Well I used up one of my lives about 4am yesterday morning. I was coughing up the usual when a larger than normal piece of mucous totally blocked my airway. It would not come out nor go back. I stood there staring into the mirror wondering if I was going to die. It was the scariest thing I have ever been through. The look on my face in that mirror was something I will never forget. My wife called 911 and the ambulance too me in. After about 30mins I was able to dislodge the mass and expel it. That was a happy moment to say the least. The wife picked up a humidifier which will keep my throat from drying out like that again…Hopefully…

Happy to be alive in Pearland.

BigJohn

Quote:

Well I used up one of my lives about 4am yesterday morning

That must have been scary.    Hope you do not have many more moments as these and get the finished port in soon.
Barb


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Remstar auto CPAP... mask=Hans Rudolph V2
Peace begins with each of us, as individuals

BigJohn, I'll pray for you that things go well. Also, I pray that your wife can continue to be strong. It must be so hard for her also.  I empathize with all your heartache, and frustrations. Good luck.


_________________
5'9 234lbs 37 years Old Male
Original Sleep Study: AHI = 30

Owner of Remstar Auto A Flex M series
ResMed Ultra Mirage Full Face Mask
Viewer 1.0 Software, Smartcard Reader
Integrated Heater/humidifier
Prescribed setting: 7-10 Cm

I finally saw a copy of my sleep study report from last year. My oxygen level was dropping down to 72%
during mu OSA episodes......wow, no wonder I felt like !@#! all the time..

Thanks for all the kind words, they help me through the day.

BigJohn

we are glad the surgery went well now on to recovery, the plugs like that happen to everyone, you may want to look into a trach collar bun compressor to help with humidifaction, but again we only use a cool mist humidifier (vicks) and it keeps his mucus thin another thing that WILL HELP is 6-8 bottles of water per day and no milk and also get you some mucinex and take 2 in the morning and 2 at night and you will not have as many plugs........we are glad that you are back home and resting and sleeping like a baby!! IT ONLY GETS BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!      WE ARE SO HAPPY FOR YOU

WISHING YOU A SPEEDY RECOVERY!
LISA AND PEEWEE

How long does it take for these plugs to become more infrequent?

BigJohn wrote:

How long does it take for these plugs to become more infrequent?

if you do the humidifer and sleep with the trach open then they should be disapating and also try mucinex! that works wonders but youmain thang is to drink lots and lots and lots of water it keeps your secrections thin

BigJohn wrote:

Well I used up one of my lives about 4am yesterday morning. I was coughing up the usual when a larger than normal piece of mucous totally blocked my airway. It would not come out nor go back. I stood there staring into the mirror wondering if I was going to die. It was the scariest thing I have ever been through. The look on my face in that mirror was something I will never forget. My wife called 911 and the ambulance too me in. After about 30mins I was able to dislodge the mass and expel it. That was a happy moment to say the least. The wife picked up a humidifier which will keep my throat from drying out like that again…Hopefully…

Happy to be alive in Pearland.

BigJohn

question did you take out your inner cannula? during this episode>?

a good advice place is www.neckbreathers.com they have a lot of great advice along with tracheostomy.com

Yeah I did, I was able to wiggle the trach enough to get a little bit of air in until I got to the ER.
No air in and no air out. Was quite a surprise to me as well.

BigJohn

hey john this is peewee, i know what you are going through is tough but beleive me buddy it is well worth it. after everything heals and the mucus and stuff calms down you will love the trach. and congrats on the weight loss . it has been 6 months since my trach and i have lost almost 60lbs and not even really dieting. it is impossible to lose weight with osa. but lisa was right when she said drink alot of water and it will really help loosen up your mucus and beleive me try to minimize the dairy especially milk and ice cream

if you need anything just e-mail me sprayn306@aol.com and remember there are no dumb  questions

i was wondering if anyone had spoken with him latley and wondering how he is doing this week is probably the worst we are keeping him in our prayers and thoughts

lisa and peewee

Haven't seen him around...have you tried PMing him?


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Untreated SA for 15+ years.
CPAP 4 years ..10,11 & 13cm's
Mirage Nasal Swift
Switched to BiPAP Auto M Series 13 IPAP 8 EPAP 3 BiFlex in April 2008

Sorry I havent kept yall update. Things are progressing well. I went to the Doc yesterday and she replaced my trach (8) with a new one (8) but without the ball on it. I can breath a bit easier with this one. She has ordered a 6 which should allow me to cap it off and give me good breathing room. I'm still home from work due to not being able to cap off the trach.
I hope to be back at it within a week or so. My sleeping is so much better. I even wake up in the same position I fell asleep in. Gee, whats with that...Wow.
I have had some bleeding problems. These are mainly at night. When I awake I usually have some semi-dried raisin sized chunks. I am using a humnidifier which has helped.

Take Care,

BigJohn

Thank You for reporting in .  Hope things get you up and out soon.  Next time I eat raisins I wil think about you   !!


_________________
Untreated SA for 15+ years.
CPAP 4 years ..10,11 & 13cm's
Mirage Nasal Swift
Switched to BiPAP Auto M Series 13 IPAP 8 EPAP 3 BiFlex in April 2008