Post op - Home!
Operation went well - had awake intubation, again (i think it is what I will always have/need in the future). They ask how much do I want to remember - I think "Are you kidding - why ask!!!" - but I ...
Forum Discussion
Hi Julia44,
Because I have a narrowed airway and paralysed right vocal cord (in the mid line position), it makes it impossible to use the usual procedure for an op. Generally they will put you to sleep (putting something in the drip line) and intubate you once you are asleep (when you are under like this, a machine breathes for you - as you are so deeply asleep you can't usually do it for yourself). This tubing is taken out when you are in recovery and most people aren't even aware of it having been in.
In my case, because it is difficult to get a tube in safely, they can't put me to sleep then try to get it in. If they can't get it in or it is taking too long, they then need to wake me properly so I can breath on my own. If they use the usual method (in the drip line - go straight to sleep) it can be very hard to wake me if they haven't been able to get the tube in. So I am actually kept awake while they get a tube in place safely. They then give me enough sedation to forget most of it and to sleep - just as in any normal op. They spray a thing up my nose and in the back of my throat to help (it is like a local). They then use a glide scope (usually) to go up my nose, down the back of my throat and keep going all the way to my lungs. This then acts as a guide to feed the actual tubing down. Apparrently I cough a lot and they have to stop each time I cough for it to settle again before they keep going.
I asked for it to all be explained to me the first time they said they may need to do it - all very scary sounding - but each time I have remembered very little of the procedure - very happy to say that!
They also have trouble with my veins too - usually wake up with bruising all over the place!
Awake intubation isn't really something they like to do - unless it is necessary. I have even had an anaesthetist manually breath for me for part of the op - squeezing the pump sort of thing himself rather than using the machine (told this after op).
All in all, I'd rather just be able to be given something in the drip line - no matter how hard it is to get one in - and then just go to sleep than have the awake intubation. Have to rely on the anaesthetist's skill at getting the tube in and giving me the right amount of sedation so I don't remember it all.
Cheers
Tracy xxx