I often forget that the mundane little details of my like must seem incredibly foreign to most people. One of my nurses just asked me if suctioning is uncomfortable me. Suctioning is the process by which a catheter attached to a vacuum pump is slid down my trach tube to remove excess mucous. It’s something that I usually do one to four times a day; sometimes less and more if I have a cold. It certainly doesn’t hurt, and it can actually feel good if I’m congested or if I’ve put off doing it for a long time. I still prefer to cough things up on my own if I can, but suctioning is so routine that I rarely give it much thought.
But don’t try sliding a suction catheter down your nose. I’ve had that done to me as well and I can’t say that it’s a sensation I would recommend to others.
That sounds like something Scott or I did at one point….or something we should do in the near future.
When suctioning is a necessity to exchange oxygen; I believe, comfort or uncomfort can not be part of the equation.