Since My Surgery

An Update

First the less than good news. Three stories.

I had pretty much healed after my surgery and things were going well. Then one night I had a coughing fit. After the fit was over I was brushing my teeth and suddenly I couldn't breath. I gagged and fought to breath but I was somehow obstructed. I opened my trach tube and stumbled to the bedroom. "Help me!" I whispered to my wife and we quicky got dressed and went to the emergency room.

I was quickly ushered into the examination room and the doctor soon arrived. He was obviously not well versed in Trachs and had no idea what to do. He had me hooked up to a nebulizer to see if he could soften anything that was stuck. That didn't work so he order a muscle relaxant to see if my muscles in my throat were doing it. That didn't work either. My wife drove home to get my trach information to show the doctor. As the doctor saw other patients I read the papers and in the troubleshooting section read that if you have breathing trouble make sure the tube is turned to the correct position. I twisted the tube and VIOLA! I could breath. Now I know that the notch on the bottom of the tube must be facing down, not up.

The next story is less exciting but was still a major annoyance. I was showering and some shampoo ran down over my trach tube. That is usually no problem but this time my plug fell out and I breathed soap and water in. YIOW that hurt and I was coughing and spittin and I put the plug back in. I coughed and the plug shot out, wet and slippery it wouldn't stay in and I breathed in more water and shampoo. I grabbed a towel and after throwing up and coughing a lot I dried off the plug and put it back in. I am very careful to make sure my plug is in before I shower and that way showers are no problem...learned the hard way.

The last story is related to being careful not to touch the trach tube with unwashed hand. Use a q-tip whenever possible to clean away anything around the tube. I learned this after a major strep infection. My wife was not feeling well. I think I got the bug from her and my throat started to swell. The site turned red and my temp soared to 104 degrees. I was out of work for a week and it was miserable.

NOW THE GOOD STUFF!!!

Yes I had some difficult experiences but I would never give up my tracheostomy. Since my surgery I have lost 65 lbs. I have not dieted at all and have had enough energy to start lifting weights again. I sleep like a baby and am alert and awake at work and throughout the day.

I am doing things around the house and my marriage is much happier now that I have energy...<grin>.

I have also had the opportunity to teach other people about the affects of sleep apnea and to give information to help people who have become discouraged because of the destructive affects of osa on their lives.

I have had some curious stares but that is generally when I am not looking. No one has been rude or stared at me to the point that I would become uncomfortable.

After months of studying and weighing the options I am glad I chose the tracheostomy...it was the right choice for me.