I recently had surgery and apparently there was difficulty when they extubated me (bronchiospasms) and I was quickly re-intubated and placed on a ventilator. I woke up several times in recovery while intubated and had quite a traumatic experience. I now have so many awful feelings that I can't deal with and haven't talked to anyone about. Feelings of panic, fear of suffocation, sleep disturbances, fear of falling asleep, bouts of crying. I have asthma and possibly sleep apnea, so the breathing issue is an ongoing thing with me that I will need to follow-up with a doctor about, but these feelings of terror are invasive and I want to hear from anyone else who has exerpienced this so I don't feel so crazy.
2007-05-16 04:42:46 · 5 answers · asked by Rvn 5 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Respiratory Diseases
You're not crazy. I had a very similar experience. It happened to me after two different surgeries.
Waking up on a ventilator is traumatizing. It was very frightening for me.
You are probably suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. This is a normal reaction to what you've experienced.
Aside from the physical pain, you are also having emotional pain. It's being projected as pervasive fear.
It may be time for you to ask your doctor about a medication for an anxiety disorder. I personally worked these feelings out on my own, but if you feel that it's actually taking control of your life, then you do need to seek help.
I wish you well. Just remember, if you don't deal with it, you will not get over it.
Good luck to you.
2007-05-16 04:55:40 · answer #1 · answered by Firespider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't Worry. In 1999 I had a severe veraces bleed, I was actually clinically dead 2 times. There were a lot of things that went on during those times. The only way I know about what happened, is by reading the hospital report and my wife and daughter. If I haden't lived I wouldn't want to go any other way. No pain or anything just a complete shut down.
2007-05-16 05:56:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The same thing happened to me. They had purposely paralyzed me, but I could still hear people talking. It was awful. I couldn't talk or open my eyes. It was the most traumatic experience I have ever had. Believe me, when I got well enough to talk I let the nursing staff in the ICU, the doctor's office, and the hospital patient care staff know what I had been through and how it would have been so easy for them to have helped me. Do not let this traumatize you for life. Learn from it and help others. This happened to me nearly 25 years ago and from that day forward I have tried to educate people who are going to have surgery or who have friends and/or family who might be intubated. Talk to the patient and let them know that they are on a machine that is helping them breathe. Let them know that everyone is taking care of them and you know they cannot talk. Tell them to try and stay relaxed and not fight the machine. Keep them informed of what is going on around them. A lot of the time, they cannot even open their eyes but they can probably hear you talking. Be careful of what you say around them. Please get some help for your fears. My heart goes out to you and I hope you can overcome this trauma. Best of luck!
2007-05-16 08:21:53 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, just this passed Monday I woke up a bit early still in the OR, half paralyzed from the meds, and they told me I was on a ventilator, they had me awake from the time I woke up on it till 2-3 hours later. I don't get why people say it's traumatizing, at your throat wasn't sliced and diced from surgery. It was actually helping me a lot and I'm having trouble breathing but its whatever as long as i seen myself on ventilator to keep me alive I'm hapy about it
2013-10-03 03:22:51 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my area we have sleep clinics for people like you !!They test you for all kinds of sleep problems!! This maybe just what you need !!I'm so sorry you had to go through that but at least your still alive and there is hope for you !! So do go for a follow up with your doctor and ask him or her about sleep clinics !!
2007-05-16 04:57:42 · answer #5 · answered by Polar Molar 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋