In the fullness of time, you can get used to anything. And you don’t realize it until it’s brought to your attention. Last week, I tried out a new ventilator that is both smaller and lighter than the decades-old model I’ve been using and that hasn’t changed much since Reagan was president. The new vent felt…different. It’s hard to explain. The airflow created by the new vent is subtly different from the old vent, but it was enough to make my body say, “Hey, hey, what the hell is this? This won’t do at all.”
A little tweaking of the new vent’s settings helped me feel a little more comfortable and I’m sure that I would eventually adapt. I have fuzzy memories of how strange breathing felt when I first started using this vent, but I adapted without much trouble. I’m like the guy who’s been driving the same Ford Escort for the last 23 years and is now test-driving a Prius. From every technological aspect, the Prius is far superior, but it doesn’t have the familiar hum and rattle of the Escort.
I’ll probably give the new vent another try after the manufacturer modifies a few things; it would be nice to do away with much of the bulk that sits on the back of my wheelchair. And I don’t want to be one of these middle-aged cripples who resists change out of habit and caution. My current vent has served me well, but it’s only a machine.
I know 2 other people who feel the same way about the Pulmonetic, I’m sure there is lots more out there. It is a major change.
Congratulations on your iphone. Thinking of you