Dr, Nurse, Anyone who has been intubated, please help!?

Question

When you were intubated, did you wake up not being able to talk? I was in a coma for 7 days with a tube down my throat breathing for me now I am having major trouble talking and drinking water but I don't have any pain? Also, I can't burp or clear my throat properly. Please tell me what happened to you and how long this will last!

Answer 1

How long since the tube came out?

The tube passes thru the vocal cords and rests on them so they will be irritatted for a while.  How much, how long; varies, is hard to say (sorry).  If the vocal cords don't recover after a certain period then they can be looked at for damage.  (Most times an unavoidable side effect of being intubated.)

The tube also rested against your lower throat.  And you would have had an NG tube down your esophagus while you were intubated.  This would irritate the esphagus, not let it close normally, etc.  

This is certainly something you're entitled to answers for from your doctors.

Edit:  Got your message.  14 days is a while, but as I understand it the vocal cords tend to heal slowly.  They are cartilage, not regular "flesh", so they regenerate at a much slower rate.  Cartilage doesn't have the same blood flow thru it as muscles and guts, etc., so the body can't rebuild it as fast.  I never had a problem with my vocal cords, but I have healed from a few injuries.  I noticed the body part doesn't heal all at once, but heals and rebuilds over a few times, in "early versions" and then a "final version."

Certainly you would want to check with your MD about if you're on track in your healing of the cords.  I'm sure your time with him/her gets taken up with the actual injury/event that put you out for 7 days, but don't be afraid to press for an answer.  Maybe put it in writing before you see him.  And he wouldn't necessarily know much about the cords - his knowledge is concentrated on the injury/condition.  You may have to ask to speak to the anethesiologist.  

Is there anyone in charge of your nursing care, your recovery?  In the hospital some nursing specialists can give more thorough info on aspects of recovery than the doctors.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Because the ET was a foreign object and was forcing air into your bronchioles and lungs it probably dried your throat out a big. I believe this is normal. Ask your doc as they might be able to give you something to help this problem. Most doctors use the same size ET tube on everyone, which is unfortunate because obviously not everyone's thoats are the same size. You probably has a tube that was slightly too large for you. Being on a vent for 7 days is a long time, you're lucky you're recovering.