Jeanne's Journal

Elaine Cutri  I have never heard this before. Did they give you a reason why you need to communicate? Are they working near some nerves?

Terry Shermeister   Hi Jeanne: I had my surgery to repair my mitral valve last May 14. I was resigned to the fact of the struggle of dealing with a breathing tube after awakening. The reality of it for me was that I do not remember experiencing anything. I hope that you will have the same!

Tammy Pilcher  Hi Jeanne, this was actually my biggest concern too. It turned out to be only a vague memory. My memory of this was waking and feeling the vent, but as soon as I felt it hearing a man say "Let's get that out". He said to cough and I did and he took it out. I fell right back to sleep. I don't remember seeing anything at this point, only hearing him. It wasn't bad at all, just seemed like a dream state. I had prayed alot about this before my surgery, because I've also always had a gag reflex issue. I told my anesthesiologist about my concern right before my surgery and he told me I probably wouldn't remember much. He was right. I'll keep you in my prayers for your experience to go as well. Isaiah 41:13.

Tammy Pilcher  Jeanne, I forgot to add that you can read my post about my surgery experience in my journal too. God bless!

Naomi Ivker  Jeanne. My surgeon assured me the icy team looks to remove the breathing tube as soon as they can. I only have vague memories of the tube and am assured mist have no memory at all.

Elaine Cutri  Hi Jeanne, I mis-interpreted your question. My recollection is after surgery they try to remove the breathing tube as soon as your are awake and stable. Let them know your concern, they should find ways to make you as comfortable as possible.

Jean Raber  Hi, Jeanne, Tammy has good advice above.

I understand why this sounds scary, but looks worse than it is. They woke my mother up while still intubated, and she kept trying to spell out words on my hand like Helen Keller and got quite agitated.

Once I got her a pad and paper, she was fine, just wanted to make sure she had the tissue, not the mechanical valve (yes) and that I'd fed her cat (yes).

Nurses were there every second until the tube came out, and gave her frequent updates about how she was doing well and it wouldn't be long. Also kept her comfy with morphine, and it was gone in two hours, three tops.

Later she said she didn't remember too much about it it, that it didn't hurt, but that she was frantic because she couldn't communicate.

Jeanne Saporito  Thank you guys-you are such a wonderful support. When I share this fear with friends and family I'm told ithat I'm stressing myself and Not thinking positive when it's a real concern to me-as I've always had a poor gag reflex so the possibiyy that Id be alert for hours even though I'm being told I'll forget about it afterwards still scares the daylights out of me. However I'm going to do my best to let it go now and discuss it witha the anesthesiologist that day That's all I can do and trust and pray that God and the angels and all your loving prayers and support will help me through that scary time. God bless all of you for being there for me.

Jeanne Saporito  Can I ask You Jean - was there a reason why your mother was alert during that time and had to communicate with the tube in her when everybody else says they have it removed right away - this is the part I don't understand??? Can you elaborate ?

Jeanne Saporito  I left a message for the cardiac nurse coordinator to find out more about why I would be alert being intubated- maybe they can clarify the issue for me although it's in the pamphlet and seems to be something routine however I'm really struggling with anxiety with this-how have the rest of you coped with things that made you anxious related to your past or upcoming procedures ???

Jean Raber  Jeanne, I'm glad you called your coordinator. I'm sure she can give you the best info.

But as I understand it, anesthesia suppresses respiration so that you can't always breathe on your own right away. To help you shake the anesthesia, they wake you up a bit (you will still be groggy). However, they're also giving you morphine for pain, and that suppresses respiration and means they have to give your body a little more time to get your breathing back.

Two nurses and an anesthetist monitored my mother every single second when she got to her room. They made getting that tube out a priority, but they want to make really sure that you're ready to breathe on your own so they don't have to reinsert the tube.

My mother's agitation was caused by not being able to communicate. I should have thought about bringing a pad and pencil because we, too, were told she'd wake up with the tube. Sounds like your people are making sure you will have writing at the ready, and that tells me they know what they're doing.

My mother has also had swallowing problems for many years (she was 81 at the time of her surgery), but the tube posed no problems for her.

I hope this is helpful and takes some of the edge off until you can talk with the nurse. If I could shoulder some of that anxiety for you, my friend, I would do so willingly.