| | Joined: May 2012 Posts: 47 "OCF Canuck" Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP  "OCF Canuck" Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: May 2012 Posts: 47 | I finally had my trach removed 4 days ago, 6 weeks after all my radiation was finished. The surgeon checked with a scope through my nose and found no swelling in the area so he took the trach out. I feel so much better without the constant irritation which was worse after the radiation is all done. I suspect it was due to the swelling of the tissues and the trach is touching the inner lining more frequently. I was constantly coughing violently until the trach was gone.
Starting last night, I feel occasionally, the breathing is restricted and I have to cough to clear what feels like phlegm in the throat. Then the breathing becomes normal again. This happens every couple of hours.
Does anyone have similar experience? Is this normal? Is it because the trach site is healing and the body is producing more mucous to fight any potential infection?
Joseph 59 male
pain in tongue strt 2/10/12, Dx SCC 3/19/12, confirmed Stg IV 4/5/12,
Total Glsctmy & recon w/ flap from L thigh, neck disct, trach 4/27/12
G-Tube 5/1/12
55 nodes all clear
completed 2 chemo 33 rad
non-smoker, non-drinker, exercise daily, mostly vegetarian diet...go figure
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Sorry but I am not sure. The time with my trach was a fuzzy blur which I have a difficult time remembering. All I remember is with the trach, the nurses would remove it for cleaning and have to suction my airway. They would remove tons of mucous. Sounds to me like since it was just removed a couple days ago that the mucous will become less as time goes by. Best wishes with yoru recovery.
PS.... If you have problems breathing that is considered a medical emeregency, dont play around go to the ER or call an ambulance. It would be a good idea to call your ENT and discuss this with them or their nurses. With something like this, its always better safe than sorry. Good luck!!!
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 47 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 47 | I only had it for a few days. After I had it taken out, I had quite a lot of muscus coming up that I kept coughing into a tissue but it went away as time went on. You are also probably in the process of healing and the hole is closing, which may make you feel like your breathing is restricted. Glad you got it taken out!
Stage 1 tongue carcinoma in 1999 and again in 2001, removed surgically. Stage II tongue carcinoma in 2012, surgery, neck dissection, flap from forearm, trach (removed in hospital before leaving). Finished 30 rad tx on 11/28/12.
Jessica, age 38
| | | | | Joined: May 2012 Posts: 47 "OCF Canuck" Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | OP "OCF Canuck" Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: May 2012 Posts: 47 | I finally went to ER at Toronto General yesterday. After a 7 hour wait, I was seen by the ENT senior resident who checked the throat with a scope and found everything the way they should be, very red as a result of the radiation, except the lining where the trach used to be was all swollen, likely due to the change of the removal of the trach. He didn't think anything needs to be done, just let it heal by itself. So I was relieved to learned that there wasn't anything more serious.
Joseph 59 male
pain in tongue strt 2/10/12, Dx SCC 3/19/12, confirmed Stg IV 4/5/12,
Total Glsctmy & recon w/ flap from L thigh, neck disct, trach 4/27/12
G-Tube 5/1/12
55 nodes all clear
completed 2 chemo 33 rad
non-smoker, non-drinker, exercise daily, mostly vegetarian diet...go figure
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2012 Posts: 60 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2012 Posts: 60 | I was like Christine when I had my trach. I know that I had a suction machine to clean out the trach and I used to have panic attacks that I couldn't breath. Once I got the trach out I remember having to suck out the muscus where the hole was for a very short time because the hole healed quickly. I still after almost 1 1/2 years have tons of muscus. Does anyone else still have alot of muscus after TX?
10/10 IV OSCC metastatic to lymph nodes. 10/10 Peg,Port,Trech. due to rad scarring cannot swallow. 9/12 Pet clean. SCC back again 11/12. Tumor attached to jugular, Rad DX left side of neck 11/19/12. No Chemo or Rads. MRI on 1/11/13 for chronic pain w/pet scan 2/15/13.
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