TTO

[wendyco]

I promised Jackie I would share this info so if any find it of value I will be happy

TTO

I have been thinking about a TTO for several years now….the main reason is I can’t breath through my nose, never could….as long as I can remember I have been a mouth breather and closing my mouth causes great distress in my breathing….
I also have had a sore come and go (come more than go) for the past year that hurts a lot, not a little but a lot…my pcp said, yep you have a sore….that was it….I have done all that should be done…cut my cannula’s, used Ary, Neilmed, saline spray etc etc etc…
So…..my nose is always clogged, it hurts and TTO sounds like the way to go….

Had a consultation with the RT at my pulmo’s office after pulmo approved TTO…I spoke with Lori for over two hours. I get to choose which method I want…the Modified Seldinger method which can be done in the doc’s office and I go home in half an hour or the new method (Fast Tract) which requires an overnight stay in hospital and the procedure is actually done in the OR…..I choose the Fast Tract so this morning I see the ENT that will perform the operation if we both decide I should do it….

The Modified Seldinger technique is the original procedure used since 1985 to create the tract that will eventually accommodate a SCOOP within the trachea. In 1996, a new procedure called Fast Tract was developed in concert with the surgical community. It is a true surgical approach that must be performed by a qualified surgeon.
If any are interested I will let you know what goes on from this point forward……
I have been on 02 for 5 years

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Woohoo ...Way to Go Wendy! Thank you for sharing and I hope you'll continue to..

I don't "think" they do TTO's here in Canada unless it's for a long term medical reason (hospitalization). I could be mistaken so if any other Canucks can enlighten me/all of us/ I'd appreciate it.

Two questions....you said it's an overnight hospital stay and done in the OR. Do they use a local or general anesthetic and how long does it take?

[LindaNY]

Oh Wendy, sorry I missed this post yesterday but my ISP was down because my router burned out.

I will be very interested in the procedure. It does seem like it is much easier than the nose cannulas.

Best of luck. ((((hugs))))

[wendyco]

Thanks Linda.....Sorry Blossom it took me a while to get back to you here.....the procedure itself only takes a little bit to do (I should be in and out of the OR within an hour) and they give you a local plus the twilight sleep stuff, you just feel happy! it won't hurt my breathing though so it's not a worry.....

BTW, I will have it done this Friday, be home early SAT......

[LindaNY]

(((hugs)))) and best wishes, girl friend.

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Good Luck tomorrow Wendy (aka Zoom)!

One other little question if you see this before then.......I know your nose gets sore and you're always plugged up etc BUT; did you ever try the OxyArm?

[LindaNY]

We are all pulling for you. Tomorrow it will be over and you will be on your way to healing, not only the TTO site but your poor nose as well. (((hugs))) And please keep us updated ASAP.

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

I just got a call from Jennifer, Wendy's daughter...all is well. The surgery was quick (no they didn't do a general for any of you who might be wondering), she's out of recovery and in her room. She'll be going home tomorrow!

[LindaNY]

Thanks for the update,Jackie. That is a relief.Now she can begin the healing process.

[larrynz]

That was quick, I guess I am used to our health system, you wait for everything.
I will look forward to her report.

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

I hear ya Larry....it's the same here in CanucK Country.

[the bear]

It must be the same all over. Here you pick a number to get in line to pick a number, unless of course you are bleeding on their floor and not breathing. Hugz, as ever, bear.

[morningstar]

Best wishes Wendy.

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Wendy got home about 1: 30 today....and tired. Perhaps when she's more rested she can share how it went etc.

[cocojax]

That is really good news.

[morningstar]

Good I am glad she done well.

[LindaNY]

I'm very glad she is ok. She did pop in on one of my forums.

Can't wait to see how it went.

[wendyco]

everyone.....gosh I wish everyone could have this done! it was pretty easy and didn't hurt my lungs at all...(btw: Jackie I had used the oxyarm and had trouble maintaining my sat if I moved my head ) here's a quick summery for all of you....AND, Thanks so much for all the good wishes!!!! (((HUGS)))

Here's how it all went....checked in and they took me back into the prep area...did all the history etc etc etc that each nurse thinks she has to do , when the time was right the anesthesiologist came along and told me all about where he would do....so first I had the happy drug put into the IV, then in the OR they give some more and a local...I was "out of it about 5 minutes", the rest I was awake but didn't feel a thing...actually it was kinda cool cause I've never been awake in the OR and had fun joking with the doc's and nurses....

Then on to recovery and again I'm wide awake so it was okay and we just talked to.....Then to my room.......

There was some pretty good discomfort so they gave me some vicodin and they would suction every hour, sometimes they put lanocane in there first to numb a bit to help with the cough cause when they suction it can make you cough some......

So, I had/have anti's Keflex, vicodin when needed (I stopped that this morning) tess pearls for the cough and I now clean it in place two times a day or more if needed and I have been.....I am coughing some mucus and that can get stuck on the bottom of the tubing and clog it...cleaning it is NO big deal......it may sound intimidating but it's really easy and no pain or anything like that, don't even feel it.....

Yesterday morning the doc comes in and takes out the stent in place and inserts the real catheter and then hooks up the 02....that too was no biggy..
In the hosptial after they did that I was down to 1 liter and my 02 level was 96! It never used to get above 92 usually....here at home according to my pulseox it is going all over the charts with my concentrator, have to keep it up to 2 or 2.5 just to keep it at 88-90....when I switch to the portable it stays up better....

Until the wound heals air can escape and my throat makes noises, it's too funny...I have no control over it and sometimes it sounds like I'm whistling other times it sounds like I'm gurgling and sometimes it sounds like I'm quacking, that's my favorite.... wish I could control it......

I go to the RT at the doc's tomorrow morning and they will change out the tubing and wash the wound and stuff, that will be good cause it needs it and I can't get the bandage off a certain area to clean and change.....

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Wendy; I've soooooooo many questions for you BUT for now, continue to heal O.K.? And of course keep us updated PLEASE! (and thank you)

[cheryl]

I'm very glad that everything went well for you. Continue to heal well.

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

I WILL get to the questions Zoom...I've a LOT of them For folks here in Canada this has not been something that has been presented as an option (I don't believe); heck; for us it probably falls under "cosmetic surgery" But I do know that from what I've read of the folks who've had it done that perhaps it's something we (as patients) should be inquiring about.

Every area or country does some things differently. Look at Symbicort (which we've had here for a few years) vs TTO which you've had... Everything is relative.

[morningstar]

Wendy,
So glad all went well. I will be interested in all you learn as you go. And I thank you for sharing my nose gets so sore that I am thinking maybe this might be for me. Still only in the thinking stage. Gonna pick your brain first. Heal well.

Happy Trails

[cocojax]

I am so glad it went well Wendy, and that you had a good result, take care...

[the bear]

Thanks for sharing Wendy now take time for Wendy to heal.
Rest, relaxation and recuperation is my prescription.
Take care, hugs,bear.

[LindaNY]

Yes, thanks for sharing Wendy. Rest and heal well. We will keep the light on for you.

[wendyco]

More than you wanted to know about my TTO…. I left off last time telling you about the actual surgery etc…..last Monday I had the bandages removed and the incision area cleaned out etc etc…..they changed the actually tube in my trach, the same one I clean everyday, in place with saline……went in again today and we did the same thing and then saw the surgeon to look everything over….so far so good…he did up my anti due to being more “weepy” than he likes but it’s still clear so not too bad (weepy out’ve the actual incision that is about an inch long, the tube is in the top of that)

Several times per day I insert saline into the tubing to help clear any mucus that might be collecting, it’s painless and just tickles a bit…I can always tell when I am a bit blocked cause I can’t feel the coolness of the saline down in there…I then have a rod-type thing I use to clean out the inside of the tubing….you do this two times per day or as much as needed. I have been doing it about 6-8 times per day….after trying to cough up some stuff you can tell when you should do it….again, none of this is painful or anything it’s kind of amazing what the body will do……

I am finally, as of today, on liquid 02 24/7, I use less…..Penny had asked earlier about my having to use less on the portable, all of my delivery methods have been continuous, which my group says you must do (I also only used it before the surgery due to my mouth breathing and not activating the pulse)….I have read elsewhere that others with the TTO say they use a pulse-type portable….I do not nor do my doc’s recommend it…

My throat and glands are still sore but not painful…I still have some swelling in my neck but nothing major…..

Next week I go in on Monday for them to remove/replace my tubing and then if all looks good I will go in on Thurs and they will have me do it myself while in their office…whewhoooooo!!!!!!!! After that it will be a breeze………

The added benefit, I have my face back! Seriously, I knew how much better my nose would feel and that I would get better penetration of the 02 but it is so strange to have my face clear! I can put my hair in front of my ears or behind my ears and not loose the tubing…it’s great fun!

Will keep you updated and any questions I would love to answer….I don’t want to be a bore so I won’t write often about this…………

[morningstar]

Thank you Wendy, you answered my question about the clearing and how often. And if you used less o2. Thank you for sharing and I am glad it has worked out so well for you.

Happy Trails

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Believe me Wendy...it's far from boring!

How far down or in do you go with the cleaning rod?

Does the skin around the tube ever really "heal" per se?

How often do you replace the tubing?

[wendyco]

more than happy to answer some questions...BTW, after I'm fully healed and my swelling stops going up and down then we will realize the full benefit of how much/little 02 I have to use at any given time.....

The cleaning tube is about 8 inches long, only part of that is inside my body....the actual tube inside goes down about 4-5 inches....I have added a picture to help illustrate....the one on the bottom with the green top is the cleaning rod, that's what I use all day long to clean out the tubing in place in my throat...the other is the actual tube....the left side is inside and then that little square in the midde (a chain attaches to that and goes around your neck to help keep it in place) and the the remainder is the outside part which connects to the tubing that connects to the source of 02.......
Sure hope I haven't confused you

[LindaNY]

It's not boring at all Wendy, it's fascinating, really.

Are you worried that you might dislodge the tube accidentally?
What about the saline solution used to clean it, does any go into your trachea and get into your lungs?

Oh I have a million questions for you, eventually.