-> Well, just got my changed this morning. I get it changed every 2 to 2
-> 1/2 months. My doctor said it is recommend to change it at least once
-> a month, but as long as it is clean when I get it changed I can
-> continue to wait longer. It seems to be going easier each time, it
-> doesn't hurt like it use to.
That's quite a coincidence! I changed my trach this morning too.
I usually only change mine when it starts to irritate me. Sometimes,
when conditions are very good, I can go 3-4 months between changes. I
once had a doctor tell me to change it once a week. No way! If you
changed a trach that often, your stoma would never heal. The main
reason that my trach gets nasty, is my bad sinuses. The post-nasal drip
goes down my throat and causes the trach to become fouled. This is also
the primary reason that I have to be suctioned. When my sinuses behave,
I usually only have to be suctioned about 1-2 times a day.
My trach changes have been pretty easy for several years. They
got much easier when I got my cuffless trach in 1987. The deflated cuff
being pulled up through my vocal cords was what caused the trouble. A
cuffless trach is much easier to change. Changes are now painless.
Also, a big difference for me happened when my mother learned to change
mine. A ENT doctor taught her how. She does an excellent job. Some
doctors use a "mechanics touch" in changing a trach.
-> Don't know how everyone else does trach care, but I only use 70%
-> alcohol and a triple antibiotic (like hydracortizone) to help prevent
-> infections. It must be working because I haven't had any. I use to
-> use half strength hydrogenperoxide then my doctor told me that new
-> research (this was 5 years ago) showed it caused to much irritation
-> to the tissue.
-> ----
I do trach care once a day. I remove the old dressing, then
swab around the stoma with first a solution of 1/2 water, 1/2 hydrogen
peroxide, to remove any matter or gunge. Next, I swab it with normal
saline. This drys down and tightens the skin around the trach. This
works very well in preventing air leaks around the stoma, something that
happens with all trachs, especially with cuffless trachs like mine. A
nurse taught me this trick years ago, when I was still new to trachs. I
only use antibiotic ointment (Neosporin) when my trach site becomes a
little red or irritated. I have read that your system becomes immune to
antibiotics if you overuse them, even salves and ointments. Hydrogen
peroxide doesn't bother me. Maybe you should dilute it like I do.
BTW, I have been trying to upload to this board for some time, and my
messages are always sent back. My "help" messages to the list
processor doesn't get answered. My question is simple: What email
address do I use to upload messages to be distributed to the other
members of this board? Thanks!
Blane N. Beckwith
blane.beckwith(AT)VidGame.com