HERE WE GO!

TBOB · September 2010

SURGERY SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY NOON, TOMORROW? yEAH... BIOPSY,NO DEBULKING OF BOT TUMOR,TRACHE INSERTION, PORTACATH. PREOPS TODAY. SO MANY CALLS TO MAKE... GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS. SURREAL. HAVE TO REMIND MYSELF I'M NOT PLANNING A PARTY. BUT I DIGRESS!!! NOW THE REAL QUESTION IS MY HUSBANDS COMING HOME WITH A TRACHE. WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW? YOU KNOW LIKE HELPFUL HINTS. HOSPITAL BED? HUMIDIFIED O2? SUCTION? ANY SUGGESTIONS U HAVE FOR HIM. HE ASKED ME CAN I STILL BREATHE THROUGH MY NOSE? I KNOW I WILL FIND OUT FROM THE "PROFFESSIONALS" JUST WANTED TO HEAR FROM THE REAL PROFFESSIONALS!

Julie2 · September 2010

Nebuliser ... very important
Nebuliser ... very important to help prevent problems with blockages.

MarineE5 · September 2010

Allot to digest in a few days.
TBOB,

Your husband should learn how to clean the trach while he is in the hospital, I learned on the 2nd day. They do instruct both you and your husband before you leave the hospital on how to use the different machines and saline solutions to clear his trach.

While I had my trach, I could NOT sleep laying down. I had to sleep either in a recliner, or a chair. I also tried a large foam wedge on the bed with several pillows. We just can't be flat.

Your husband should be able to breath through his nose and mouth somewhat. With the trach, the air gets to the lungs easier. With the operation, our throats swell and the passageway decreases, so the Doctors don't want us laboring to try and breathe. The Doctors will start to down size the trach as the swelling goes down and is finally removed altogether.

My Best to Both of You and Everyone Here

kimmygarland · September 2010

MarineE5 said:
Allot to digest in a few days.
TBOB,

Your husband should learn how to clean the trach while he is in the hospital, I learned on the 2nd day. They do instruct both you and your husband before you leave the hospital on how to use the different machines and saline solutions to clear his trach.

While I had my trach, I could NOT sleep laying down. I had to sleep either in a recliner, or a chair. I also tried a large foam wedge on the bed with several pillows. We just can't be flat.

Your husband should be able to breath through his nose and mouth somewhat. With the trach, the air gets to the lungs easier. With the operation, our throats swell and the passageway decreases, so the Doctors don't want us laboring to try and breathe. The Doctors will start to down size the trach as the swelling goes down and is finally removed altogether.

My Best to Both of You and Everyone Here

Understand
My husband is scheduled for surgery 9/15. This is a recurrence, already had rads/chemo in fall of 09 for hypopharyngeal tumor, spread to 1 node. Came back, now scheduled for removal by surgery on 9/15. He will get a trach but it is supposed to come out before he comes home (will be in 7-10 days). They say trach is only necessary for him for a few days due to swelling from surgery... I sure hope so. But I am taking notes on all this trach talk, just in case.

I hope it goes smoothly tomorrow, will be thinking of you and your husband.

Pam M · September 2010

Hi TBOB
Hubby's lucky he's got you on his side. I have no trach experience, so am useless on that front. I did, however, use a humidifier throughout most of my treatment - it really made a difference for me. Good luck.

team stevens · September 2010

caregiver to caregiver
like you, i was overwhelmed for the first few days or so..it's alot to take in. but as far as the trech goes, everything Marine E 5 said..he hit it head on. my husband had surgery in april and they made sure we were comfy with the trech before we left the hospital..pillows & wedge were a God send ..wish we had a nebulizer, it sounds great.but we did keep a humidifier by the bed.learned pretty quick that trech tubes & ceiling fans do not mix.trust me, you'll do great & please post if you need anything. our prayers are with you & your husband

TBOB · September 2010

Julie2 said:
Nebuliser ... very important
Nebuliser ... very important to help prevent problems with blockages.

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

TBOB · September 2010

MarineE5 said:
Allot to digest in a few days.
TBOB,

Your husband should learn how to clean the trach while he is in the hospital, I learned on the 2nd day. They do instruct both you and your husband before you leave the hospital on how to use the different machines and saline solutions to clear his trach.

While I had my trach, I could NOT sleep laying down. I had to sleep either in a recliner, or a chair. I also tried a large foam wedge on the bed with several pillows. We just can't be flat.

Your husband should be able to breath through his nose and mouth somewhat. With the trach, the air gets to the lungs easier. With the operation, our throats swell and the passageway decreases, so the Doctors don't want us laboring to try and breathe. The Doctors will start to down size the trach as the swelling goes down and is finally removed altogether.

My Best to Both of You and Everyone Here

thank you!

thank you!

TBOB · September 2010

Pam M said:
Hi TBOB
Hubby's lucky he's got you on his side. I have no trach experience, so am useless on that front. I did, however, use a humidifier throughout most of my treatment - it really made a difference for me. Good luck.

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

TBOB · September 2010

team stevens said:
caregiver to caregiver
like you, i was overwhelmed for the first few days or so..it's alot to take in. but as far as the trech goes, everything Marine E 5 said..he hit it head on. my husband had surgery in april and they made sure we were comfy with the trech before we left the hospital..pillows & wedge were a God send ..wish we had a nebulizer, it sounds great.but we did keep a humidifier by the bed.learned pretty quick that trech tubes & ceiling fans do not mix.trust me, you'll do great & please post if you need anything. our prayers are with you & your husband

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU!

HERE WE GO!

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