I need some answers here plase if anyone can help. As some of you know I just got out of the hospital. I had a tracheostomy done as a precautionary measure because my windpipe keeps narrowing and they were scared I would choke on the mucous and stuff.

Well tonight a home medical lady comes by and leaves several supplies with me including an air compressor for humidity for the trach tube. We get this thing plugged in and it sounds like jet. There is now way whatsoever that I can sleep with this thing on. I am on steroids right now and Im sure you all know that causes insomnia in certain people. I am just going to run my humidifier tonight nad maybe I can get some answers by tomorrow. I just zammed myself with both pain killers and sleep aids so maybe I can get some sleep tonight.

Thanks all,
Billy

Billy, when you wake up, can you explain more about this air compressor? Is it part of the trach aparatus-does it push air directly into your trach tube? John's did, but it sounded like a pump filling up with air and then expelling it. But it had a rhythm that we got used to. It was loud- we just tried to turn the t.v. in his room up louder. Do you have any idea how long you might have to use it? You can tell the home health people that you need something quieter because you can't sleep with that noise- let them figure something out. You can also call your Doc and ask if there is an alternative way to handle this because you are not able to sleep. Be persistant in your needs. Amy in the Ozarks

Well Amy, I am awake as a matter of fact. Might be another steriods wins night. I will fall asleep around 4 or so and sleep most of the day which I hate doing.

Yea, the compressor has a hose that runs to a mask that sits in front of the trach tube and it is supposed to humidify it but that air coming out of that tube is rollin...LOL

I will call them tomorrow and let them know that there is no way I can sleep like that and if they cant find something that I cant sleep with then I will have to go to a competitor.

I have my room humidifier running right now and it does a fairly good job keeping secretions moist. Its just odd to me that when in the hospital I was never told that I needed this thing.I was told that a humudifier would surfice. I guess we will see tomorrow.

Thx Amy,
Billy

Billy


No idea about the machine...But i am right with you on the sleepless nights !


Shar

Billy I had a powered humidifier on my trach in the hospital for about a day after I woke up. They removed it and simply opted for clearing it with suction more frequently after that.

I also had a room humidifier that worked pretty well, so between it and the suction machine I got a lot more sleep.

Good luck. Awake in the middle of the night, trach in place and equipment roaring away, SUCKS, big time
Wayne

I had the same thing Wayne and when I left the hospital they told me that all I needed was a room humidifier unless I misunderstood them. I know that I did a lot of coughing last night and thats a sign of dry sercretions right??

I know that my throat is hurting this morning and Im sure that its due to coughing in the middle of the night. I really dont remember coughing alot but when I finally do fall asleep, around 3 to 5 am I sleep pretty hard. I have let them know that Im not sleeping right and they told me to try 2 sleeping pills and if that didnt work they would call in something else. I took 2 last night, still got to sleep at around 5 and the only difference I see is I woke up with a headache...LOL...go figure.

Anyway, as always, any and all help is greatly appreciated.

Billy

Billy, what pain meds are you on besides sleeping pills? Many sleeping pills are known to leave a "hang over effect the next morning. Amy

Right now the only thing Im on is 10mg oxycodone every 5 hours or so. They just gave me Restoril for sleep, 15 mg. Its really weird how it takes so long for me to go to sleep but once Im out, Im out. Like I said, I usually fall asleep around 3 or 4 am and sleep until 1 pm or so. Not really too much of a "hangover" effect either. I hope this doesnt cause that but I did some reading up on it and it is for insomniacs.
I really dont want to get my days and nights mixed up because it shouldnt be too terribly much longer that I can go back to work at least part time.

I also got a new air pump today and I think Im gonna put it in my closet and see if it will still push the air like I need it too. Maybe one day I will be able to sleep again... LOL

Billy, I found that immovane worked the best for me as a sleeping med. It is a relatively short acting medication, so when you take it, it helps you get to sleep quite quickly, and it's effects wear off within about 4 hours.

I found that taking it, I could get to sleep on time, and wake up after 7 or 8 hours without feeling punchy from the medication. I've been told by the Doctor that it's not as habit forming as some sleep meds can be, which makes me feel better about taking them now and again
Wayne

I will check on that Wayne and I appreciate it. What I think that they have done is given me this because they know steroids cause insomnia in me. I just hope I can get some sleep tonight. Lord knows I need it.

Thanks again

Is this air compressor called a Nebulizer? I had one of those after permanent trach surgery and just used humidfier for same reasons you are. Dr orders Nebulizer, insurance pays for it, do you really need it? If not dump it. You may not want to send back until you are certain you don't need it. I used it before I went to bed and during day, but not at night. Even my humidifier is too nosy these days. Hope you get some good sleep without meds.

Take care,
Eileen

It may be a nebulizer. I really have no clue. All I know is that its a small compressor that is supposed to pump a fine mist through a tube and into a trach mask for me to breathe. Other than that its just a small air compressor to me... LOL

I dont really know if I need it or not but they brought me another one today that is quieter than the one they brought yesterday. I think Im gonna try and put it in my closet and run the hose to my bed and see if its still strong enough to push the mist to where I need it.

I will keep ya posted.

Well, I put the compressor in my bathroom last night and tried it like that. I think it may have worked but am not sure. I know that the mucous seemed like it wasnt dry but yet the inside of my nose was. I have moved the compressor into the bedroom now and will see how that works. I have hose ready in case I have to move it back.

The sleep meds seemed to have worked. I feel like I went to sleep as soon as I went to bed. I also remember waking up during the night for the mucous and to use the bathroom but dont remember much other that. I slept until 2pm. I woke up kinda groggy but dont know if thats hangover effect, more sleep than Im used to getting or needing to get used to the medicine.

Billy,

I see you figured out the signature thing!!! Way to go.

I also see your 44 w/ BOT. Were nodes involved? Did you get your slides tested for HPV?

1 left and 1 right node involved. They are talking about neck disection next month. I dont know about the slides being tested. What is that??

He referring to testing for HPV virus. There is an increasingly strong connection between HPV and some oral cancers

The neck dissection thing is no picnic, but personally I am really glad they did it, even though there was no indication of nodal involvement. I am convinced that for me, I had to throw everything including the kitchen sink at the Beast, first time around. I don't want a second time.

You will be OK. For me, the radiation was far worse than the surgery, and I had a LOT of surgery
Wayne