trake??

debbiejeanne
debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
I need to talk with someone whoose cancer has come back. I was told today that my cancer has recurred. Surgery will be to remove my voice box. That I can deal with but I can't deal with the worse part of this, having a trake. Does anyone know anything about this? I want to know the difficuties with this as well as, it is a lifetime thing or just temporary thing? This really has me a nervous wreck. I would definitely appreciate any information you can provide. Thank you for your help.
Sincerely,
Debbie
«1

Comments

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    No Answers...
    But I want you to know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.

    John
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    I had a tracheostomy
    for a number of days after my surgery last year. It was designed to be temporary, just to get swelling down enough to allow me to safely mouth-breath. It was really not a big deal. Didn't hurt. Couldn't talk, of course, and they eventually removed it after a handful of days. There are a number of others around who have permanent tracheostomies. I'm sure they'll check in with you when they see your post. But I'm telling you, it is a creepier sounding thing by far than it is in real life.

    Best to you.

    Pat
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    According to the board
    Hi Debbie, I'm very sorry to hear you have to put up with another cure. I've not had a trach, but as long as I've watched the board--2 years; the great majority of people who needed them, kept them on a temporary basis, as Pat said. Your doc should be able to give you some idea of how long you might need one. I'll bet he tells you it will not be permanent.

    best, Hal
  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    thank you all
    I want to thank you all for your feedback. I defiinitey feel better knowing it may be temporary. Now I feel like I can breath...lol
    Sincerely,
    Debbie
  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    Skiffin16 said:

    No Answers...
    But I want you to know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.

    John

    Hal, thank you for putting
    Hal, thank you for putting me in your thoughts and prayers. Prayers are always welcome.
    Debbie
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    I do
    I did not have my voice box removed. when they scoped me they thought i had cancer. when they went in to biopsy it turned out to be necrosis. the swelling and the help with air flow to lungs has led me to have a trach for the rest of my life. i have had it now 3 1/2 plus years.

    dealing with it is like dealing with the other long term side effects, the trach become part of your new normal.

    for me it the advantage of getting more air to lungs has made it a blessing. there are days i wish i did not have it, however there are more days that i am thankful i have mine.

    Debbie you should call your doctor and ask him if you will have it the rest of your life.

    Prayers going out for you and the family.

    john
  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    fisrpotpe said:

    I do
    I did not have my voice box removed. when they scoped me they thought i had cancer. when they went in to biopsy it turned out to be necrosis. the swelling and the help with air flow to lungs has led me to have a trach for the rest of my life. i have had it now 3 1/2 plus years.

    dealing with it is like dealing with the other long term side effects, the trach become part of your new normal.

    for me it the advantage of getting more air to lungs has made it a blessing. there are days i wish i did not have it, however there are more days that i am thankful i have mine.

    Debbie you should call your doctor and ask him if you will have it the rest of your life.

    Prayers going out for you and the family.

    john

    John, thank u so much. It
    John, thank u so much. It worries me to no end that this may be permant. Do you still have you do to sweeling? what happpens to maek the doc to make the call of perm or temp? What happens that makes us a candidate for the trake. After your bout w/cancer, do u still cough really bad? It has been 2+ years for me and I still cough as much, if not as I did b4 but it may be i cough MORE, perhaps b/c it is back.
    You are in my prayersl.
    deb
  • CaKat
    CaKat Member Posts: 28

    John, thank u so much. It
    John, thank u so much. It worries me to no end that this may be permant. Do you still have you do to sweeling? what happpens to maek the doc to make the call of perm or temp? What happens that makes us a candidate for the trake. After your bout w/cancer, do u still cough really bad? It has been 2+ years for me and I still cough as much, if not as I did b4 but it may be i cough MORE, perhaps b/c it is back.
    You are in my prayersl.
    deb

    Temp, so far.
    I've had a track since Oct. So far it's temporary. Once the stoma healed, I found that coughing continued. I have a suction machine because of swallowing issues. The suctioning helps. Recently I found out that I should have come home from the hosp. with a "cool mist" machine to keep the fluids easier to swallow or cough up. I've had it for a week, sleep with it on"....really helps. Be sure to get a Passy-Muir valve. With my temp trak, it allows me to talk.
    As I understand it, there are a number of speech assistance devices if, God forbid, you end up with a permanent trak. Technology can really be a friend!
    Blessings to you!
  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    CaKat said:

    Temp, so far.
    I've had a track since Oct. So far it's temporary. Once the stoma healed, I found that coughing continued. I have a suction machine because of swallowing issues. The suctioning helps. Recently I found out that I should have come home from the hosp. with a "cool mist" machine to keep the fluids easier to swallow or cough up. I've had it for a week, sleep with it on"....really helps. Be sure to get a Passy-Muir valve. With my temp trak, it allows me to talk.
    As I understand it, there are a number of speech assistance devices if, God forbid, you end up with a permanent trak. Technology can really be a friend!
    Blessings to you!

    thank you very much. It is
    thank you very much. It is always good to hear from another who has gone thru it.
    Deb
  • Greg53
    Greg53 Member Posts: 849

    thank you very much. It is
    thank you very much. It is always good to hear from another who has gone thru it.
    Deb

    No trache
    Debbie,

    Sorry to see the reason why you're back posting. No trache here, but sending you positive vibes for you to beat this a second time.

    Greg
  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    Greg53 said:

    No trache
    Debbie,

    Sorry to see the reason why you're back posting. No trache here, but sending you positive vibes for you to beat this a second time.

    Greg

    Greg, I sooooooooooo
    Greg, I sooooooooooo appreciate you kind words. I hope I'm strong enuf to fight this battle again. I'm trying to stay positive but that's really hard sometimes. But this site and all the nice people here give me strength to not only fight it again but also to be the WINNER!! Thanks again!!
    deb
  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    thank you all
    thank you so much! the feedback has definitly helped me to cheer up a little bit. I'm still scared but feeling better with the feedback. You are all awesome and I appreciate each reply. Thank you again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    deb
  • denistd
    denistd Member Posts: 597

    thank you all
    thank you so much! the feedback has definitly helped me to cheer up a little bit. I'm still scared but feeling better with the feedback. You are all awesome and I appreciate each reply. Thank you again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    deb

    trach
    You say that the doctor explained that you would have your voice box (larynx)removed, did he use the word laryngectomy?
  • staceya
    staceya Member Posts: 720
    denistd said:

    trach
    You say that the doctor explained that you would have your voice box (larynx)removed, did he use the word laryngectomy?

    Debbie,
    You are in my

    Debbie,
    You are in my thoughts and prayers.
    Sending you strength.
    Stacey
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member

    John, thank u so much. It
    John, thank u so much. It worries me to no end that this may be permant. Do you still have you do to sweeling? what happpens to maek the doc to make the call of perm or temp? What happens that makes us a candidate for the trake. After your bout w/cancer, do u still cough really bad? It has been 2+ years for me and I still cough as much, if not as I did b4 but it may be i cough MORE, perhaps b/c it is back.
    You are in my prayersl.
    deb

    for me
    for me the swelling was causing most of my problems and thus the trach was added. the day after i received it i felt my lungs were doing so much better. everyone is different as too why they need trach's.

    i coughed and coughed for what seemed like years, but it did get better. i cough now to get crap out of my throat. i also cough alot because i get alot of fluids on my vocal cord and it becomes an auto cough to get it off.

    i still suggest you sit down with your doctor's and have they explain what they are going to do and what you should expect post treatment. if there is a doctor her on site he maybe able to help but I can not explain what will happen with the removal of your voice box.

    prayers of you, your family and the doctors.

    john
  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    denistd said:

    trach
    You say that the doctor explained that you would have your voice box (larynx)removed, did he use the word laryngectomy?

    Not yet. I see the new
    Not yet. I see the new surgeon on Thursday. I just got the official word today, the cancer is back. I was told that they only way to treat it is by removing the voice box. I'm hoping this new surgeon can give me a couple options but we'll see. Didn't you have a lot of problems when you first got your trake? I'll keep you posted and thanks for the post.
    deb
  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    staceya said:

    Debbie,
    You are in my

    Debbie,
    You are in my thoughts and prayers.
    Sending you strength.
    Stacey

    thank you Stacey, i will
    thank you Stacey, i will need it.
    deb
  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    fisrpotpe said:

    for me
    for me the swelling was causing most of my problems and thus the trach was added. the day after i received it i felt my lungs were doing so much better. everyone is different as too why they need trach's.

    i coughed and coughed for what seemed like years, but it did get better. i cough now to get crap out of my throat. i also cough alot because i get alot of fluids on my vocal cord and it becomes an auto cough to get it off.

    i still suggest you sit down with your doctor's and have they explain what they are going to do and what you should expect post treatment. if there is a doctor her on site he maybe able to help but I can not explain what will happen with the removal of your voice box.

    prayers of you, your family and the doctors.

    john

    thank you john, i truly
    thank you john, i truly appreciate that.
    deb
  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    Greg53 said:

    No trache
    Debbie,

    Sorry to see the reason why you're back posting. No trache here, but sending you positive vibes for you to beat this a second time.

    Greg

    thank you very much.
    thank you very much. positive vibes are always welcome.
    deb
  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    Greg53 said:

    No trache
    Debbie,

    Sorry to see the reason why you're back posting. No trache here, but sending you positive vibes for you to beat this a second time.

    Greg

    thank you very much.
    thank you very much. positive vibes are always welcome.
    deb