My wife is three weeks after BOT tumor resection (low grade mucoepidermoid recurrance) w/ flap reconstruction and bilateral neck dissection. Today the doctor capped her trach w/ goal of removing it in two days. She finds her breathing very restricted w/ the trach cap. The nurse told us to alternate between the cap and the inner canula every couple hours until she is used to it. She also gets thicker mucous w/ the cap and continues to use suction for it. Any suggestions for handling the trach cap over the next couple days to make it easier? She thinks it will be easier to breathe once the trach is removed entirely b/c she feels like the trach is taking up half her airway now. Comments/ suggestions?
She is prob 4-5 weeks from a swallow study and can't swallow now. She will visit the speech pathologist next week.
Thanks,
Allen