Re: Re: one week since surgery

[Guest guest]

Hello

I have had to be on very high levels of oxygen 10L+ and was fainting so much, hard to do anything because I had no breath. I agreed to a Transtracheal Oxygen Delivery surgery last week. What the surgen did was make a hole in my neck, insert a catheter and then attach the oxygen catheter directly to the hole in my neck. Therefore the oxygen goes directly to my lungs. I get more oxygen at a lesser flow, do not faint and feel so much better. My skin color is even pinker. Fingernails are pinker. It has only been one week but I know I am doing so well. This procedure is only done on people who need high oxygen flow and are in the "end stage". It didnt cure but sure is giving me a better quality of life so far. If it is this good after one week.....just think about after 2 weeks.

I hope I have explained it pretty good.

L

NIPF 02 PH07

Re: one week since surgery

-nancy; I am new here, can you tell me what you just had done? BB familial IPF 11/07 mi -- In Breathe-Support , " Lentz" wrote:>> Hello everyone> Thank you for all the individual emails I have received asking about how I am doing since last week' s surgery. Well, to summarize, lets just say I am still on 5L. I sleep in bed with my husband now, we can kiss again since I have no mask on....I can turn over and not faint. Let the dog out without fainting. etc etc. In fact...I have not fainted ONCE. My throat is still very sore. Got my stitches out this morning and the Dr. said I am doing fine. Only had one bad time...woke up in the night (early morning today) trouble breatheing. My husband unhooked the trach thing, got my mask, called the Dr. He had me come right in...he took the trach out (didnt even feel it) and it was clogged up with hardened gunk. He cleaned it out, put it back in and I am back on 5L...no hose or mask. He showed us how to take it out and put it in if I should ever feel something wrong. He also said it was normal at only one week from surgery and said the gunk would lessen and by 4-6 weeks will be very minimal. So, I will not panic again. The cather is easy to put in and out. Cant do it wrong because it only goes one way. Takeing antibiotics so I wont get an infection . Dr. wants me to stay away from crowds and wash my hands all the time I think of it for the first three weeks after surgery just on the preventive side. Anyway, all is good. Almost cant believe I am on 5L after not being able to breathe while on 10. > Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes. \I hope you all are doing as well as you can do. > L> IPF 02 PH 07> TTD oxygen delivery 12/07>