#41481 06-26-2007 06:55 AM | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 61 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP  Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: May 2007 Posts: 61 | I am scheduled to have surgery soon to remove almost half of my tongue. It was post-poned cuz I had pnuemonia/fever last week so they couldn't do it this week. Anyway, I haven't asked my doc yet if I'd have to have a trach. Did most of you? Is it manageable or horrible?
Thanks everyone.
SCC-tongueT3N0M0- IMRT 35times-1/07-3/07; along with one cycle of Cisplat & one cycle of Carboplat; weekly erbitux.finished all tx.3/07-supposedly gone. Recurrence 6/07. Age 31-non-smoker/social drinker. Devastated it's back.
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#41482 06-26-2007 09:47 AM | Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 446 "OCF Canuck" Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 446 | I did have one, and I fixated on that as being the most horrible thing they could possibly do to me.
In retrospect it was nothing. I disliked having it cleaned ( it tends to get a bit plugged up with mucous) every few hours, and it was a bit disconcerting when they chenged out the original one, for one that was tied on instead of being sutured in place, but it was overall a non-event
It is a bit odd to breathe through your throat, howeer it really doesn't feel as strange as you might think
Wayne
SCC left mandible TIVN0M0 40% of jaw removed, rebuilt using fibula, titanium and tissue from forearm.June 06. 30 IMRT Aug.-Oct. 06
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#41483 06-26-2007 03:25 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 | Hey, Jorden. When my husband had his 2nd surgery the Docs informed us that he would have a trach because of the likelihood of gross swelling in his throat. I was terrified while John just said "O.K.". We had a dry erase board and pens and a small notebook on his bedside tray for the 1st 24 hrs. because it was hard to understand him, but that got better daily. The day he left the hospital, they took the big trach out, put a small one in that he could talk easily with [when he remembered to cover the hole in it,] showed us how to keep everything clean, etc. In two weeks, they took that one out and we just kept the hole clean as it sealed up. It was not near as scary as I had envisioned and very manageable. I would, however, write down the instructions for keeping the area clean throughout the time you have it. It's a great excuse NOT to have to talk to anyone you don't want to talk to! Amy in the Ozarks
CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease
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#41484 06-26-2007 03:49 PM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,140 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 1,140 Likes: 1 | Jordan, I had a trach while in the hospital but it was removed before I left. Not a big deal at all. Amy makes a really good point about having writing materials at hand. When I regained consciousness, I had a million questions and at 1:00 a.m. sent my poor husband scrambling for paper and pen.
Wayne is right that the suctioning out is weird at first, but that was only necessary in my case for the first few hours afer the surgery.
Bottom line, a trach is not something to expend much energy worrying about. | | |
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