post op tube

[BackDoc]

pen and paper was one of the best pieces of advice I read on this site prior to my procedure. However, I didn't need it. I was so happy to wake up and see everyone around me, I just gave the thumbs up sign and drifted in and out until it was time to remove the tube.

Please don't get yourself so worked up. Stop worrying about a "hyperactive" gag reflex. Everyone survives the tube with no problems, unless you create your own by worrying about it.

It's a "rite of passage". Everyone before you came through it and so will you. And so will everyone after you.

 

[DaveEM]

Not a big deal

Not a big deal

I'm almost six weeks out from my AVR and I barely remember getting my breathing tube out on the day of the op. All I remember hearing the nurse say was something about "we're going to take out the breathing tube now" (and I don't remember being awake and conscious of the tube at all) and then I felt the very quick sensation of something coming out of my throat and that was it. No fuss no muss.

 

[debster913]

I do not see why not...mine was removed before I woke up.

Good luck and best wishes for a successful surgery and a smooth recovery.

Same here. I didn't have to worry about it, but hope everything turns out well for you!

 

[ponygirlmom]

It's best to have a family member bring paper and pen for you....

This reminds me of something that may or may not have happened after surgery. It was fuzzy when I first posted about it, and it's fuzzier now, so I may even be reporting it differently this time.

I remember waking up with the tube, and a nurse standing next to me. I made "writing" motions and they gave me a pen and notebook. Someone whom I assumed was my Dad (but he wasn't there until later) was sort of laughing and saying, "You won't be able to read what she writes," but I wrote something like, "I don't need the tube anymore." That's the end of that memory. When I woke up again, I didn't have the tube.

I forgot to ask the nurses later if that really happened, and I doubt anyone would remember now!

 

[Dina]

"You won't be able to read what she writes,"

This was difficult...writing after surgery,and I wasn't as groggy as most are.
I looked at the pages I wrote on later and I don't know how my Mom and
the nurse could read it(?!) But they did. I was thirsty...real thirsty.

 

[Bridgette]

Just to encourage you, I will add to the people who have said that it was a non event. In fact, the breathing tube was NOT one of my worries pre surgery.
I can remember it being taken out - the anaethetist came over to my bed (I think I had just woken up) in ICU and said to the nurse "Oh yeah, take that out now" and it was out in a flash - honestly I didn't even feel it it was that quick!
He (the anaethetist) smiled, gave me a thumbs up sign and said "You are doing really well".
Just a few kind, encouraging words can make all the difference, IMO.

Good luck
Bridgette

 

[Eva]

....... I was thirsty...real thirsty.

Not to go out of the main subject, but to mention I was very thirsty and my surgeon asked the nurse for 'Dr Pepper" drink, and when I heard Dr. Pepper, my first words werer - according to hubby - : " I love Dr Pepper, can I have a sip please?" and everyone laughed. I do not remember this, but I am glad it amused all those in the room to see me react so quickly.

 

[tobagotwo]

I wrote upside down with my left hand (I'm a rightie). We still have the note pages, and they're quite legible.

The PA decided to clue me in on what was happening and shouted in my ear, "there's a tube in your throat to help you breathe." I guess she worked a lot with older people who are hard of hearing and confused. I gave her a withering look, as that was the only immediate thing I could do. On my page of scribblings is my reply note to her: "Neither deaf nor stupid."

My apologies to those who've read that story repeatedly. I like that story, because my son was worried whether I was still "me," and when he read that, he became jubilant. "That's my dad! He's back!"

It doesn't hurt. It doesn't make you gag (believe me, I would have gagged). You don't feel like you're suffocating or choking unless you decide to feel that way. It provides oxygen for you, even if you don't bother to breathe for yourself. (Yes, I tried that, very cool. Hey - how many times do you get to do that in life?). Your blood oxygen is constantly monitored, so you won't go without air. If you can't hear the machine (I couldn't - it was a silent type), you may not be able to breathe along with it, but it's not a problem.

In the cardiac recovery area, the only person I saw have a problem with it was one fellow who decided to react to it completely emotionally and violently (the person above whose tongue got caught in some weird apparatus is hereby excused from the overly emotional group, as is the vomiting case).

Best wishes,

 

[Dina]

On my page of scribblings is my reply note to her: "Neither deaf nor stupid."
my son was worried whether I was still "me," and when he read that, he became jubilant. "That's my dad! He's back!"

I like that..made me smile

And I guess my writing wasn't too horrible,but I wouldn't have won
any penmanship awards thats for sure.

Ps Eva..I love Dr Pepper too.But took ice water ...buckets full

 

[kfay]

My husband and I both know sign language and so I signed to him what I wanted him to tell the nurses (first was "I'm going to be sick!"). It came in very handy. Unfortunately, after he left the hospital, I was still trying to sign to my nurse and she felt bad that she couldn't understand it.

Kim

 

[LeakyValve]

The more recent posts reminded me of my feeble attempts at sign language to my family (wife, sister and brother) in the ICU when I still had the breathing tube installed. I, too, was trying to get something to drink, and to keep me awake so that I could get off the ventilator. How does one drink a Dr. Pepper with a ventilator installed anyway?. I did remember how to spell "love you", however.

Although no one is saying anything about incoherent ramblings, I heard that people can say funny things when they first come out of GA. So don't be surprised if someone later on recounts how you could MacGyver your way out of the hospital with some duct tape and a Bic pen.

The one thing to potentially be prepared for as you go in for surgery is that you should not expect much rest the first night in the hospital. I don't know about anyone else's experiences, but my nurse came in every hour on the hour to check vitals, including a loud BP cuff and a lovely prick of a finger to test my glucose levels. This lasted from dinner time until about 9 am the next morning when they started removing tubes and that damn catheter.

Mike

 

[Dina]

How does one drink a Dr. Pepper with a ventilator installed

No one can drink while intubated,you would drown. They allow you to
wet your mouth with these mini sponges,but no drinking. Its afterward
when the tube is out that you drink a whole water trough to yourself

 

[WilliamJE]

The more recent posts reminded me of my feeble attempts at sign language to my family (wife, sister and brother) in the ICU when I still had the breathing tube installed. I, too, was trying to get something to drink, and to keep me awake so that I could get off the ventilator. How does one drink a Dr. Pepper with a ventilator installed anyway?. I did remember how to spell "love you", however.

Although no one is saying anything about incoherent ramblings, I heard that people can say funny things when they first come out of GA. So don't be surprised if someone later on recounts how you could MacGyver your way out of the hospital with some duct tape and a Bic pen.

The one thing to potentially be prepared for as you go in for surgery is that you should not expect much rest the first night in the hospital. I don't know about anyone else's experiences, but my nurse came in every hour on the hour to check vitals, including a loud BP cuff and a lovely prick of a finger to test my glucose levels. This lasted from dinner time until about 9 am the next morning when they started removing tubes and that damn catheter.

Mike

Well when my tongue was close to being swallowed by me, the nurse wouldn't give me a pad to write a note. I was agitatated. You would be too.

The first night I was my nurse's only patient. She set up a table in front of my bed. When my eyes were open I'd see her.

I don't know about incoherent ramblings but at one time in my CICU stay a doctor asked me where I was. I said JFK hospital, Atlantis Florida. Which was exactly right, but most of the time people say Lake Worth or Lantana(All share the same zip code) Leonita was startled I said Atlantis.

My CICU room was right off the nurse's station and very noisy. They would never shut the door except during fire drills.

The catheter was in me from August 13th till the 24th with the exception of about 24 hours. Read my signature line to know how I felt about the experience.

 

[Eva]

hmmm...Can I ask a question/comment. My dad has sleep apena and he doesnt use a CPAP because it makes him have anxiety. His surgery is Tuesday, my concern, when they take the tube out will his sleep apena affect his breathing MORE after surgery. I have heard in some cases people sleep better after valves are replaced even without a CPAP.

I am hoping while my dad is recovering he will have give the CPAP another try.

The surgeon knows of my dads sleep apena. I am just concerned how and if this will affect him right after surgery. ( another thing to worry about )

Jojo, I have sleep apnea and my surgeon asked me to take it to the hospital and I started using it as of the third night. The fist two nights, I had the oxygen. If your dad's sleep apnea is severe, he definitely needs to use the machine! When one stops breathing at night, the heart works harder trying to get oxygen and after surgery the heart needs all the support!