Tracheostomy questions/experience

[DrARDS]

Can you have a tracheostomy if you’re on blood thinners? At what stage of intubation is it done? How did you cope with it? Did your voice come back to normal?

[AKAICUsurvivor]

My voice came back to normal eventually, I had trachy a few days before they started the long process of waking me up. As far as I know I was on blood thinners too - to stop thrombosis - I also had those natty tights on when I woke up. One of my frequent hallucinations was of being attacked by moths that were half grey half luminous orange. The little syringe the nurses use to dispense thinners had one grey wing and one luminous orange tag. ICU delirium is no fun - have a look at the ICUsteps critical care guide. Follow link 😀

icustepschester.org/informa...

[DrARDS in reply to AKAICUsurvivor]

Thanks so much. That gives us some reassurance. How long did it take to get back to normal ? Did you have any complications with your Trachy?

The hallucinations sound horrible. Was that when you were fully paralysed and sedated or when you were being weaned off or both??

[AKAICUsurvivor in reply to DrARDS]

It was more about strength of voice - my voice sounded the same - I just couldnt give it any projection.

The trachy was straightforward - it took an age to heal over once the tube was removed. I had hallucinations for a while before I was being woken up, whilst I was taken off sedation & for some days after waking. I couldn’t tell you how many days - my dreams spanned decades - For instance. I remember crawling on my hands and knees from Milwaukee to Chester Uk - I was handcuffed to 2 oxygen cylinders whilst unknown foes snipped at me with rifles - this ‘journey’ took 2 1/2 yrs.

[DrARDS in reply to AKAICUsurvivor]

did they say you had to have the trachy? What was the alternative? How many days had you been intubated prior? What was the time period from trachy fit to discharge to removal of the trachy?

[AKAICUsurvivor in reply to DrARDS]

Approximately- intubated for 57 days - trachy fitted around 53 days in - remained ventilated for another 2 weeks - I was unconscious when it was fitted - I do not believe there was a viable alternative. I had trachy removed and remained on ICU because it appeared I had glandular fever. By day 90 I moved to wards without trachy, in fact all catheters & lines were out by then. I spent another month in various wards - moving towards rehab for final 10 days. My hospital admission lasted 4 months

[holibob]

My husband was in an induced coma for 2 months. When he started to need less support from the ventilator and was more stable was when they did a Tracheostomy. My husband coped with it well andb his voice came back to normal fairly quickly. He's been left with about an inch scar. Sorry I can't answer your question about the blood thinners. Sending best wishes.

[DrARDS in reply to holibob]

Thanks so much. That’s positive to hear.

[AKAICUsurvivor]

You may find this article helpful

australiancriticalcare.com/...

[DrARDS in reply to AKAICUsurvivor]

My Dad is too ill to have a trachy atm anyway, but thanks for your posts.