial demand for ventilators because I've known people treated for pneumonia and they got humidified oxygen which worked. But this isn't pneumonia in the traditional sense. Hopefully there will be somekind of rehab for ventilator patients that survive and make it off one.
 

Ventilators aren't great for the lungs even in 'normal' times and I've read statistics that prior to this around 1/2 the patients wind up making it off a ventilator.

I was surprised with the initial demand for ventilators because I've known people treated for pneumonia and they got humidified oxygen which worked. But this isn't pneumonia in the traditional sense. Hopefully there will be somekind of rehab for ventilator patients that survive and make it off one.
I was told it's hard to get off of oxygen when someone gets put on. I have a friend that was on it for years and it cost like $36,000 a year which her insurance paid 80%.
 
I was told it's hard to get off of oxygen when someone gets put on. I have a friend that was on it for years and it cost like $36,000 a year which her insurance paid 80%.
I've heard similar stories although it depends on the cause and how much a patient who is willing to do for themselves. I know of people in their 80s who got off oxygen and a month of rehab but when the therapist and nurses stopped visiting they stopped their exercises and activity and spent the rest of their life carting around a bottle.

Part of the issue with ventilators is that they can actually damage the lungs so only they way they can function efficiently is with aid after a certain point. I think I read where sleep apnea machines might be a possible substitute for some which damages lungs less.
 
Until a couple of days ago, I thought a ventilator was "Life Saving."
A doctor said using it damages the lungs.
 
Until a couple of days ago, I thought a ventilator was "Life Saving."
A doctor said using it damages the lungs.
And yet people were screaming for and making a big stink about them. I guess to show they were doing something.
 
I was told it's hard to get off of oxygen when someone gets put on. I have a friend that was on it for years and it cost like $36,000 a year which her insurance paid 80%.
I pay 100 a month for my oxygen which is called I think a rebreather. It concentrates the oxygen from the room. Medicare would rather I use a c-pap machine but I can’t get used to it. After deductible husband’s plan is 80/20. Doesn’t cost more no matter how much it’s used.
 


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