Kyle's Journal

Rita Savelis  It's really common to be afraid of waking up with a breathing tube. But like many patients I don't even remember mine coming out as I guess I was groggy /half asleep when it was taken out. They keep it in as a precaution until you wake up. I also don't remember my chest tubes being painful. Discomfort is a good word. I really didn't feel pain - but there was lots of discomfort for weeks following surgery. It's hard to find the vocabulary to describe it. I didn't need pain relief but really wanted the discomfort to go.
Everyone's experience is singular and personal so it's hard to know what yours will be. There are many "normals".
Wishing you a smooth ride. Take care.

Marie Myers  I was also worried about waking up on the tube. As it turned out, it was not a scary or unpleasant event for me. The nurses had wrapped my hands with towels, so that it was like i was wearing boxing gloves. I could not pull anything out, even though I don’t remember even wanting to do so. Waking up from heart surgery is a big blur, since we are wearing off the effects of many drugs. I do briefly remember chewing on the endotracheal tube, and shortly later, it was gone! Like I said, immediate post op is a big blur. I remember the chest tubes as more of a discomfort, but not painful. They were removed within a couple days, I can barely remember their removal also. I had expected more sternal pain, but happily, pain was not bad for me. I do remember just being all-over uncomfortable and tired. I was sent home with 10 Percocet pills, and I only used three of them. I do remember NOT being able to sleep in the hospital. Someone was always coming in for something, and the overhead paging system went nonstop. I was truly exhausted when I came home. And I was surprised at the extreme tiredness and weakness when I went home. I was surprised my level of exhaustion. A shower stool was really helpful, and the electric recliner that I rented for a month was extremely helpful. I could get up and down without help. Hope all that helps!

John Mohr  Good luck with your surgery. I’m
Worried about the tube as well. I’ve been told you aren’t fully awake when you have it in as they try to get it out soon after you wake up.

Joan Hibo  Hi Kyle. Waking up with the tube is not painful. It's just uncomfortable. When you wake up, just stay calm, breath in and breath out. Concentrate on breathing. Do not breath too fast nor too slow. Hence after they will obtain a blood draw called arterial blood gas on you, and this used to determine if you are oxygenating well, and will tolerate extubation. Do not be surprised also upon awaking to find both your wrist restrained. This is to protect you from accidentally pulling the tube, as it is human instinct to remove anything that lodges in our throat. Once the tube is removed, those restraints are removed. They will also check if your cough and gag reflex is intact. From that, you will be allowed to taste the world's greatest ice chip! Trust me you will love that. If your throat is sore, it does go away within 24 to 72 hours.

Chest tubes. To some, it's just discomfort. It varies. It may be a discomfort to you too. But based on my experience, the combination of a sternotomy(ribs cracked) and the chest tube was painful. Don't worry they will medicate you, and make sure you are medicated when you start ambulating with chest tubes and all your gadgets. The chest tubes will be removed within 48 to 72 hours or more, depending on the amount of output on the chest tubes.

Regarding recovery, I agree with Marie, you will feel very exhausted when you get home. I had to use a shower chair initially. I rented a recliner and that helps in mobility most especially in getting up. But take it one day at a time. It does get better, after all, it's a huge surgery. While in the hospital, the first day or night, your nurse will constantly be checking on you. From chest tube output to your numbers on the monitor, your urine output, and blood draw. So unfortunately sleep and rest are limited and curtailed. Nonetheless, amidst some of the inconveniences, it gets better each day.
Good Luck with your surgery. Praying for you.

  Kyle, natural to be anxious. Everything the heart warriors are saying here is true. You are young and you are going to be fine. I’ll be praying for your surgery to go well and for your speedy recovery. Keep us posted. God bless you

Susan Lynn  Kyle - Ask your surgeon or anesthesiologist about the breathing tube - some remove it in the OR immediately after surgery. I have no memory of it at all.
No worries. Waiting for the big day is the worst part of heart surgery. These cardiac teams know what they're doing! You'll do just fine. ❤

Barbara Wood  I dreaded the breathing tube too...I remember waking just a bit & being told " just 5 more minutes" then nothing more until about an hour before leaving the icu - 23 hours later. My family said I was lucid & talking coherently, so go figure...the chest tubes caused no discomfort for me. The fatigue I felt when I got home is the memory that stands out. Walk as much as you can in the hospital, that really helps. You'll do great, sending best wishes & positive vibes:).

Rose Madura  I woke up with breathing tube in and my hands tied down. Once I was awake they took it out. They told me everytime they tried to let me breathe on my own, the alarms would go off so they left it in until I woke up which was about 15 hours after the surgery was completed. I was an oddball case though. But as was said, it is uncomfortable but not horrible. Chest tubes did not hurt when in. It hurt when they pulled them out but then afterwards felt marvelous. I'm sure you will do great as Barbara said.

Lisa Hostetter  Hi Kyle I just had surgery on Oct.27. I don’t remember being taken off the vent, they keep me very sedated. When the nurse took the chest tube out she had me do some deep breathing and it was just uncomfortable for a second. After I got home finding a comfortable place to sit and sleep was a challenge. I did sleep in bed at night with a bunch of pillows propped behind my back and side. My husband had to help me get in and out of bed the first couple of nights. I haven’t taken any pain medicine other than Tylenol. I had some blood loss and was somewhat weak from low blood volume. I’m taking iron supplement and trying to eat 3 healthy meals a day. Some food doesn’t taste good to me.

Anna S  Luckily most people are still heavily sedated during the time they are intubated. I am not going to lie though it say it’s always easy. I spend two weeks intubated last time due to ARDS, and it was awful. Luckily in most scenarios it comes out as soon as your awake enough and able to breath well on your own, I am crossing my fingers that it comes out ASAP this time. Den pending on how long it is in you may have a hard time projecting your voice for a while. Good luck, I do promise that despite it all seeming awful while your experiencing it once it is all over you will look back and think, I made it!