When I last reported, the
life-threatening constriction of my pharynges
which was responsible for my 19 days in the hospital during January and
February was still a puzzle to my doctors.
The constriction was possibly the result of infection, pneumonia, or
allergic reaction to a medication. A
trach tube was placed to bypass the obstruction and the tube remains in place,
an uncomfortable inconvenience. While
one part of me wants that out NOW, another part of me says it’s a small price
to pay to keep me from another emergency admission and the possibility that I
won’t make it in time he next time. I
also have a direct gastric feeding tube in place should my throat become so
constricted that I cannot eat or drink normally.
Yesterday, my head and neck surgeon fed
a scope into my right nostril and down to the problem area in my windpipe. Comparing that to the way I looked last month
and the month before, he recommended laser surgery to remove “redundant posterior pharyngeal mucosa” loose
flaps of tissue that appear to serve no purpose except make it more difficult
for me to breathe. Instead of having a wind
pipe that is one inch in diameter, I
have one that in places is barely the diameter of a drinking straw. When aggravated or irritated, even this
small opening begins to close up.
The surgery is scheduled for this coming
Friday, April 19, around mid-day. As
currently planned, it will be on an outpatient basis. That means no overnight stay in the
hospital. For the first couple of days
following surgery, I will likely need to eat through my stomach tube. Two weeks following surgery, if the airway
has been sufficiently cleared and enlarged, the trach tube can be removed. Yayyyyyyyy!!
