I know things got easier for me with the trach when I started picking up the suction gizmo and using it myself -- Ask early on for some assistance in using it -- The worst part was that between the call button (which also had the TV remote on it) and the suction gizmo I was always losing one or the other...

The respiratory techs were really good about coming in on a schedule and making me cough to clear it. Also, I had an oxygen blood level alarm hooked up, so if anything had gone wrong the alarm would have been beeping.

In the beginning, there was a lot of problems trying to get out of bed because there were so many tubes (NGT feeder, IV feeder) and drains (neck and wrist) and trach oxygen dangling off me that I was afraid to move (esp the NGT because it was secured by three sutures through my septum, so disturbing it hurt).

Pete I think you all of us agree that those 3 sutures in your nose are the WORST!! Too funny considering everything else we have gone through.

Donna

Again without wanting to worry anyone here it would have saved a little time if I (and nursing staff) had known. They could not figure out why it was so hard to take the stopper out.
Dan...Like you....other than the trach tubes along with all the other's I (or should I say the nursing staff) also found the feeding tube through the nose a problem. Actually the problem was not mine because every nurse had a hard time with mine and could not understand it when the time came to flush it out and when inserting a new liquid feed. They had such a hard time with it however on the daily x-ray taken while on my bed in ICU at around day 4 they found the tube was too long and was twisted. They say the distance from nose to stomach was a little shorter than normal bla bla bla. (I am 5�5 which is sort of medium female height).
In any case they pulled a couple of inches back out of nose, reattached whatever the valve part was and viola.. all was OK !!

My husband actually pulled out the NG tube, sutures and all. he said he couldn't stand another minute of it. Needless to say they upped the meds and sewed that sucker right back in. He doesn't remember any of it thank God. He also had fun pulling out ivs and other tubes-what a prankster!!!

Sue

Sue, your husband sounds like a nurse's dream! They will have plenty to talk about when comparing fun patients!

My first NGT gave enough trouble that they finally removed it (unfortunately, the removal person only got two of the sutures the first time around...) and put in a new one without the sutures and with the help of X-ray to get it right. Everything worked fine after that and it didn't bother me.

I was too scared to not be a good girl. (I'm over 50 !!! but felt like a child). Being connected to all the tubes, not able to speak and hardly able to move I was conscience of not causing any waves or getting the nurses off side in case it went against me.
Even to the point of waiting a little too long to press the buzzer for suction of the trach tube on occasion.
Stupid isn�t it but I have never felt so helpless in my whole life.
First attempt at having a shower around 6 days later was also another fun experience but luckily had my favourite nurse for this adventure.
Gabriele

Ok folks thanks....maybe I shouldn't have read this one!!! I also have had a feeding tube previous surgery gastric bypass and I also gaged so much that they had to pull it out early...Just wonderful to know things haven't changed all that much...I even have a nick out of my nose as a reminder. This and the trac my god they better keep me totally sedated or I will be pulling them out too...I can hardly wait for all party of tubes and wires and buzzers. Oops I lied ...I can wait one week in fact...not gonna be a good time for the nurses. I am going to be one of the worst patients...God better be with me and them just to get through 7 days of my life....in order to have a life time...I understand I must but there should be an easier way...I am finding out what to expect....and I don't know how I am going to get past this...my nurse said that the nerves will be deadened from the operation so I will barely notice the feeding tube...now I am not so sure!!!

I just keep thinking of the alternative...and the surgery and all the trimmings is still terrifying!!!

Dianne

Diane,
To close the circle a little on this, I should tell you that since the night my husband first had the problem with the trach, he has had NO more problems. And, the NG tube doesn't seem to bother him at all. He smiles and even clowns a good part of the time. I'm sure it's no picnic, but perhaps it is reassuring to knowthat not everyone has all these problems.

I think that Chip's approach to this, which is to try to relax into it and not to clench - almost a zen type approach, has helped him so much. I'm trying to be more like him.

I hope your surgery is much less difficult for you than you are expecting.

Diane, don't sweat it -- Aside from the occasional tug on the sutures, I was really unaware of the NG tube -- The trach was a different problem because it would continue to clog with fluids -- Ask the nurses early on to show you how to use the suction device (and to not hesitate to ask that they clean it because it too will get clogged as junk dries out in it).

After I had my surgical drains removed and could get out of bed, I would clean the suction tube myself, partly to keep it working well and partly to have something to do.

Tell the nurses up front that you might be a bad patient because you have a lot of anxieties, so you would appreciate any suggestions they might have -- Do that for all three nursing shifts, plus when new ones show up.

Thanks Pete sound advice....I truly believe and it has been documented already since my consult appointment. I thought I broke the nurse's hand when they took a picture of my throat through a scope down my nose....My doctor's right hand man (Wendy the nurse) is fully aware of my fears and I am going to talk to her next week again. I think that they will be fully aware and I plan on before surgery writing on my white board "anxious person!!!!" Please be kind...The social worker is fully aware to the point that they have made special arrangements for my husband to stay until out of the woods so to speak...they are making special arrangements if I need it because of anxiousness slackening the visiting hrs so if I need someone there they will arrange it. Also arranging for a TV so to take my mind off of things....So I think they are aware I even told the anestesiologist (sand man) my fears and he made a comment about putting trac in while awake ....and walked out the door so to speak...he was the only person who didn't seem real compassionate. But the rest were good and I want to think I will be ok... I feel like I am a broken record....I think I can...

Thanks everyone for listening to me....

Dianne