Intubation

[Disabrie22]

Has anyone been intubated? Could you tell me what it was like?

I was asleep so don’t know. My throat was a little sore for a few hours but it was ok after that.

You are sedated so wont know anything about it. A bit like when they sedate you for a GA

I remember being awoken and they told me it would feel like i needed to cough when they took out the tube. I felt a bit like I was gagging as they pulled it out but it was very quick

My husband has been. He wasn't aware of anything as was given heavy sedation. He was intimated for around 12 hours. As a PP has said, he needed to gag when it was removed but that didn't take long. No effects from it afterwards (only from the underlying cause - not COVID related - was a while ago now)

I'd been resuscitated so don't remember the tube going in. But remember retching and coughing as they pulled it out.

Yes. My only memory was a scratchy sore throat tbh. Not pleasant but not awful like I though

T

Only when I had a GA. I had a slightly sore throat afterwards, but nothing too bad.

I've had 7 general anaesthetics so yes. I was out though so don't remember it. I've had a sore throat afterwards though.

Are you worried about having it, OP?

My MIL was very poorly before Christmas and had to be intubated. She has since said she remembers nothing about it, she says she finds it hard to believe how unwell she was. It was much more traumatic for my DH at the time. We do wonder if she had COVID as her symptoms were an exact match, timescales and everything, and they never did get to the bottom of it. She made a complete recovery which astonished us all, we honestly thought we were going to lose her.

I was asleep when they intubated me but very unfortunately woke up with it in. It was awful. My mouth couldn't move. Closest thing I could describe it to was that kids game with the plastic mouth guard things that pull your lips all the way out.

I could move my tongue forwards and back. Very dry mouth.

I was only able to move my tongue a bit to try and 'communicate' before they realised what I was doing and very quickly sedated me again

I have a strange experience. I was intubated for around 8 weeks. 3 of those while I was awake. I had a tracheostomy (sorry about the caps, I had to copy the spelling!) as well. It was ok, the suctioning was not fun. When I was given a MRI scan they put my on a different supply of air, which made it very hard to breath, I had a bit of a panic attack.

The worst bit was not being able to move my head properly. It didn't hurt at all. It was a strange sensation having it removed but I was so happy to have it taken out I was over the moon.

If you've had a general anaesthetic you will have been intubated. I have been several times. I can only remember one time when I came round quickly and pulled my tube out myself. It's hard to swallow with it in.

TRIGGER MEDICAL DETAIL THAT MAY BE DISTRESSING*

DH was intubated for around 72 hours. He was put into a medically induced coma due to cardiomyopathy. He 'flatlined' and stopped breathing on his own so they intubated him. He remembers it really well because they had to try and 'bring him back' to low-level consciousness to see if he could breathe on his own.

He said it was horrible. He said wanted to take a breath but the machine 'wouldn't let him' and breathed for him 'when it wanted to'. This was because he wasn't actually breathing on his own so the machine kicked in. They then re-sedated him. Happened twice and the third time he actually did breathe enough on his own to have the ventilator turned off and later removed.

I've been intubated for surgery & medical procedures but I only remember the start of being intubated once. But I was 'out' before it really registered.

I've had a few GA for surgery. When I came around in recovery from my last surgery I was trying to pull the tube out from my throat - the nurse soon took over when she saw what i was doing! It was literally just an instant reaction for me to pull it out that I couldn't control. Thats my first memory after surgery. Slightly sore throat and a funny taste and smell for a few days after but other than that it was fine x

I have been intubated, I was fully sedated and have absolutely no memory of that time at all.

Not true @Soontobe60 it depends on the reason for the anaesthetic. They don't intubated in surgery that often now as they use other techniques

I think I had it during a GA because my throat was unbelievably sore for a couple of days afterwards. Can’t remember it though.

I have for a GA but not for ICU. If you are intubated for surgery it is usually removed as you wake up so most people have no memory of it or just remember it coming out.

ICU is a little different. Patients are anaesthetised (or already unconscious/arrested) when it goes in, so most won't remember that. However, as they start to wean off the ventilator support they also wean sedation to encourage patients to breathe for themselves. So patients may be aware of it then. Some find it very uncomfortable and cough and fight the tube a lot, others tolerate it really well with minimal sedation.

Intubation is different to having a supraglottic airway (SGA) device inserted - which for a lot of surgeries you would have SGAs for.
Intubation is more invasive.

Yes-I was told just before it would happen. I don't recall anything (was for four days) but I extubated myself (broke out of my wrist restraints)

Like @FrankiesKnuckle said, I think most surgeries have less invasive methods when you have surgery. Also, even a long surgery is not the same as being intubated because you cannot support your own respiratory system. The latter is harder on your body as you’re also critically ill.

Yes, I have, they sedate you so you dont feel or know much.
Having it removed was terrifying as I waz sort of half conscious and knew it was too early.
They had to get an emergency Dr in the middle of the night to put it back in.
It was taken out again a couple of days later, still god awful but I managed .

I was for some general anaesthetics. I have no memory of it though, just had a slightly sore throat for a couple of days afterwards.