Ventilator
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bookjp
Well-known member
Carole,my surgery is march 11th.Original scheduled for feb 11th but had it postponed one month due to a tooth issue.I feel really good no symptoms at all.Just went for a routine physical.I'm all done taking test though because everytime I take one something else seems to pop up.Started out just a valve replacement.Then an aneurysm.Than an ascending aorta replacement.Now talking about some arch work possibly.Some people have all the luck!!!CA Pigg370877 said:
briansmom
Well-known member
FWIW, I don't know how much of this applies to people who are not as sick as my son was...
I was there for the removal of my son's breathing tube both times. The first time he was VERY sick and they required him to breathe on his own for about 2 hours before they would remove it. Essentially they turn the machine way down and track whether you breathe on your own enough. Meantime they will also draw blood and check it to be sure your levels (of what I don't know) are where they need to be. He definitely remembers this experience which was after his second OHS (he never came off the vent between the first and second surgery). He spent most of the 2 hours trying to communicate via hand signals, but considering the circumstances, he did not seem overly upset about the tube. After his 3rd OHS they only made him breathe on his own for 20 minutes before they took out the vent. He was very agitated and it took a lot of cajoling, convincing, lecturing, etc from me to get him through that 20 minutes. I really don't know what his nurse would have down without me there. It was a very difficult thing for me to go through - BUT MY SON DOESN"T REMEMBER IT AT ALL.
(the things we do for our children!)
I think that many doctors whose patients are otherwise healthy take the vent out pretty early and most people don't even remember the experience.
Easy for me to say, but try not to worry about it.
I was there for the removal of my son's breathing tube both times. The first time he was VERY sick and they required him to breathe on his own for about 2 hours before they would remove it. Essentially they turn the machine way down and track whether you breathe on your own enough. Meantime they will also draw blood and check it to be sure your levels (of what I don't know) are where they need to be. He definitely remembers this experience which was after his second OHS (he never came off the vent between the first and second surgery). He spent most of the 2 hours trying to communicate via hand signals, but considering the circumstances, he did not seem overly upset about the tube. After his 3rd OHS they only made him breathe on his own for 20 minutes before they took out the vent. He was very agitated and it took a lot of cajoling, convincing, lecturing, etc from me to get him through that 20 minutes. I really don't know what his nurse would have down without me there. It was a very difficult thing for me to go through - BUT MY SON DOESN"T REMEMBER IT AT ALL.
(the things we do for our children!)I think that many doctors whose patients are otherwise healthy take the vent out pretty early and most people don't even remember the experience.
Easy for me to say, but try not to worry about it.
I'm hoping when I go to dentist tomorrow it won't postpone mine, but my luck is kinda like yours!!
I didn't even know my valve was bad until last month.. I kept going to the doctor over sinus infections and congestion. Finally someone caught the valve problem, I had no idea. I'll be praying for you!!!! We will be about a week apart on healing times!!!
I remember telling my surgeon I was very worried about the breathing tube. I told him I was afraid of gagging when I woke up.
He said I would be fine, to "let the machine breathe for you". Well when I woke up I clearly remembered his advice even though I felt like I was not getting enough air. I remember scribbling a note to the ICCU nurses that were all around that I did not think I was getting enough o2. Those sharp nurses were of course monitoring every aspect of my condition, but they went ahead and put an o2 monitor on my finger so I could see my o2 level was just fine.
I kept remembering what the surgeon had said, "let the machine breathe for you". After I got awake enough to do as the doctor had advised, I was absolutely fine with it.
In fact, I was very happy with it. I was dropping off to sleep and waking up off and on just as relaxed and peaceful as could be. So much so that when they came to take the tube out I remember thinking to my self, now why do they want to go and do that?
He said I would be fine, to "let the machine breathe for you". Well when I woke up I clearly remembered his advice even though I felt like I was not getting enough air. I remember scribbling a note to the ICCU nurses that were all around that I did not think I was getting enough o2. Those sharp nurses were of course monitoring every aspect of my condition, but they went ahead and put an o2 monitor on my finger so I could see my o2 level was just fine.
I kept remembering what the surgeon had said, "let the machine breathe for you". After I got awake enough to do as the doctor had advised, I was absolutely fine with it.
In fact, I was very happy with it. I was dropping off to sleep and waking up off and on just as relaxed and peaceful as could be. So much so that when they came to take the tube out I remember thinking to my self, now why do they want to go and do that?
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Herburban1
Well-known member
My surgery was Jan 21 and was supposed to be Oct. 28 it was postponed twice and I had 2 surgeries between. The thing that freaked me about the most was the tube..I was totally out of it and all I remember is them saying "We are going to take out the tube now.", All I remember of ICU is when they talked to me,Otherwise I was out of it.I was in ICU for about 26 hours.
WayneGM
Well-known member
I was lucky. I only vaguely recall them removing the breathing tube. I was just on the edge of waking up so I recall it more like a dream than reality. I didn't feel a thing.
AndyChas
Well-known member
Book
Like a lot of people I was worried about the breathing tube but when I woke up with it still in it wasn't a problem at all. To be honest, I can't even remember it feeling obtrusive, and it wasn't uncomfortable when it was removed in a flash about ten minutes later (at least I think it was about ten minutes later). I could hear things before I could open my eyes and I recall struggling to try and open them, but I just couldn't do it; this was probably the most disconcerting phase of the ICU experience for me!
Andy
Like a lot of people I was worried about the breathing tube but when I woke up with it still in it wasn't a problem at all. To be honest, I can't even remember it feeling obtrusive, and it wasn't uncomfortable when it was removed in a flash about ten minutes later (at least I think it was about ten minutes later). I could hear things before I could open my eyes and I recall struggling to try and open them, but I just couldn't do it; this was probably the most disconcerting phase of the ICU experience for me!
Andy
During AVR I was on the ventilator 3 different times. The 2nd time I was taken off too soon. Removing the tube is nothing. The first and second time I was unconsciouses when I was intubated, (inserting the tube).
The last time was the worse, for I was conscience when I went to back to ICU. The worse was when they started intubation while I was fully conscience. They told me to hang on that it was going to be pretty rough.... they sure didn't lie about that! That time I was kept in ICU for 7 days, 5 days on the ventilator.
The last time was the worse, for I was conscience when I went to back to ICU. The worse was when they started intubation while I was fully conscience. They told me to hang on that it was going to be pretty rough.... they sure didn't lie about that! That time I was kept in ICU for 7 days, 5 days on the ventilator.
I'm one of the ones that woke up still on the vent.
Trinityheart8891
Well-known member
hey guys
as a respiratory therapy student I can answer this question. I cant speak for each and everyone's experience because different facilities wean the ventilator differently, but when you get back to the ICU you will still be pretty sedated, but generally the ventilator is in a mode that will allow the patient (you) to do some of the work. the respiratory therapist is constantly monitoring the ventilator and watching how much of the breathing the patient is doing. as you wake up, you will automatically start doing some of your own breathing, as long as your vital signs are relatively stable as soon as you are awake enough to follow commands the respiratory therapist will take some numbers from the vent and ask you to do a few breathing exercises, they will also assess how awake you are by asking you to squeeze their hand and raise your head off the pillow. once they know that you are awake enough to not forget to breathe (sedatives can make ppl forget to breathe) and are awake enough to protect your own airway (not choke) and you can maintain your vital signs while doing your own work of breathing (they will put you in a mode that has you doing all your own breathing for a while to see how you do) they will pull the tube, it may be uncomfortable to be awake with the tube in for a while but its better to wait a little than to reintubate because the tube was pulled too early, plus, when you are intubated this causes a little trauma to your airway, if they have to reintubate you sometimes it can be difficult to get the tube in if there is alot of swelling in the airway
hope this helps
as a respiratory therapy student I can answer this question. I cant speak for each and everyone's experience because different facilities wean the ventilator differently, but when you get back to the ICU you will still be pretty sedated, but generally the ventilator is in a mode that will allow the patient (you) to do some of the work. the respiratory therapist is constantly monitoring the ventilator and watching how much of the breathing the patient is doing. as you wake up, you will automatically start doing some of your own breathing, as long as your vital signs are relatively stable as soon as you are awake enough to follow commands the respiratory therapist will take some numbers from the vent and ask you to do a few breathing exercises, they will also assess how awake you are by asking you to squeeze their hand and raise your head off the pillow. once they know that you are awake enough to not forget to breathe (sedatives can make ppl forget to breathe) and are awake enough to protect your own airway (not choke) and you can maintain your vital signs while doing your own work of breathing (they will put you in a mode that has you doing all your own breathing for a while to see how you do) they will pull the tube, it may be uncomfortable to be awake with the tube in for a while but its better to wait a little than to reintubate because the tube was pulled too early, plus, when you are intubated this causes a little trauma to your airway, if they have to reintubate you sometimes it can be difficult to get the tube in if there is alot of swelling in the airway
hope this helps
cp172
Well-known member
The tube was a concern of mine prior to surgery. When I woke up after surgery I remember thinking how cool it was to lay there and have the machine breath for me. There was no fear or discomfort at all (wonderful meds). I do not remember it coming out.Guess I had gone to sleep at that point.
You definitely won't have to worry about no one being around. I hope this is reassuring and not scary, but OHS is really big-deal major surgery, and therefore the nurses are watching you like hawks when you arrive in the ICU. At Mayo, where I had my surgery, each patient has her own nurse and nurse's aide and patients are never left alone until they are awake.
W
Wade
My brother-in-law had a radical stomache reconstruction surgery last year. After surgery they kept him heavily sedated and on the vent for 7 days.
He finally chewed through it to get it out. Told me he couldn't take it anymore. The nurse said: "Sometimes they know when they're ready to be done with it."
I'll say!
He finally chewed through it to get it out. Told me he couldn't take it anymore. The nurse said: "Sometimes they know when they're ready to be done with it."
I'll say!
G
Guest
I'm another one that woke up with the ventilator tube still in ... and it was NOT a pleasant experience. Several times, I thought to myself: 'Dangumit, I made it through the OHS with flying colors and now my own mucus is going to kill me.' That was NOT a fun feeling at the time ... because I could barely breathe ... and wanted that tube OUT.
Course, now it is just an interesting episode within the OHS experience in 2003.....
Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ...MidW Event = 04/04/09
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"You probably won't remember me" ... Jan Arden ... 'Insensitive'
Course, now it is just an interesting episode within the OHS experience in 2003.....
Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ...MidW Event = 04/04/09
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"You probably won't remember me" ... Jan Arden ... 'Insensitive'
G
Guest
Bah humbug.......
Hi,
I very well understand about intubation the second time but they also did me the third time. The third time I was fully conscience when they forced that tube down.
Then the next 5 days I was conscience on the ventilator. The tube coming out was a relief! I was glad they didn't have to do the tracheotomy, for a few days longer it would have been required.
