I had thought that intubation meant you have to be unconscious. However I was wrong

It turns out that Intubation (tubes into your lungs for breathing) and oxygenation while someone is sedated but conscious somewhat has been going on for about 100 years. Although it is true that I think this happens only under ICU conditions where people are always watching and caring for someone like this. 

Also, because you are intubated you cannot talk or eat or drink so they have to feed you through salinated sugar water (I'm probably not saying it right because I'm not a nurse or a doctor).

However, this way a person can breathe while they are sedated somewhat so they can cope with this tube down their throat into their lungs but cannot talk or eat or drink anything. So, they survive through the breathing tube and an IV solution that is designed to keep them alive as long as they are intubated in this way.

Here is more on this:
 

Begin quotes:

 

Patients in the ICU can be kept conscious or lightly sedated while intubated anywhere from a few hours to several weeks, depending on modern protocol shifts toward minimizing deep sedation. 

Modern ICU Sedation Practices

Light Sedation Goals: Over the last 20 years, intensive care management changed from keeping patients fully unconscious to targeting an awake, calm, and cooperative state. 
Daily Awakening Trials: Protocols often use daily interruptions in sedation (often called a "sedation vacation") to assess if a patient can breathe independently and wake up safely. 
Duration Range: While some patients are maintained in a conscious or lightly responsive state within 10 to 24 hours of mechanical ventilation, total duration with an endotracheal tube can last days to weeks. 

If you are looking at a specific case, please share:

• How many days the patient has been intubated
• Whether the goal is light comfort or deep sleep

I can provide more relevant details about standard recovery timelines.

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