Intubation

[Disabrie22]

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

I have been intubated and I have done the intubation on others.

I don't remember being intubated. All I remember is waking up after spinal surgery with my boss rubbing my feet - apparently I had shouted for her when my anaesthetic had been reversed and I demanded she rub my feet!

She was a great boss!

Its nit just the vent tube either, its a catheter and a feeding tube in your nise, plus loads of drips.
Ive had a stitched in vent line in my hand too on another admission.

I have brittle asthma.

Following my lung transplant, I woke up while still intubated. It was horrible. I could feel the hard plastic halfway down my throat and I kept on fighting the machine to breath. It wasn't gentle breathing either, it felt quite violent. They extubated me quite quickly after I woke up and could see how distressed I was.

I came round in ICU, I think I was very lucky, as I realised I was in hospital, and was able to make a conscious effort to stay calm and not fight the machine. It was uncomfortable, I got through it by focusing on each 'breath' and slowly counting to keep my mind calm, and by constantly telling myself this wasn't permanent.
Weirdly, the thing I was most worried about was that they might break my teeth when they removed the tube. (They didnt.) Its strange where your mind takes you.

I was intubated in ICU with pneumonia. Don't remember anything about it at all as I was sedated first. I was in an induced coma for about 10 days then they gave me a tracheostomy before gradually waking me up. Worst bit was having the tube suctioned - it felt like (and was, I suppose) being suffocated.

@Thelnebriati That is good to know.

I got through it by focusing on each 'breath' and slowly counting to keep my mind calm, and by constantly telling myself this wasn't permanent.

They don’t intubate unless unavoidable. My understanding is it’s more likely if you crash... A stay in icu on a ventilator doesn’t necessarily mean intubation. A family member spent months on one, in the mouth only.

I’ve seen intubations as a nurse, we sedate patients first.

@Mummyoflittledragon intubation is orally (tube out of mouth) tracheostomy is a surgical airway, so a tube placed in the trachea (neck)

Very calm for me, I was given sedation in the IV, next thing I know I was in recovery. bit of a dry uncomfortable throat, went away that same day.

Frankies
I know this. But thanks for the explanation. My family member had a mouth piece and mask at other times. Not intubation. Ie non invasive.

I thought icu intubation is not happening systematically for cv or am I wrong?

I was intubated when I had open rhinoplasty.

My throat was sore after for a few days and extremely dry. Drier than I'd ever experienced.

I have for surgeries. When I had major pancreas surgery they told me they’d wake me and I’d have the tube still in for a few mins whilst they checked I was ok, but thankfully I don’t remember it. I’ve had many endoscopies and I wasn’t properly sedated due to the fact that I’m on strong pain killers. That was horrible feeling that tube in your throat.

@Mummyoflittledragon no, lots of people are being intubated. Non-invasive ventilation (with a tight fitting face mask or hood) is used, but if that's not working, then intubation (tube in mouth down into trachea) is the next step. It's not just done if you're "crashing."

Some years ago - DD was in ICU after a RTA, very poorly, intubated. A couple of days down the line they decided she could breathe on her own so took her off assisted breathing. But discovered lateish one evening - after 7 pm - that she couldn’t. Decided to re-intubate but were short of staff - I ended up assisting (would normally have left by then). Despite being sedated she was very resistant, I had to hold her down. One of the most distressing things I’ve ever had to do.

I had laparoscopic surgery a month ago and wasn’t intubated that I was told about. No sore throat or anything afterwards. I had an oxygen mask on before and after the surgery, although I was catheterised while under the GA so who knows 🤔

But she has no memory of it and I’ve never told her just how awful it was.

I remember waking up in ICU with it in place. It felt very uncomfortable and they very quickly put me under again. This was post-transplant. The dry mouth is horrible as is the weird sponge thing they wet your mouth with.