My husband had laryngectomy in June and was suctioned a few times in the hospital but since that has refused to be suctioned. He will cough and cough, turning red in the face and shaking to get the mucus up himself. Would using the suction machine help him?

My husband has trach and the suction does help but it is uncomfortable and he does not like to use it. I feel an important part is humidity when you are trying to dislarge mucus. We have a machine, it kind of looks like he is getting O2 but it it a humidifier. This will loosen up the mucus so it is not as thick and a little easier to couch up.

I hope this makes sense to you. Ask a respiratory therapist, mine has been great.

liz

Gerri,

Has the medical team suggested ways to reduce the mucus? I found regular doses of Robitussen helped to at least thin it which made it easier to clear out. Also, staying hydrated can help as well.

- Margaret

After my total larygectomy, I used a humidifer by the bed at night. I was also given a script for pink squirts, a small vial that contains 3 to 5 oz of saline solution which you squirt down your trach and promptly cough back up hopefully bringing the mucous with it. A hot shower in the morning should help loosen things up. I have a portable suction machine but never used it after 1st week.

At the same time as my surgery a voice prosthesis was installed in my trach to allow me to speak. This comes with a long handled brush to clean the prosthesis. I use this to 'catch' a piece of mucous by the end and pull it out as a string. A long handled QTIP might work the same. Sometimes a Kleenex will work also.

Is he allowed to wear anything over his trach? If so, this should help to keep the lungs more moist and help with the mucous. Even with my HME, I still have a lot of mucous the first few hours of the morning but I do not have any problem coughing it up. Maybe you should bring that problem up with his dr since I think it is very dry where you live.

Take care,
Eileen