Communication
How do you communicate when you can't talk? My surgery plan changed at last minute. The original plan was to place an uncuffed trach tube. This is a tube that would allow air to pass over my vocal cords and possibly allow me to talk or make noise.
Instead my surgeon and I decided to go with a cuffed trach tube. This is a tube with an air filled balloon at the end. Some cuffed tubes are water filled. Inflating the cuff during mechanical ventilation makes sure that air is entering the lungs and not escaping through the nose and mouth. The cuff also prevents aspiration of saliva in patients who have trouble swallowing.
Due to my history with aspirating and vomiting we thought a cuffed trach was the best decision. At first I wasn't very happy about it, but it made the most sense and it still gave me the freedom of deflating the cuff. It's not like I would never be able to go cuffless, ever. Its like having the best of both worlds, so I agreed.
How do you communicate if no air can travel over your vocal cords. Prior to surgery I knew this could happen. Its a risk with surgery. Though with a cuff, you can't speak, you can't smell or make noises. People suggested printing out signs & pointing to them. I felt like that was kinda outdated for 2021. Richard & I went searching for apps. He came across one that actually worked really well. In fact its the one I used most frequently. It's called, Tell Me.
**Image of Tell Me App**
I switched between this and my Inkpad app depending on the length of the message. Also depending on what staff was doing I either had the app read it aloud or I would let them read it if they were standing beside me. They were very patient and accommodating. If there was something I needed I would have my needs written out prior to them entering my room.
There are devices such as a Passy-Muir Valve which can help people
regain talking. Speech therapy, etc. It really just depends on the person, their situation, and why they have a tracheostomy to whether they'll be able to successfully talk again. It really just takes time especially in the beginning when things are healing.
I plan to actually stay with a cuffed trach. It just seems more practical long term especially with my history with aspirating and vomiting. So it's safer. I have the ability to deflate the cuff when needed to talk and inflate when needed as well. We have started taking up ASL for basic things, so when I am cuffed its easier to communicate and I don't always have to rely on my phone.
Through pain, pain meds, dozing in and out of sleep, nauseous, and even without a voice I am still cracking jokes and being silly. That's just who I am though. You'd never know by looking at me, my story, my pain, that my lungs failed me. Yet here I am still fighting!!
I'm not saying every day is a good day or every day I'm positive, because honestly I'm not. I'm human!! I'm not some robot.
Despite what life throws my way, no matter how crappy it might be I find a way to stand, to fight, to adapt my life to whatever new limitations I may face. I'll write about how I do this another time. That's its own long topic to self healing. 💜
This is it! I did it. I went through tracheotomy surgery. I'm so grateful I did, I'm so thankful I did!! I couldn't have done it without the amazing support that I have & have had for years. You all are truly wonderful 💕🥰 I'm so lucky to have you all, even the ones just entering my journey, thank you!!!
Fighting to breathe another day💜
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