Awake Trach Procedure - Quite An Experience - Experiencing A New Phase Of H&N

wbcgaruss

I am writing to give you an update on my health situation.

I have been having difficulty breathing on and off now for several months or more.

I was usually better as the day went on, and in the evening till I went to bed, I was breathing fine.

But in the morning, when I woke up, breathing was difficult.

Finally on Monday November 10th I got up in the morning and was working hard to breathe and I said to the wife I can't live like this anymore and called my ENT at their Satellite office from the main hospital and was put on the line with a nurse and after asking me a few questions, she told me to go to the emergency room at Hershey Medical right away.

I got checked in, bloodwork done, scans done, and was scoped by an ENT.

You see, I had a trach 5 years ago after an operation at this hospital, but 4-5 months out I could breathe ok without it, though I would run short of breath and had to pace myself.

My years of a couple of big cancer treatments, 2012 and 2019, radiation twice, and my aging all play in as factors here, and it caught up with me.

Tuesday, my ENT met with me and, considering that my vocal cords were paralyzed and the opening in my vocal cords so small that I got air through that, they were going to operate that day and scheduled me for an opening in the operating room and were going to operate as soon as they had an opening. And my ENT at the hospital said he considered it an emergency situation because it was possible that if just the right thing happened, I could not breathe and would die, and they would not put it off another day.

I cannot be intubated to be operated on anymore because of the small opening they have to go through. Any attempt to intubate me, if it failed, could cause death, so what the doctors did was called an awake tracheostomy procedure.

Awake Tracheostomy Explained- Emergency Airway in OR!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njE3Qlkh044&t=3s

They numb the area of the trach insertion and give you medications to relax you but not put you to sleep and they cut the opening for the trach and when they have the opening for the trach cut you notice how it is suddenly so easy to breathe but then you start coughing a lot at which point the anesthesiologist gives you medication to put you to sleep. The trach is stitched in place for a few days so it doesn't move and inhibit healing, and whatever other wrap-up they had to do after the operation, and I woke up in the recovery room.

I had some discomfort but no pain during the procedure.

There were plenty of people in the operating room, and I was feeling confident in the team of care I had. There were at least 10 people there for the procedure, maybe more, but I had good coverage of professional medical people.

I was released from the hospital on Friday, November 14th, and was glad to go home.

So I only had to spend 4 days there.

I am thankful.

And again I give God the Glory and Honor for seeing me through this time of trouble once again, Praise God.

I certainly didn't want a trach, but at least I can breathe now.

And since I had one before, it is not all new to me.

I will be checking out Life With A Vent Channel Videos to get the best information on how to do the needed maintenance, etc.

I will now be using a YouTube channel that I am familiar with, but it is now relevant to my situation and offers good knowledge involving trachs and other helpful topics, even a ventilator for anyone needing one of these. I highly recommend this channel for anyone with a trach or ventilator.

The channel is “Life with a Vent”

https://www.youtube.com/c/LifewithaVent/featured

NEGU (Never Ever Give Up)

Wishing you all a Blessed and Happy Thanksgiving

Take Care, God Bless

Russ

Do What You Can….

Logan51

Bill

Car accident when I was 13 resulted in a "crushed windpipe at the larynx" and my having a trach for 26 months while Stanton Friedberg solved my problem @ Rush in Chicago- one of 3 Hospitals in the US, at the time, we were told had a Dr./Drs. who could deal with my injury. Back then they were made of sterling silver (Doc let me keep one and I have in a sealed jar). I took care of it for just shy of 2 years in my early-teens, as fixing my issue required an Op.(s) every 2 months. Not difficult.

Doc Friedberg, by the way, was awarded the James Newcomb Award in 1981 that's given to one Otolaryngologist/Rhinologist in the world per year in recognition of lifetime achievement in that field of medicine.

Sorry to hear your post-tx journey has taken you here, but I can tell you breathing was never easier than those 26 months with a trach.

wbcgaruss

Thank you, Logan, for your input.

You have the experience with my situation and certainly can relate to my situation of having a trach.

You certainly went through quite an ordeal yourself at a young age.

I am glad that you had an excellent Doctor in Stanton Friedberg who could solve your problem.

Take Care, God Bless

Russ