Set Back

As I stated in my first post, when my medical problems started, I had stopped breathing.  This made it necessary for me to be intubated and placed on a ventilator.  Obviously it was necessary to do this in a hurry, and there was some internal damage as a result.

The first issue was that both of my vocal cords have become partially paralyzed.  They aren't bad enough to keep me from using them.  I just sound like I have laryngitis all the time.  I have been meeting with a speech therapist and things have improved to a degree.

Another precaution that is necessary because of the vocal cords is to watch things in my diet.  For example, my liquids are all supposed to be what they call "nectar thick." You can also get "honey thick" liquids.  These liquids are mixed with a corn starch type substance to make them thicker so they flow down your throat more slowly, reducing the chances of them going down your wind pipe and causing aspiration pneumonia.  

Foods are supposed to be on the softer side.  It is recommended to not eat anything sticky like peanut butter.  If you have soup the broth is to be drained off.  It is a lot of trial and error to see what works for you and what is comfortable.

This brings me to my second issue, which is unfortunately much worse.  I met with a surgeon last week.  He put a camera through my nose and down my throat, as well as through my trach site.  (I have pictures, but they are pretty gross so I will spare you the images.)  In doing the the scope, he found that I have a significant amount of scar tissue that is blocking the flow of air between my lungs and my vocal cords.

I now have two options.  I can let the surgeon go in and try to remove the scar tissue.  He would also inject the area with steroids and other medication to keep it from scarring over.  While he was in there, he would also make any needed repairs to my vocal cords.  My trach would be kept in, but I would be monitored to see how my airflow was developing, and if things improved the trach would be removed.

If I decide not to go with the surgery, my trach will be with me for the rest of my life.  I will have to go every 3 months and have it changed, but it will be a permanent fixture.

I am not sure yet as to what I am going to do.  There are a lot of "ifs" with the surgery, so I have some serious thinking to do.