Breathing Tube Jitters!

[fencemeister]

Hey Folks,

I'm Mike A 62 Yr. Old Guy In Ft.wayne, In. (summers) & Naples, Fl Oct. Till End Of May. Just Started Doing Summers Here After 14 Yrs. There Year Around. Am Still Working, Having A Small Fence Co. In Naples And A Couple Of Really Good Folks Who Make It All Keep Going While I Am Gone. Although I Do Still Do All Of The Estimating From My Home Office Here In Indiana All Summer.

Enough Of My Background.

I Got A Real Kick In The Head Last Week When I Went To Have My Shortness Of Breath Checked Out! Out Of The Clear Blue They Tell Me I Have Severe Aortic Stenosis...... Never Had A Problem For All These Years.

Did A Quick Heart Cath. To Check For Clogged Veins And Everything Is O.k. In That Dept. Colest. Good(high Normal) No Sugar, Etc. Doc Said I Was In For A Crash Soon And Scheduled Me For This Thurs. The 6th. Of Sept!

I Am Excited About Getting Fixed Up(i Chose An On-x Valve)but The Only Thing That Scares The Hell Out Of Me Is The Possibility Of Waking Up With That Breathing Tube In. I Have Read A Couple Of Other Folks Say It Is The Worse Thing That They Ever Experienced And They Would Rather Have Anything But That Happen Even For A Minute!

Has Anyone Else Had A Bad Expedience Or I Hope A Good One? How Do You Get It Across To Them That You Don't Want To Realize This Is Happening And Maybe Keep You Drugged Enough That Maybe You Won't Remember?

The Rest Doesn't Bother Me At All.

Thanx For Your Inputs.....

Mike

 

[Karlynn]

You may or may not wake up before they remove the tube. If you do, try to breathe with the machine and not fight to work against it. The worst part is if they have to suction the tube while you're awake. It feels like you've stopped breathing, but it only lasts a second. As soon as they see you can breath on your own, that puppy will come out.

Just remember to breathe with the machine if you are awake while it's still in.

Best wishes!

 

[Soilman]

Fencemeister,

I just went through AVR on Aug. 21. The best advice I can give you, and what I did myself, is 1) accept the fact that it's necessary, 2) knowing that it's SUPPOSE to be there when you wake up, 3) it's only temporary. When I woke up, the tube was still in place, but I knew it was suppose to be. Therefore, I didn't panic. However, I was still so groggy or doped up that I really didn't care. Sure, I, like everyone else, tried to talk, but found it impossible. I remember the tube upon waking, remember trying to talk once and remember the tube being taken out. In between those events, I didn't care or notice. Over all, it was not so bad an experience.

Just remember, this surgery is NECESSARY. The the tube and everything else is just fallout. Everybody else here has been there and done that. You can too! Set your mind to it, concentrate on the life you want to lead after the dust settles and do what you have to do to get from point A to point B.

Good luck

 

[sonavogel]

Hi, Fencemeister!

This was an issue that worried me, too. In fact, I started a thread asking about it, since I like to know as much as possible about all aspects of anything I'm about to undergo, even if it's not completely (or at all) under my control. To me, understanding what's happening, control or no, helps a lot. Just in case you might find some of the members' responses helpful, here it is:

http://www.valvereplacement.com/forums/showthread.php?t=21896

I'm sure there are other, even better threads on this, but this is the one I know about.

Here's hoping that it turns out to be a non-issue for you, in the end. But I can understand your thinking about it now, that's for sure!

All the best, Sona

 

[halleyg]

I posted a thread just like yours right before my surgery (which was 11 days ago...) I rememberd the breathing tube from my first surgery and did not want to ever have the experience again. Before I was put under I told them all that I preferred to stay drugged and not remember the tube, but they told me then that I would have to be up for some of it so they could be sure I was breathing on my own. It wasn't as shocking this time as it was the first surgery - but I still hated every minute of it and actually remember more of it from this surgery. But, as others have said, the best thing to do is just breathe with it and shortly they will pull it out. The worst thing to do is try and talk. Even though I remember it and hated it this time, I was still sort of drugged so right now I don't remember it that much, if that makes sense. I do remember that I had sleep apnea, so every time I started falling asleep I would stop breathing on my own. I think this may have prolonged them taking it out which is why I remember so much more, but it was a lot less scary as I had done it before.
Anyhow, best of luck to you and I hope that you may be one of the lucky ones who don't remember! The good news is, it will be out before you know it. Thinking of and praying for you...

 

[PeggyM]

I remember being on the first one but not the second one. It was either that or the stomach drainage tube thingie coming out that lingers in my mind. Ugh...Neither is a pleasant experience but necessary.

Somebody posted they had sleep apnea. I suppose this is something I need to tell them this time around. I have "mild" sleep apnea, whatever that means.

 

[Superbob]

I had a huge case of breathing tube jitters before my OHS (at age 63). But talking to people here beforehand helped. As it turned out, I even had to stay on the tube into an extra day, but the ICU nurses were working with me constantly to get my breathing going so I could do it on my own, so it was definitely a good thing. Despite my worries beforehand, it did not bother me. Just go with the flow and relax. Many people get the tube out in less time than it took me, and you will probably be one of them. But if it's there, it will be only temporary and it will serving a great purpose. Just think of it as doing the work for you for a short time. It's your friend, not your enemy.

 

[hensylee]

Many members may tell you they don't recall it at all. I don't.

 

[greg]

I remember it and I didn't like it. I guess I fought if even before I was aware. I know I fought it when I woke up. The nurse talked me down some. She told me the O2 level had to be 90 or something like that. After that I just waited and listened to her/them say what the level was. One thing is sure-----------You need it. Even if you remember, it won't last long.

 

[Adrienne]

I am the type of person one would expect to be totally freaked out about it. However, I psychologically prepared myself for it by imagining having it. When I woke up to my husband's voice saying the operation had gone well, etc. etc., I knew it was there, but I was so happy to hear the good news that I gave the thumbs-up sign and didn't try to fight it. I was only awake for a few minutes, and when I awoke again, they were taking it out. It truly was not bad.

 

[Praline]

I know what you mean about a kick in the head.... November 2005 ... we had survived Katrina with very little damage and thought we were out of the woods. I went for a yearly check-up and found out I had severe mitral valve regurgitation. Talk about being in shock!!! I was about your age too...
I had surgery in January 2006. I did wake up with the ventilator. Thanks to the nice knowledgeable people here, I did not panic. It was not really a big deal.. my hands were tied so I would not mess with it..that did not really bothe rme. I had some post nasal drip from allergies( which I get all the time).. i felt like I was choking but they just suctioned it. Before my surgery, I was worried about it.. if I had to have surgery again, it would be the least of my worries.
You stop and think.... it kept you breathing all the time during surgery, it will keep you breathing until they take it out.
Good luck on your surgery. We will all be pulling for you.

 

[Bina]

In ICU I woke up briefly, gagged a few seconds, a nurse showed up and knocked me out again,
bless her soul
I woke up a day later, no tube, no sore throat, but only whispering.

 

[Rich]

Mike,
First let me wish you well on your upcoming surgery.
As far as the breathing tube goes, in my case it was gone before I woke up.
As others have said it is very neccesary so don't panic about it.
Just make sure they know about any caps, crowns, or dentures beforehand.
Some people try to bite down on the tube and can damage things I mentioned above.
Rich

 

[67walkon]

Mike, it won't be a big deal. You are prepared for it. I think the ones who freak out don't expect it. I knew from this forum that it would be there and it did not freak me out. You know it is there, but because you expect it to be there, it isn't a big shock. You will know to breath with it so you can get it out sooner. You will be drugged up, too, and won't remember it too well.

Most things we fear are not as bad as we fear they will be. The tube will be there. You will probably be aware of it. It will be removed pretty quickly. It will save your life, so embrace it, don't fear it.

I remember it, but I didn't fight it. I really don't remember when they took it out, but I remember it being there when I woke up and I remember trying to spell out letters on my wife's hand to tell her stuff. It won't be that big a deal for you.

John

 

[Philip B]

Tube

Tube

Judging from the previous posts, you probably can see that folks' experiences with the dreaded "tube" vary...

I was concerned about it like you are, but I honestly don't remember much about the experience. My wife tells me I fought it and tried to chew through it, but I don't remember that either. I did get a broken tooth from chomping on one of the bite blocks they put in my mouth. I do remember the two dentist visits that were necessary to install a crown.

As has been noted, the tube is a necessary part of the trip you are embarked on. It's a small part of the trip and a part that's not worth being concerned about. Your nursing team and family will bring you through any trauma associated with it. You can be confident that they'll get you through the experience. It may not be as bad as you're anticipating.

-Philip

 

[aussie girl]

MIKE,

Welcome to vr.com and good luck with your up and coming surgery.

I had my surgery almost 4 weeks ago and the thought of the tube really frightened me. When I woke up in icu it was there and I tried to keep in my mind all the advise that had been given on this site. I tried not to fight it and found for the most part I drifted in and out of sleep. About four or five hours after first waking I started getting really uptight and found my neck and shoulders were tensing up and that was worse than the tube itself. Thankfully they removed it shortly after and I was able to relax.

Having said all this if I ever need to have another op which requires the tube I wont be as frightened as I was.

Mary

 

[sknydave]

My doctors were kind enough to set it up so I would not have to be awake for the tube/removal. I woke up with just a tiny little air tube they ran through my nose.

I suppose asking wouldn't hurt?

good luck!

 

[Ross]

Mike I've been intubated most likely more then anyone here and for weeks at a time. I hate the tube, but you would too if you had it in for weeks at a time.

Through all of my experience, the easiest thing to do to maintain some degree of comfort is to NOT FIGHT the breathing cycle of the machine. Breath with it and not against it. Chances are, you won't even remember the thing when it's all said and done. Most people don't and the few that do have it in when they awake, it's taken out just as soon as you can breath for yourself. Usually, your sedated through all of it, so please, don't worry about it. It's not that big of a deal.

 

[Shutterbug]

Mike
After just having "the tube" recently, i was half out of it and it was gone before i was even fully awake. As you can tell what we fear is the unknown.
And luckily you have found the good people here at VR.Com before your surgery. With that comes knowledge, from a lot of great people who will help you every step of the way. Ask them as many questions as you need and you will be far less worried than you were before.
Rich

 

[Freddie]

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.