Breathing Tube Jitters!

[dot4toto]

Glad to say I can't remember a thing! My husband tells me about how I reacted but I couldn't say. I've had 3 surgeries and I can't remember any of them. Hope that's how it goes for you.
I do think they gave me something to help me "forget".
Bless them for that.
You're going to do great.
You have a positive attitude.

 

[Ross]

Hi Mike and Welcome,
I barely remember the breathing tube. No one told me that this plastic was going to be down my throat, it was a little alarming when I first kinda sort of woke up. Next thing I knew they were taking it out, but I think I was asleep for most of it. The ONE thing I DO remember is when they removed the drainage tubes. I was fully awake for that, but again no one told me about these things either. For me......these tubes were painful when being removed and I let the ICU ward know about it too..............I didn't care.
I sorry if I got you scared, breathing tube is nothing, and maybe for some folks nor is the drainage tubes, but your a guy and your tough everything will be fine.

Drain tubes for some, was painful. For others, it wasn't. For me it wasn't. Just felt really really weird along with the sounds produced while pulling them out.

 

[tobagotwo]

There are many threads on this issue. It's not that bad. It's temporary. It keeps you alive. Don't fight with the hospital staff over it, as from what I saw around me, if you're exhibiting apparent violence, they are far less likely to remove it.

Here was a thread with some thoughts by many:

http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=20827&highlight=Breathing+tube

Best wishes,

 

[Philip B]

Drain Tubes

Drain Tubes

While I don't have recollections of waking-up on the "tube", removal of my chest tubes invokes some unpleasant memories.

-Philip

 

[MaryC]

Mike,
When I spoke to the anestiologist the night before my surgery, I was upfront with him about my fear of waking up intubated. After much discussion about this, he got the picture. My family also made it a point not speak to me until the tube was out - even though the nursing staff urged them to do so. When I came to I had no memory of the breathing tube.

 

[maka]

I found this forum shortly after my MV repair operation and did not know about "the tube"...ignorance is bliss..But, when I came back from the operating room and was more or less conscious I realized my hands were tied. I tend to have panic attacks and wanted my hands untied so I started trying to move them up and down to let my nephew, who was in the room, know what I wanted. I heard him saying, sorry but I can't do that....I was so mad at him that I sticked my tongue out to him, tube and everything ...so I guess what I'm trying to tell you....dont' worry about it

 

[yankeeman]

The tube was still in when I woke up in ICU at Brigham & Women's in Boston. The nurse was very prompt however in removing it. It was unpleasant but brief, gagging on that thing. Nothing horrible.

The real hoot was the tubes they put in my chest to drain the blood. They left them in for a few days and then a resident came in, basically straddled me and pulled them out. Didn't really hurt, but it was amazing seeing what looked like three feet of plastic tube that had been inside me a few minutes before.

 

[sknydave]

I found the removal of the arterial lines in my arm, neck and groin to be much worse than the chest drain

 

[thenewmarket]

In response to this post, I asked my husband (who is scheduled for AVR/Aneurysm on September 27th) if he was anxious about the tube. He
immediately smiled and responded.........NO.......if I am alive that's all I care about. You do have to laugh along the way or simply go crazy!!!

Preparation and knowledge = power.........................

 

[geebee]

Having some experience with a breathing tube and claustrophobia, I have to say the tube being in was not a big thing per se. The biggest problem I had was when they suctioned the tube. I have a very strong gag reflex and the suctioning was just pure torture for me. However, it only lasts a few seconds (although it sometimes seemed longer) and, obviously, is survivable.

Just remember the tube means you made it through surgery so try to focus on that fact.

 

[sue943]

Mine was gone by the time I was awake. I had surgery on Thursday and woke up on Friday.

 

[BionicWoman]

Mike;

I'd heard the same things as you, and I too was anxious about the tube ahead of time. Honestly, it's just something you get through.

One of my ICU nurses did something that helped me A LOT when I was not yet off the tube---he turned on music in the room and then said directly and clearly into my ear: "Listen to the music. Focus on ANYTHING other than the tube". That was the magic trick that got me through it.

My fear ahead of time was that this tube thing went on for hours. This was unfounded. I WAS ONLY CONSCIOUS for very small snippets of time here and there during those hours, not the whole time. I think they gave me something and put me back to sleep.

We're rootin' for you, Mike. You will do great!

Susan

 

[WayneGM]

I was really worried about waking up with the tube as I just couldn't imagine something like that down my throat. As it turned out, it was gone before I really knew it. I only vaguely remember them removing it, almost as if it was just a dream. I think I was just on the edge of waking up when they removed it.