If you like me had a tracheostomy fitted (a tube that goes through the neck into the trachea to aid breathing.i want you to know that Decannulation (removal of the tracheostomy) is painless, you may find that it takes a little while to nose breath rather than mouth breath, but please be encouraged that you will get there and won’t need the bit of plastic making you feel less human. I’m doing fine 3 months after it’s removal, and i’m now looking forward to speaking again because it of course cuts off your vocal chords. There is no physiological reason why i can’t speak I just need to learn how like a 14 month old baby. Please insist that you are fitted with a speaking valve and given the necessary SALT. If i had been given the correct support 4 years ago i’d now be talking and wouldn’ need this ipad to communicate that i use as an AAC communication device, text to speech. Best of luck 2% of stroke survivors are fitted with a tracheostomy.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I can’t even begin to imagine how having a tracheostomy must have felt and how relieved you must be to have had it removed. I really hope that you get back to speaking very soon. Best of luck.
Well done Mich ;
Keep chipping away and whole world will open up to you, one day. I sincerely believe so.
Roland
Hi @Mich-mm Thank you for sharing your experience. I’m sure that with you will be chatting away soon.
Keep us posted about your progress.
Regards Sue
Hello sue @Susan_Jane while at the rehab hospital (Rhn) I received a little SALT but no where near enough.now in a nursing home I got 6 hours of NHS community SAlT but they focussed on eating, which I’m grateful for because being PEG fed is dehumanising.but my daughters have engaged a private SALT whom I saw yesterday,she was very encouraging and hopeful that I’d progress.
Hello everyone having had the tracheostomy out for 14 months,I can now talk,ok,I’m not always understood but there are some wonderful things I’ve been able to say “happy birthday dad”,sorry,thank you and even some difficult words: nudibranch,genet,ammonite.(I went to the natural history museum.
That’s amazing. The rest will come in time. You are making some fabulous progress. Well done x
Thank you @Mrs5K i have had the surgery to reverse the acquinovarus foot deformity contractures caused by months of inactivity,and today got new orthotics
,such a relief not to be wearing those huge air boots.
Now for the last 2 medical milestones
1.pEG removal
2, tracheostomy fistula suture.
The PEG removal was scheduled for last week but the gastroenterologist cancelled because she wants the fistula sutured first.
Good to hear your orthotics appointment was successful. Hopefully now you are rid of those boots you will be able to move/stand a bit easier and it will be more comfortable in all this heat too.
Fingers crossed your last 2 milestones are just around the corner now.
Just imagine how great all that will feel.
Karen had a tracheostomy in for a number of weeks. Thankfully, she is now able to speak normally again, though in a lower tone than previously. I wish you well on your journey.