Breathing tube

[kimfusca]

Before I ask my question, I want to thank you all for your kind words and encouragment. They are were just what I needed (and still need) to hear. Re-reading your posts give me comfort and peace of mind. Thank you.

Now, I was in the hospital for some pre-op stuff and I am starting to fear the breathing tube. Somehow, I think I can handle everything else (well, one hurdle at a time) but I am terrified about the breathing tube. Although normally, quite calm and mild mannered, I do tend to fight and fight hard when uncomfortable. (They couldn't get all the pics they wanted for my last TEE). Since I am the second surgery of the day, one gal said they might leave the tube in overnight! EEK! No thank you! How bad is this thing? Will they put me back to sleep so I don't have to feel it?! Help!:

 

[Nancy]

My guess is that you will be so out of it, you won't know what's going on, and possibly be asleep. Every surgery, my husband slept through the initial things. He was barely awake when they removed the tube.

It is there to keep you alive when you cannot breathe for yourself, from the trauma of surgery and the anesthesia and pain meds that are still in your system. So that dreaded tube is actually your friend. Without it, you would die.

You will have one on one nursing care from the get go, until you can do some things for yourself. Your nurse will tend to the tube and do whatever suction is needed. And she/he will keep you comfortable.

When you have proved that you can breathe on your own (they do testing for this), then the tube will be removed.

Tell your surgeon about your fears of the vent, and tell everyone you meet prior to surgery. I would guess, if your vital signs are allowing it, you will be kept fairly sedated. Sometimes bloodpressure can go low, and in that case, they cannot use some of the sedation stuff.

 

[Liz]

Hi Kim -
I was worried about the breathing tube too, and I was really freaking out about the thought of my hands being tied down. By the time I was awake enough to know what was what, my hands were no longer restrained. And the breathing tube didn't really bother me. It felt a little weird but I was still very relaxed from the anesthesia. I had expected that it would come out pretty rapidly once I was awake, but for whatever reason it actually was in for several more hours (maybe because I woke up really fast - about 10 minutes after getting to the ICU). Thinking about it now makes me want to gag, but at the time it really wasn't a problem, I hope it is the same for you.

I was worried about not being able to communicate with the breathing tube in. But since my hands weren't restrained, I was able to communicate with gestures and writing messages on a pad of paper. Maybe work out ahead of time a signal with your family so they know if you want to write a message (and have paper and pen available).

I like what Nancy said about the breathing tube being your friend, quietly keeping you alive until you can breathe on your own. Maybe you could do some visualizations now or find some words that help that you could memorize now (or write down for somebody to read to you) about feeling calm and relaxed. Kind of program yourself to be accepting of the breathing tube for as long as your body needs it. My daughter is great at coming up with nicknames for things, maybe you could call the tube 'Tuby' or something else fun that would make it seem friendlier and less threatening.

Something I asked my husband to do was to keep reminding me that I just needed to get through one minute at a time. One of my biggest fears was of feeling overwhelmed by how awful things were and that I wouldn't be able to tolerate it for long periods of time. Breaking it down to just getting through the minutes really helped me (and continues to help me) over the rough spots, although fortunately there haven't been too many.

It is so natural to have general and specific fears about what you are facing - it's great that you can articulate your fear and ask for help with it. You are going to do great! And we'll be with you in spirit every step of the way.

Love,
Liz

 

[TenPly]

I totally agree with Nancy, the breathing tube is nothing to be feared. I woke up (albeit, in a dreamy haze from the anesthesia) with the breathing tube still inside, I remember my mom and dad holding each of my hands and I closed my eyes again. Next time I woke up (in slightly less of a fog) the breathing tube was gone. And hopefully yours will be gone before you know it too!

 

[Lisa in Katy]

You are asleep when they put it in and depending on the anesthesia and timing, you might be awake when they take it out, depending on how you are affected by anesthesia. I tend to come out of anesthesia quickly and I remember very well when they took mine out, but I'm not sure of the exact time. My surgery started at 7:30 a.m., I was in recovery by about 12:30 p.m., and they took it out in time for me to eat dinner that evening at about 6:00 p.m. This is one of those things where you will do much better if you have a positive attitude. Keep telling yourself that it is necessary, there is nothing you can do about it, and in the great scheme of things, it won't be in that long. If you start to fight it, they will probably just knock you out, and personally, I wanted to be awake. The only uncomfortable part to me was when they removed it, I have a sensitive gag reflex that caused me to gag for a short time - and the sore throat for a few days.

 

[sue943]

I have absolutely no recollection of anything in ICU until I was just about to be taken from there and put into HD. All I remember is thinking 'So I woke up then, I am alive' and then hearing a male voice asking 'Why is she still in here?' Everthing else is a total blank. Come to think of it, my TOE (TEE to most of you) was a non-event too, I remember the cardiologist spraying my throat and telling me to swallow, then nothing else at all, I think he used some amnesia drug on me.

 

[Superbob]

Nothing to Fear

Nothing to Fear

Kim: Nobody dreaded the breathing tube any more than me! My surgery was at 9 a.m., but the tube did not come out until 5 a.m. the following morning. It was in longer because I had trouble regaining good lung function. However, I was groggy the whole time and in no condition to fight it. Good thing because it was keeping me alive by doing the breathing when I needed it. I was vaguely aware of some nurses in the ICU talking about my lung function being "alarmingly low," but they were constantly attentive to me. Finally, they told me the tube was coming out -- and that is a good feeling when that happens! I had to keep using oxygen occasionally for a few days afterwards (but not the breathing tube anymore).

My situation was unusual. A great many people have the vent out much sooner than this -- and often it's out before they even wake up. Yet despite my concern beforehand and my slowness in regaining lung function, the tube did not prove to be bothersome to me. You should do just fine. Just go with the flow and you'll be through that very temporary phase quickly.

All best wishes to you,

 

[hensylee]

I wasn't afraid because I had no clue I was even going to have such a thing. My whole surgery was done and I was totally ignorant. All they gave me was a CD to watch on my TV and it was more or less worthless.

I recall waking for a moment to look into the eyes of my son who was staring at mine and I was so concerned for him that I hardly noticed there was some sort of obstruction but I never even gave it a second thought because I was so out of it. When I woke up, it was gone.

 

[dj/utvolsfan]

Hey,
I understand completely. I dreaded the vent more than anything. The pre-op video said I would have it for 4-6 hours post-op so I relaxed a bit. I ended up with it for something like 18-22 hours...but the good news......I was restrained ( a good thing...cause a vent coming out before it is ready would not be pretty) and whenever I was aware of it and possibly groaned or something, I was knocked out again. Don't remember much of it at all....kind of like childbirth.
If I had to do it all over again, I would attempt a 'this is my friend' visualization.
Debbi

 

[Mary]

Kim,
I had mine in overnight and never felt a thing. It was the easiest part of the surgery.
Mention you're fearful beforehand to the anesthesiologist, and he will do his best to make sure you have no recollection of it.
Mary

 

[tobagotwo]

This is a very common fear. I am claustrophobic and have a strong gag reflex, and I thought it was going to be really bad. In fact, it really didn't disturb me at all. After all, as long as you have it in, you're safe from anoxia.

If you go to Search > Advanced Search, and search on 'breathing tube,' you'll find many, many who've had this fear and the many responses they've had. Now that I've actually experienced it, I will never be concerned about a breathing tube again.

Best wishes,

Best wishes,

 

[aussigal]

Dont worry Kim...
I am another who was scared of this tube down my throat ( I gag when I brush my teeth )
...As it turned out I was on the 'vent' for 4/5 days and dont remember any trouble with it at all yet my family tell me I did fight it...I do remember being excited about getting it removed and the removal was easy-peasy...
I think its great that I really dont remember being on it for a few days especially as I didnt like it apparently.
I reckon I got some good drugs to make me forget lots of the icky bits.

You too will do just-fine and will surprise yourself as well.

 

[Natanni]

Hi Kim!

My husband had his aortic vavle replaced in Sept 05, and he is a big guy that never liked to messed with He was not looking foward to being intubated either. I was able to see him one hour after surgery, while still intubated and sleeping on his side, resting easy. The anesthesiologist started to
wean him off of ventilator slowly, over about 2 hours. He was spelling out "pull tube" with his fingers in the air, and after proving that he could do a few free breaths on his own,they did pull the tube. He was never restrained, and he remained so calm. He has absolutely no memory of that first day at all, only the first night arguing with the male nurse about wanting more Sprite The nurse laughed in the morning after we got Nathan up in a chair. He said he never would have argued had he known how big he was....hehehe....

Wishing you all the best

 

[kimfusca]

Phew, I am feeling much better. Still a little nervous, but not like I was. I told my mom that I don't really want to remember the tube and to have someone knock me out if I need it in for a few days. Other than that, I'd like to remember my experience.

I am concentrating on "Tubey" being my friend. "Tubey is my friend, Tubey is my friend." I'm glad to hear that so many people were worried about it like me - and it was fine. Hopefully, this time next week I can add my name to that list!

 

[Guest]

Mention you're fearful beforehand to the anesthesiologist, and he will do his best to make sure you have no recollection of it.

*nods*

Mary has it right here ... definitely voice your concerns.

Unlike most people, I wasn't all that afraid of it when I went in for my 3rd open heart surgery 3 years ago. Sadly, I became fearful of it while it was in my throat ... because I couldn't breathe because of the mucus "piling up". I distinctly remember thinking to myself at one point, 'Oh my goodness, I survived the surgery, but the headline is going to read "Heart patient killed by own mucus"'. He he he.

Course, hindsite 20/20, I was perfectly fine and, despite my thoughts to the contrary, the doctors did know what was going on ... and were staying on top of the situation (vacuum cleaner machine used galore) as best as they could ... until I proved I could breathe on my own .

Still ... don't let my experience discourage you ... use it to your advantage .



Cort, "Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip", 32swm/pig valve/pacemaker
MC:family.IL.guide.future = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
chdQB = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/quilt.html
"You have to try again" ... Janie Fricke ... 'You Don't Know Love'

 

[musician2k]

I was aware of the breathing tube, but like others, was too sedated for most of it to really fight it much. I'd read about it on here before hand and kind of knew what to expect. I think I tried telling myself it's my "friend", keeping me alive, etc. but it was vaguely uncomfortable....but I was aware that it was breathing for me so in that sense it was almost comforting. When they took it out it didn't really hurt that much at all....but even if it had, it was only for half a second. I don't recall being restrained but I'm sure I was for a time. I was on the vent for a long time, though, due to my allergic reaction to amiodarone and going into shock. The body needs the vent longer in those situations, I guess.

 

[KAJ]

Kim,

I too was afraid of the breathing tube for my AVR. I had a bad experience with it at Naval Hospital about 25 years ago after major chest surgery. For my AVR, my RN wife and many others on this sitie assured me I had nothing to fear this time. She and everyone else was right. She was no where in the picture for the chest surgery but felt that situation was not managed properly. When I woke up in ICU after AVR, they only had to tell me once to let the machine do the breathing for me. Other than that, I do not remember much about it.

Karl

 

[KMS]

It will be just fine

It will be just fine

Kim -

Because of all the good information I got from this site prior to surgery, I don't remember my breathing tube.

The morning of my surgery, when I talked to the anesthesia fellow (first) and the anesthesiologist (next), I told them that the tube was my greatest concern. My exact words: "I hope to be as drugged as possible for the first 24 hours. I do not want to remember the breathing tube at all. I'm also anxious this morning and would like you to start my IV -- and take the edge off -- as soon as possible." They said they would do their best and they did. They started my IV soon after that and I immediately relaxed. I barely remember my husband kissing me as they got ready to wheel me out of the pre-op area.

I have no memory of the tube later that day. I have very foggy images of that first 12 hours after my surgery: ice chips, my husband, my nurse in the ICU. And then I was on that beautiful road to recovery.

I had a great experience because I was prepared and in a very positive state of mind. This site prepared me with the information I really needed.

You'll do just fine, Kim. All of us will be sending you good vibes that morning.

Kristine

 

[ILoVeNY25]

Will join in the chant, the tube is your friend, the tube is your friend! I remember the tube and all the very strange sensations with it. It's weird waking up, thinking that for the first time since out of the womb you're not breathing on your own. I woke up and was more upset with the restraints on my wrists, but honestly do not remember the "fight" (my family has mentioned) with the tube. Remember the doctors and nurses are there to make you comfortable. Four years later the memories are a lot more blurred, but I would think that the tube was probably worse for my family (if they had to see me fight and me restrained), Otherwise I'm sure the combination of anesthesia/morphine helped me get over it.

 

[tobagotwo]

Tubey or not to be. Those are your choices. Tubey is your friend.

Like I said, I was very concerned about it going in.

But I actually was intrigued by it when I woke up, because I immediately recognized what it was. I couldn't hear the machine, so I couldn't time my own breathing to it (you can't breathe against it), but it was neat not having to breathe. You don't get that opportuinity often in life.

When you wake up, if the tube is still in, remember that it has already kept you alive for hours. They have another unit (which has an alarm) measuring your blood's oxygen content, so it's not a judgement or guessing game. Above all, relax yourself. You'r enot in danger with the tube.

I kept going back under just when they thought they could extubate me, so I had it quite a while. Basically, I was so delighted to be alive, realizing that the surgery was over, that I really didn't mind it. The tube and all the rest were secondary.

Best wishes,