Do you remember getting the breathing tube out after surgery?
The second one, they decided to intubate me awake. I can't say this loud enough - FIGHT THEM ON THAT if anyone ever suggests it. There's almost no one I would wish that on, truly awful. Then due to the fact I apparently tried to extubate myself in recovery (no memory of that, but can you blame me?) I was sedated overnight and was woken up to being extubated. Another experience I have ZERO desire to repeat.
I specifically asked my patient coordinator about that as it would've been a deal breaker either being in/extubated awake again. She was horrified that anyone did that and assured me that it would all be done while I was out. I believe that's the norm and that my ***** of an anesthesiologist was lazy to do it while I was awake (and in my loopy wake up stated I tore her a new one about that and other things). She claimed since I have a small mouth and throat it would be "easier" - yeah FOR HER.
Thank being said, it was over pretty quick if you do remember it, and it's not nearly as bad coming out as going in, though neither are pleasant. But like your doc said, most people have no memory of it because of how/when they do it - I'm a special case :)
T :)

I DID Make It - 135.4 8-1-10! Now working on post baby weight loss. (All WL post-op - preop got up to 220 from quitting smoking & last supper syndrome.) 5'2"
It wasn't frightening tho. I knew what it was and wasn't scared so I think that helps.
Hi. read your story. It must have been very scary for you for the awake intubation.
Maybe things are different in Canada, but I have helped with awake intubations. We numb the throat multiple times, sometimes do tracheal injections of local anesthetics, and give versed to help the person not remember the experience.
We only do this kind of intubation in patients that have scary airways... in other words you could die when we begin the anesthetic due to the fact we cannot breathe for you. I don't know if this anesthesiologist was extreme with you upon examination of your airway or it was due to your operative history.
I just wanted you to know I personally would never put someone through that without a REALLY good reason. But, I would add alot of drug to make you forget....
I hope you never have to experience that again :)
Smiling Suzie


Frankly, that was a lousy experience all around, so it's not surprising that most other hospitals would do it differently! And really, it wasn't that it was scary - I understood what was happening, it was just very, very unpleasant. Thanks for the reassurance, I hope I didn't scare anyone, but I think people should question it before blindly accepting it - and that they should also get an explanation on what to expect, and a promise of lots of amnesiacs! LOL
T :)

I DID Make It - 135.4 8-1-10! Now working on post baby weight loss. (All WL post-op - preop got up to 220 from quitting smoking & last supper syndrome.) 5'2"
In the one awake intubation I've seen, the CRNA (anesthestist nurse) was quite afraid that the patient's airway would collapse. So after a long, involved course of medications to numb the throat and tranquilize and make the patient forgetful, he did the intubation with the patient in a sitting position.
Pretty much everybody tries to extubate himself or herself, if they get anywhere near conscious enough to try it!
I'm sorry you had a bad experience. I'm not a CRNA, just was a regular every day nurse. I know I've done things that people didn't enjoy at all but it was never for my enjoyment or because I was too lazy to do it some other way.
Dennie
"It's so beautifully arranged on the plate - you know someone's fingers have been all over it. ~Julia Child"
yes i remember the breathing tube. i had asked them to make sure that i was asleep when they put it in and took it out, because i had wake up during another surgery with the tube in my mouth.. and i almost lost my mind.
they told me that they had to be careful with a person my size, but that i wouldn't remember a they.
this time i don't remember the tube, but i remember throwing-up over and over again.. i don't know if it happened while they was putting the tub in or taken it out. and i haven't seen my doctor since the memory came back to me, but i'll ask him about it on my 1 month follow-up.
under 300 lbs on 1/22/09
highest weight 430 (100 lbs lost on low carbs & diabetic food plan)
surgery weight 341 (12/15/08)
7/28/09
current weight 240, my goal is 199
i started physical therapy in july 6, 09
my goal is get out and walk every day .........
join the 10,000 steps a day challenge
IT'S NEVER TO LATE TO JOIN, EVERY STEP COUNTS
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/vsg/3923216/10-000-steps-walking-challenge-Setup-Requirements/
i need a new pedometer
I asked what that was, the "sumpin sumpin" and she said it was like Tequila. I was babbling on about how I love Tequila and the next thing I knew I was still in my room.
I did wonder why my throat was scratchy and hoped I wasn't getting a cold. Now I know why it was scratchy
It was my first surgery so I didn't really know what to expect. The anaestheseologist wanted to put the tube in while I was awake, even though I've never had any breathing problems or sleep apnea or the like. So I was like OK how bad could it be?
Got wheeled in with just a light gown to cover me, must have been 40-50 fahrenheit in there, was freezing my butt off, shivering. They sprayed some really foul-tasting stuff in my mouth, made me swallow, and I had this feeling that poprocks were going off in my throat. They shoved the tube in my mouth, then shoved some kind of smaller, snake-like tube down into my esophagus, and it was scraping against the skin in my breathing tube. I could feel it even though I was numb, just scraping away as I gagged and shivered. Took about 15 seconds of that before I was out, and woke up in the recovery room.
I'd do it again though, 4 months out and 70 lbs. gone forever.