Let me first start by saying that the Staff at the Guelph Hospital are fantastic! They were the friendliest, kindiest, most helpful people I have ever met in the health care profession including the super nice anesthesiologist I saw today. Now saying that I was ok when I went to the appointment. The original doctor I was to meet with was not well so I met with another doctor, he was so nice. He was also very thorough....in saying that he covered all the bases which I generally have knowledge of (not like it's the first surgery I ever had) but he decided to go with caution today and I now have to go into the hospital on April 14 (the day before the surgery) to have a PICC line inserted as the veins in my hands and arm are very difficult to find and already have scar tissure around with the tendency to collapse. Here is what a PICC line is for those of you that do not know:A Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter, or "PICC line," is a thin, soft plastic tube — like an intravenous (IV) line — that allows you to receive medicines and fluids. A PICC line stays in place for as long as needed.
A nurse places a PICC line into a large vein in your arm and guides the catheter up into the main vein near your heart where blood flows quickly. The nurse sutures (stitches) the PICC line in place and covers the site with a sterile bandage. An x-ray or ultrasound is done to make sure that the catheter is in the right place. It takes 1 - 1 ½ hours to place the PICC line. This is not always a very comfortable procedure so I am not looking forward to it. Next he explained tracheal intubation, which I have never had a issue with in previous surgeries as I was always asleep for this procedure but apparently I will be awake for this part and they will freeze my throat so the tube slides in well as it should stop the gag reflex. This is where I will now insert ****PANIC*****!!!!!! I am not a very nervous person, I generally handle most bumps in the road well even the stupid PICC line but being awake for intubation.....I am NOT good with that!!!
Tracheal intubation, usually simply referred to as intubation, is the placement of a flexible plastic tube into the trachea (windpipe) to maintain an open airway or to serve as a conduit through which to administer certain drugs. It is frequently performed in critically injured, ill or anesthetized patients to facilitate ventilation of the lungs, including mechanical ventilation, and to prevent the possibility of asphyxiation or airway obstruction. The most widely used route is orotracheal, in which an endotracheal tube is passed through the mouth and vocal apparatus into the trachea. In a nasotracheal procedure, an endotracheal tube is passed through the nose and vocal apparatus into the trachea. Now I realize that the very nice doctor was just doing his job telling me the best and worst scenarios just like when he said I should be out of surgery within 3 to 4 hours but if it goes to 5 hours or more they would probably decide to keep me uncontious in ICU until everything is stablized. I totally get the go over everything but now I am just going insane thinking about the PICC line, intubation and coming out of the surgery at the time I should be. I have such a terrible headache tonight just wanted to cry. I have waited for so long and been so good about being positive and handling all the little things that have come my way but today I am not doing well! I met with 2 different nurses after seeing the doctor and then with a very nice lab technician that told me about a lady that she knew that had gastric bypass surgery that did not follow the rules of what you can and can't eat afterwards and her stomach exploded and she suffered from severe infection to all her organs and then expired at a very young age. Now I am sure she meant well but after everything today I was just devastated. Thank God Geoff was with me because I think I would have turned and run. Next I spoke to my parents now they are extremely supportive and were very reassurring. My dad told me of having the intubation done while he was awake and he said I wouldn't feel it with the freezing but somehow I still didn't feel very good. I am just going to close my eyes and pray real hard that this panic goes away and I will accept what is happening and be positive. Seeking positive thoughts and prayers from all my friends.
Steph
A nurse places a PICC line into a large vein in your arm and guides the catheter up into the main vein near your heart where blood flows quickly. The nurse sutures (stitches) the PICC line in place and covers the site with a sterile bandage. An x-ray or ultrasound is done to make sure that the catheter is in the right place. It takes 1 - 1 ½ hours to place the PICC line. This is not always a very comfortable procedure so I am not looking forward to it. Next he explained tracheal intubation, which I have never had a issue with in previous surgeries as I was always asleep for this procedure but apparently I will be awake for this part and they will freeze my throat so the tube slides in well as it should stop the gag reflex. This is where I will now insert ****PANIC*****!!!!!! I am not a very nervous person, I generally handle most bumps in the road well even the stupid PICC line but being awake for intubation.....I am NOT good with that!!!
Tracheal intubation, usually simply referred to as intubation, is the placement of a flexible plastic tube into the trachea (windpipe) to maintain an open airway or to serve as a conduit through which to administer certain drugs. It is frequently performed in critically injured, ill or anesthetized patients to facilitate ventilation of the lungs, including mechanical ventilation, and to prevent the possibility of asphyxiation or airway obstruction. The most widely used route is orotracheal, in which an endotracheal tube is passed through the mouth and vocal apparatus into the trachea. In a nasotracheal procedure, an endotracheal tube is passed through the nose and vocal apparatus into the trachea. Now I realize that the very nice doctor was just doing his job telling me the best and worst scenarios just like when he said I should be out of surgery within 3 to 4 hours but if it goes to 5 hours or more they would probably decide to keep me uncontious in ICU until everything is stablized. I totally get the go over everything but now I am just going insane thinking about the PICC line, intubation and coming out of the surgery at the time I should be. I have such a terrible headache tonight just wanted to cry. I have waited for so long and been so good about being positive and handling all the little things that have come my way but today I am not doing well! I met with 2 different nurses after seeing the doctor and then with a very nice lab technician that told me about a lady that she knew that had gastric bypass surgery that did not follow the rules of what you can and can't eat afterwards and her stomach exploded and she suffered from severe infection to all her organs and then expired at a very young age. Now I am sure she meant well but after everything today I was just devastated. Thank God Geoff was with me because I think I would have turned and run. Next I spoke to my parents now they are extremely supportive and were very reassurring. My dad told me of having the intubation done while he was awake and he said I wouldn't feel it with the freezing but somehow I still didn't feel very good. I am just going to close my eyes and pray real hard that this panic goes away and I will accept what is happening and be positive. Seeking positive thoughts and prayers from all my friends.
Steph
Good to see they're completely skipping the "bedside manner" talk at med school AND when training new lab techs. Seriously? That's like saying to someone in labour "I knew this one chick that got ripped so bad she needed 12 stitches." Shake your head, too-friendly lab tech. Not helping.
ReplyDeleteBreathe. It will all be good. I know this may seem overwhelming and crazy, but the PICC Line and Intubation are challenges you will tackle with grace (and perhaps some uttered/thought colourful language?!).
I'm with Andrea!! No need for the "well meaning" lab tech to even open their mouth about it! Sheesh!!
ReplyDeleteIf I were you, I'd seriously think about calling the hospital on this one and informing them of their 'well meaning' lab tech and suggest she just not make small talk!
Keep breathing!!!