Tips to deal with major airway surgery in hospital
If you are heading to hospital for a resection or reconstruction, then definitely take note of this checklist for coping well.
Pre op be as healthy as possible. Lose weight if you have excess, eat healthily, do as much exercise as you can. Many can credit their overall recovery to this regime. Some do a form of fasting diet (e.g. 5:2 or 16:8 – there is a lot of information on the internet about these ways of eating) for some time before their op - this reduces your sugar levels, bad cholesterol and puts your body into repair mode as well as weight loss. Ensure your body is working at its most efficient to help repair the surgery site.
Focus on the end goal, what you want to achieve from the operation and what you want to do with that. Do not dwell on the procedures and how they may or may not make you feel. Never lose sight of what you want from your operation.
Be prepared – ask your doctor about the procedure, talk to other patients who have gone through the same thing, read blogs and books by patients (for airway reconstruction, a good one is: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/kw5xarp4oc)
Try to recognize progress every day, however small it is. It will motivate and encourage you - e.g. - being allowed to use the bathroom rather than a bedpan, getting your feeding tube removed, being allowed to wash yourself, then shower...even taking fewer pain killers is progress...
Move and sit up - As soon as you can, get out of bed or at least sit up. This will help clear your chest and reduce coughing and risk of infection. If you can walk around the floor a few times this is even better. Get the blood moving and help uplift your spirits.
Wash - As soon as you can shower or at least wash yourself then do. All about empowerment and besides, warm water feels amazing! If you can wash your hair, even better.
Establish your own routines - This is about gaining a bit of your own power rather than being solely at the mercy of the hospital system e.g. get dressed during the day and change into your gown in the evenings, use your own eye cream, lip balm and so on before you sleep.
Communicate - not talking is quite disturbing especially if you can't. People treat you differently and try to assume what you are thinking or trying to communicate. Work out the best way to communicate. E.g. use a Bluetooth keyboard with a tablet - have the tablet on view to your guest/nurse and type away all the things you are feeling and thinking or use a white board and marker.
Sleep - Sleep is a major challenge in hospital. Not only are there nebulisers and machines making noises all over the place, alarms and nurses chatting, but you are also woken for pain meds and blood pressure and so on.
Having some noise cancelling earphones is essential – e.g. Bose ear buds block out 80% of all sound even without playing music, just with the power on. If someone wants to buy you a 'good luck in your operation' present this is what you want!
Eye masks are the other solution. Hospitals are never truly dark, and lights are being turned on all night long. Block out the light if you can.
Finally, strike a deal with your night nurse. You may decide your continuous sleep more than your 1am pain meds – for example organise that you press your button the moment you awake with pain. That can bring you nearly six hours of continuous sleep - absolute luxury!
Take control of your treatment. Understand what you are being given and why. Again this is about empowerment and interesting. Means that you're part of your treatment rather than just experiencing it.
Share your experience with others who understand - namely the people in the Living with Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis support group. The support and positive messages will be so uplifting.
Finally be positive – there is incredible power in positive thought - think yourself well, laugh, smile, and focus on the good rather than the bad.