I was a little unsure about replying to this one as I did not want to cause any more worry to either of you. I guess it helps to hear all the information and in my case I went in to this whole thing not knowing anything except what I was told at my initial and only meeting with the team. I did not take a lot of that in either.
In my case the tracheotomy was one of the more difficult things to deal with for around the first 3 days or so in intensive care.
There was a lot of mucus build up and I needed that to be suctioned out quite often. From memory this was more of a problem during the late night/early morning shift for the nursing staff. I had the buzzer and did have 1 nurse get quite annoyed with me and telling me I would have to wait. I though I was going to choke to death. As a lot of people in the ICU are sleeping some of the nursing staff on this shift is able to take it a little easier and I guess I was spoiling it for this one.
In any case I was very upset and felt very helpless as I could not even talk. I could cry however (that is tears just rolling down my cheeks) and I also wrote on a children�s white board.
Fortunately I was close to the doctor�s station and he came over to tell me that it would not happen again and to use the buzzer whenever I needed to. Thankfully I did not see this nurse again.
After around 3 to 4 days 1 of my favourite nurse�s on the day shift showed my how I could do the interim suctions for myself. Got quite a shock when a few days later I saw how much gunk there was in the large bottle behind me.
All the best Diane with your upcoming surgery and Karen I am sure your husband will get better as each day passes.