Sleeping With Trache Tube Closed

Hi Everyone,

          I have one last hurdle to get over so I decided to put the question out to the message board and friends and see if there is any help to be had on my little delima, My problem is, I have a trache tube in my neck and it has been ther for 11 months now, My Dr. said when they placed it there that it was only temperary, Well 11 months is not temperary to me. My problem is I can't sleep with the trache closed at night, I have to place an enter canulla inside the trache so I can breath through that at night so I can sleep. My Dr says that I have to sleep with the trache clsoed before they will take it out so as to make sure I can breathe through my noise and mouth good enought before they will take out the trache. I can sit in my recliner during the early evening and cat nap with it in but when I lay down at night to sleep, I can't seem to breath well enough to go to sleep. I have tried elevating my head and putting pilows  under me to set me up but nothing seem to work. Was wondering if anyone else has had a problem like this and could give me some pointers. I so want to get this trache out and look somewhat normal again. Any help will be greatly appreciated..Thank you all  in advance.

LA from NC

Lonnie,

        Sorry to hear that you are having some difficulty with this. A question for you though. Do you have the trache capped during the day ? And are you down to the smaller sized Trache ?

        My Surgeon took me off of mine without having me sleep with the trache capped at night. I did sleep in an incline position for a long time. My wife bought 2 different sized foam wedges for me to use. I used the larger one with a pillow, and it had me sleeping in a position like a recliner.

         The reason I mention the wedge is that if you use pillows only, the angle may be causing the trache tube to be hitting the back of your throat and causing you to be uncomfortable. Your chin being pushed toward your chest. The wedge will help support your back as well, from above your waist area and then one pillow won't be to much of an angle on your neck. Just a thought.

        As I mentioned, I was down to the smallest trache and capped during the day and open during the night. Once he removed it, I still had a hole in my neck incase I didn't breath completely through my nose and mouth at night. If we breath right, the hole will close up quickly.

       My Best to You and Everyone Here

Lonnie, I was lucky enough to have a surgeon that took the chance to not put in the trache.  I was so worried about having it that he agreed to not put it in during the surgery; but he kept me on the ventilator for an extra day and in ICU for the first few days after just in case they needed to put it in.  I believe the only reason I was able to escape it was because I also have severe sleep apnea (for the last several years before I developed the H & N cancer) and use a CPAP every time I sleep.  It provides the positive pressure we need to keep us breathing easily.

You might be able to ask him if you could use one and it may help get the trache out sooner.  I also use all of the same things Pop-Pop mentioned on top of the CPAP.  Feel free to contact me off the form (private reply) if you would like to talk about the CPAP.

Dave from IL

Lonnie, I was lucky enough to have a surgeon that took the chance to not put in the trache.  I was so worried about having it that he agreed to not put it in during the surgery; but he kept me on the ventilator for an extra day and in ICU for the first few days after just in case they needed to put it in.  I believe the only reason I was able to escape it was because I also have severe sleep apnea (for the last several years before I developed the H & N cancer) and use a CPAP every time I sleep.  It provides the positive pressure we need to keep us breathing easily.

You might be able to ask him if you could use one and it may help get the trache out sooner.  I also use all of the same things Pop-Pop mentioned on top of the CPAP.  Feel free to contact me off the form (private reply) if you would like to talk about the CPAP.

Dave from IL

Lonnie, I was lucky enough to have a surgeon that took the chance to not put in the trache.  I was so worried about having it that he agreed to not put it in during the surgery; but he kept me on the ventilator for an extra day and in ICU for the first few days after just in case they needed to put it in.  I believe the only reason I was able to escape it was because I also have severe sleep apnea (for the last several years before I developed the H & N cancer) and use a CPAP every time I sleep.  It provides the positive pressure we need to keep us breathing easily.

You might be able to ask him if you could use one and it may help get the trache out sooner.  I also use all of the same things Pop-Pop mentioned on top of the CPAP.  Feel free to contact me off the form (private reply) if you would like to talk about the CPAP.

Dave from IL

On 10/19/2009 Pop-Pop wrote:

Lonnie,

        Sorry to hear that you are having some difficulty with this. A question for you though. Do you have the trache capped during the day ? And are you down to the smaller sized Trache ?

        My Surgeon took me off of mine without having me sleep with the trache capped at night. I did sleep in an incline position for a long time. My wife bought 2 different sized foam wedges for me to use. I used the larger one with a pillow, and it had me sleeping in a position like a recliner.

         The reason I mention the wedge is that if you use pillows only, the angle may be causing the trache tube to be hitting the back of your throat and causing you to be uncomfortable. Your chin being pushed toward your chest. The wedge will help support your back as well, from above your waist area and then one pillow won't be to much of an angle on your neck. Just a thought.

        As I mentioned, I was down to the smallest trache and capped during the day and open during the night. Once he removed it, I still had a hole in my neck incase I didn't breath completely through my nose and mouth at night. If we breath right, the hole will close up quickly.

       My Best to You and Everyone Here

Pop,Pop,

          I was down sized about 6 months ago from a 6 to a size 4 that is the smalliest. I do keep it capped all day and I work all day with it capped and all evening, But when I lay down to sleep at night. I have to take it out. My mouth gets so dry and My noise closes up and I just can't sleep. But now that you mention it, I don't have much trouble falling to sleep in my recliner when I'm watching Foot ball or something. I'll try the wedges and hopefully I want need the CAPPA Machine mentioned by Dave but thank Dave for the post. I do use pillows and you could be very right about the angle of my neck at night. Thanks for the advice we'll give it a shot and I'll let you know how it worked out. I knew i oculd always come here for advice. Great to have friends here. Thanks !

LA From NC