Who is desperate enough to get a stoma in order to be able to breathe well at night?

I understand that many of you have had great success with your therapies (CPAP and such) but what if they became too much of a hassle or became useless in some way?

Also, (I have not researched this yet), but can they implant a valve there that I could open up only for sleep, but keep closed for swimming and everything else?  This will be something I'll look into, but just trying to get a feel for who has thought about this and just how insane the idea is........

Thanks, fellow stricken.

I'm kind of hoping you are the same person who posted this question recently as I would hate to think this comes up as an option this often.  Unless you are so obese you can't breath standing up and awake (and I have seen this situation), a tracheotomy is not a good choice.  It is not hassle free and requires meticulous care to keep from becoming infected, a situation I have also seen as my dad died from an infection acquired through his trach.


_________________
That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

Anonymous wrote:

Who is desperate enough to get a stoma in order to be able to breathe well at night?

I understand that many of you have had great success with your therapies (CPAP and such) but what if they became too much of a hassle or became useless in some way?

Also, (I have not researched this yet), but can they implant a valve there that I could open up only for sleep, but keep closed for swimming and everything else?  This will be something I'll look into, but just trying to get a feel for who has thought about this and just how insane the idea is........

Thanks, fellow stricken.

Hi,

If you think CPAP is a hassle, wait until you see what is involved with a trach.
Hygiene routine, every day is called for plus maintenence, cleaning etc. The 'hole in the throat' gang often talk of snot storms and other gunge in their stomas.

There is a very high incidence of infection.

Best of luck, if you decide to go for it, but I would give cpap a thorough try before going down that road.

Daniel


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)

Daniel wrote:

The 'hole in the throat' gang often talk of snot storms and other gunge in their stomas.

There is a very high incidence of infection.

Best of luck, if you decide to go for it, but I would give cpap a thorough try before going down that road.

Daniel

Yes, there will ALWAYS be a place for CPAP in my life.

THe infection thing is what I plan on looking into.  The decision fits me, its just a simply matter of whether it is too much risk or inconvenience for the huge benefit it offers.

Anonymous wrote:

Daniel wrote:

The 'hole in the throat' gang often talk of snot storms and other gunge in their stomas.

There is a very high incidence of infection.

Best of luck, if you decide to go for it, but I would give cpap a thorough try before going down that road.

Daniel

Yes, there will ALWAYS be a place for CPAP in my life.

THe infection thing is what I plan on looking into.  The decision fits me, its just a simply matter of whether it is too much risk or inconvenience for the huge benefit it offers.

Definitely a big benefit if you can't manage CPAP.
I seem to remember posting something on it before. There was a chap on one of the newsgroups (a couple of years back) called Tony Poulson from Yorkshire in England. He went through hell and eventually decided on a trach, otherwise he was looking at death. Did a lot of research and had a web site covering the procedure etc. Unfortunately the site is no longer up.
He used a Montgomery Canula, which, at that time, was a new product. They probably have a web site.

Infection seems to be a very common occurence. The stoma requires daily cleaning with the likes of peroxide which helps to stop the growth of tissue in the stoma and coming in on the Canula. I believe that no matter what type of plug you have during the day swimming is out.

I believe that the surgery itself is not terribly difficult and is completely reversible.

Please keep us up to date.

Kind regards,

Daniel


_________________
The untreated Sleep Apnoea sufferer died quietly in his sleep.......
Unlike his three passengers who died screaming !!!!!!

(Anon)