Afraid of Intubation
Had my PATTS on Monday @ TWH and all went well until I heard what the anaesthesiologist had to say. He told me that because I have a thick neck, they may have to intubate me while I'm still awake. Well, this has always been one of my biggest fears - I would get stressed out just at the thought of it & now it might happen to me for real! Needless to say, I am almost beside myself with anxiety now over this! He did say that they would spray my throat to numb it and give me a light sedative to make it easier but he also said that there would be some "discomfort". Now, to me, when a medical person says "discomfort", it usually means that it will be painful! I keep visualizing me lying there while this tube is being forced down my throat & I'm gagging & choking - I had a nightmare about it last night!!!! 
Has anyone had any experience with being intubated while still awake? I'm sure that I remember someone posting that this happened to them, in just the past few months but I can't remember who it was or I'd email them privately to ask about it. I hate to sound like a baby but I am just so scared about this. Over in the USA, they have a relatively new tool they use called a Glide Scope - it's a camera that actually guides them with the tube for correct and difficult tube placements - I wonder if TWH has one of these?
I'd be grateful for any input on this. I'm not afraid of the surgery, only of the intubation. Any help would be so appreciated - thanks, all.
Deb
Has anyone had any experience with being intubated while still awake? I'm sure that I remember someone posting that this happened to them, in just the past few months but I can't remember who it was or I'd email them privately to ask about it. I hate to sound like a baby but I am just so scared about this. Over in the USA, they have a relatively new tool they use called a Glide Scope - it's a camera that actually guides them with the tube for correct and difficult tube placements - I wonder if TWH has one of these?
I'd be grateful for any input on this. I'm not afraid of the surgery, only of the intubation. Any help would be so appreciated - thanks, all.
Deb
Deb, I was intubated while awake. While it wasn't fun, I survived and it only takes seconds. As soon as its in, its lights out. I didn't have a light sedative, I'm sure that will help. No need to panic!
All the best!
All the best!
Sandy
"The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up"
Mark Twain 
JJ_
on 4/26/12 9:15 am
on 4/26/12 9:15 am
Hi Deb,
I had this. The anaesthetist visited me in the hallway outside the operating room, chatted with me, then returned with this canister and a long steel tube and started spraying my throat. This continued again, once I walked into the operating room and was up on the table. They were working on getting an i.v. line into my hand. Then they would come and spray some more into the back of my throat. Then they had some sterilized gauze with some clear goop on it that they swabbed the back of my throat with...yes I gagged on it.
It was such a sensation....gagging, stress incontinence...gagging, stress incontinence. Then they had the little light over my head that they wanted to send down my throat, along with the tube. This caused again some gagging and choking on my part...and yes more pee on their nice clean table and floor. Once I saw the little light above my head once more (which signaled that they were finished), my lights went out immediately....I was asleep. So although it wasn`t pleasant, it doesn`t last that long and you are immediately asleep. There was no pain...just the gag reflex.
So though I was embarrassed by the stress incontinence....I figured I must not be the only one that delivered that surprise to them!
For about a week or two post surgery my throat was a bit sore. Nothing that either some lozenges or ice chips didn`t help though :)
You can do it Deb.
Judy
I had this. The anaesthetist visited me in the hallway outside the operating room, chatted with me, then returned with this canister and a long steel tube and started spraying my throat. This continued again, once I walked into the operating room and was up on the table. They were working on getting an i.v. line into my hand. Then they would come and spray some more into the back of my throat. Then they had some sterilized gauze with some clear goop on it that they swabbed the back of my throat with...yes I gagged on it.
It was such a sensation....gagging, stress incontinence...gagging, stress incontinence. Then they had the little light over my head that they wanted to send down my throat, along with the tube. This caused again some gagging and choking on my part...and yes more pee on their nice clean table and floor. Once I saw the little light above my head once more (which signaled that they were finished), my lights went out immediately....I was asleep. So although it wasn`t pleasant, it doesn`t last that long and you are immediately asleep. There was no pain...just the gag reflex.
So though I was embarrassed by the stress incontinence....I figured I must not be the only one that delivered that surprise to them!
For about a week or two post surgery my throat was a bit sore. Nothing that either some lozenges or ice chips didn`t help though :)
You can do it Deb.
Judy
Thanks Judy, for giving me so much detail. I have a few questions if you don't mind answering them?
Why did they have to put a light down your throat- was there a camera attached to it? How long would you say that it actually took them, from when they first started putting the tube down your throat until they were done & you saw the light again? Could you feel the tube going down your throat? When you woke up in the recovery room, was the tube still in or had they taken it out while you were asleep? If it was still in, when did they take it out? Were you able to talk once it came out or was your throat too sore?
Sorry to have so many questions but I am really worried about this.
PS - I'm sure that you are not the only patient who has made a puddle - I have a feeling that I will too!
Deb
Why did they have to put a light down your throat- was there a camera attached to it? How long would you say that it actually took them, from when they first started putting the tube down your throat until they were done & you saw the light again? Could you feel the tube going down your throat? When you woke up in the recovery room, was the tube still in or had they taken it out while you were asleep? If it was still in, when did they take it out? Were you able to talk once it came out or was your throat too sore?
Sorry to have so many questions but I am really worried about this.
PS - I'm sure that you are not the only patient who has made a puddle - I have a feeling that I will too!
Deb
Hi Deb,
The light is attached to the laryngoscope which is the guide they use to slide the tube beside. This allows them to see where the tube is going, They put lots of zylocaine jelly along with the spray to numb your throat before using. As JJ said you may gag a little (all depends on your gag reflex) The whoe thing is done quickly and you will be out before you know it.
While it is not the most comfortable procedure it is great that they are being cautous and safe.
Wont be long now and you will join us on the bench.
Leslie
The light is attached to the laryngoscope which is the guide they use to slide the tube beside. This allows them to see where the tube is going, They put lots of zylocaine jelly along with the spray to numb your throat before using. As JJ said you may gag a little (all depends on your gag reflex) The whoe thing is done quickly and you will be out before you know it.
While it is not the most comfortable procedure it is great that they are being cautous and safe.
Wont be long now and you will join us on the bench.
Leslie
Referral: August 2010 Orientation TWH: May 25, 2011 NP: June 8/11, f/u sleep clinic June 7, abd u/s June 14, SW: June 28/11 Nutrition Class: July 5/11, Dietician Aug 09, Psychologist Aug 25 Surgeon Sept 16th Surgery Date: Oct 11/11 HW:287, Opti wt: 260 SW: 242
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