Question about trach shave recovery time

[Rebecca]

In for trach shave on the 26th but got an 18th Birthday/Halloween party on the 28th.

No way in hell I'm postponing surgery but my original plan was to basically put myself to sleep from the 26th (Wednesday) until the 31st (Monday) to let my body dedicate itself to healing.

However, I'm feeling a bit guilty at not going as DD was looking forward to me going with her so wondering about whether I could manage it or be a major no no. Plan B my sis will take her for me.
So rather than guess I though I would ask if anyone can share their thoughts as to their condition 1-2 days after trach.

I'm thinking it'll be a no and I'll look look like I've been hit in the throat with a cricket bat but I do have a tendency to prepare for the worst. Might get away with a loose choker/collar with my batgirl outfit to hide the grisly bits without it looking too out of place.

If I can manage basic mobility with even the slightest degree of grace to drink my water and watch everyone else get wasted that would work for me.

I will be discussing it with the surgeon just before surgery but if there's a realistic chance of going without any adverse consequences I really should get my outfit sorted out this week.

As always any thoughts or advice would be appreciated.

[Dena]

A Trach Shave isn't difficult to recover from if it's not over done. The most difficult thing is waiting for the drugs to wear off and that happens within a day or less. I suspect you will have a bandage after surgery but you might consider a large flesh colored bandage to lessen the visual impact if the doctor leaves you without a bandage. I think in two days you should be ready to party and if you aren't on pain medication, you might enjoy something stronger than water if you want to.

[Rebecca]

Thanks Dena. Good to hear I'll order my outfit tomorrow but defo be sticking to the water as I'm back on my diet.

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[SarahElizabeth1981]

Very exciting Jerrica. have fun at the party

[Rebecca]

Thanks Sarah.

Still a bit iffy on going the party but at least it seems doable so will see how it goes.

[Lady Sarah]

When mine was done, I had to wait a few days before the stitches could be removed. In such a case, I would recommend something that completely covers your throat.

[Rebecca]

eBayed a black bandage just in  case yesterday

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[VickyMI]

I had my trac shave done by Dr. Spiegel four years ago.

I spent one night at the hospital.  One day easy rest at the hotel and the next day went walking around Boston wearing a turtle neck.  Also went out to dinner this was all enfemme.

When I went back to work male mode the following week I just wore a turtle neck and sport coat.

Recovery was fairly easy.  It was easy to hide.

[Rebecca]

Good stuff I'm a born worrier my only real fear was somehow interfering with the healing process. If they told me that being a statue for a week would help the healing process I'd be the best statue ever.

[Rebecca]

So far so good.

Operation was amazing I fell asleep and woke up all done.

Was able to eat and drink straight away once I got to my room. Voice hurts kinda gravely and broken but still my voice not his.

Was let out that night and able to do my normal morning routines. Did exert myself later a bit and it's totally wiped me out. Guess I will need to get some real rest.

Sticky stuff comes off Monday/Tuesday then I can see the real damage.

Meantime hit in the throat with a cricket bat seems to sum up my current sensations pretty well but think it's worth it. Will know for sure once it heals fully. Will put up updates as it heals just in case it's of use to anyone else someday.

[Rebecca]

Incision healing fast and well but have a BIG problem... my larynx has been attached to the incision smack bang in the middle of it. Whether it was glue or a stitch it feels like it has now grafted internally. So swallowing drags the wound with it and if I'm swallowing food I need to tip my head down enough to make it happen. This also seriously reduces my vocal pitch as the muscles to lift my larynx feel like they are pulling a truck.

Seeing surgeon again on Tuesday to get an explanation.

I'm thinking it's been totally botched somehow but will wait for his explanation and how on earth he plans to fix it.

[Dena]

It sounds like an adhesion which is a surgical risk with any surgery. I am not sure what the procedure is for breaking the skin lose but I suspect there is one.

[Rebecca]

I agree it's probably the glue or even a direct graft but it certainly wasn't a declared risk by the surgeon nor on the net at large not even here (did find an old post from 2012 I think). Even another ENT surgeon at the hospital just kept going on about tenting saying it could be dealt with during a revision. After reading up on tenting it's nothing like it. I'm thinking with the lack of information available it's rare and/or he oopsed. In all honesty had it been suggested as a possibility I would have insisted on a higher incision spot instead of right on top of it. Only my confidence in his abilities allowed me to accept him cutting where he did.

As long as he can fix it with no long term issues to me all will be forgiven but my patience has limits.

I'm fearing he's going to have to go back in through a fresh incision to cut it loose at the cost of 2 scars and leftovers clinging to the inside of the neck and outside of the larynx. If that's the case I won't be confident about him doing the job but first things first I'll let him look at it and explain.

If his answer doesn't add up I'll ask for a second opinion. Either way tomorrow is going to be eventful either leaving me placated and reassured all will be ok or preparing for war if it goes badly.

[Dena]

An adhesion is when an incision in the process of healing binds to the layer behind it when it's not supposed to. In this case, it appears the skin/surface fat bound to the larynx while healing. I suspect this could be cause if there is no movement between the two layers during healing giving the body time bind where it's not supposed to. Exactly how the two can be separated, I am not sure but maybe you can work the skin with your hand to break the binding.

[Rebecca]

It's attached good and proper I can feel around a solid half inch wide lump attaching the outer skin of the neck directly to the larynx below. It almost mitigates the amount of cartilage removed to zero with the unfortunate bonus of seriously disfiguring my neck and screwing up my voice and ability to swallow.

As it was attached from the outset I'm thinking the initial bind has to have been from method of closure as I was eating beef curry and drinking tasteless water within 15 mins of consciousness by which point it was already tightly bound. After that I was walking and drinking lots of water to keep things moving but they didn't. The dressing and pain hid the visual element for 5 days but even straight after surgery I noticed I couldn't lift it but put that down to the expected sore throat, swelling etc.

My initial fear based on sensations within the larynx was it had been nicked during the surgery or stitched as an internal physical scratch/tickle was notable within. It took over a week to get my voice back and still constantly coughing and hacking dark green/brown gunge up. My body knows something and is doing its best to fight it. I think the surgeon has been playing for time for my body to try fix it before I see him.

If it was remotely normal he'd have just called me to explain pretty quick as he's a nice guy. Something is amiss but will know more tomorrow once I talk to him and read him while he examines me.

In the end once it's fixed I'll forget all about it until then it's the usual hope for the best (inject something to break down the glue/remove any remaining stitches) and prepare for the worst (more surgeries).

[Rebecca]

The surgeon has no idea whatsoever as to what's happening and he's worried (the nurse and I could totally read it a mile away). Unfortunately he's like "The Guy" for that type of surgery in Scotland so there's nobody higher to get sent to.  He seems sincere in his desire to fix it and wants a couple of weeks to research (google) it.

He's planning to reopen the same incision remove the lump binding my larynx to the incision then adjust the muscles and add tissue to cover the larynx before stitching me back up again. He assures but can't promise a good result but my confidence in him has crumbled.

A very disappointing visit but at least I now know that if I had insisted on a higher incision point on the day of surgery he wouldn't have done the operation as he always does it right on top of the prominence. So at least I can't blame myself for not speaking up which is actually a big weight off my mind.

Talking to the nurse outside she praised me for speaking up and laying out my position instead of just blindly accepting the surgeons words. She agrees he doesn't have the slightest clue about what's happening with me but did reassure me I've definitely got his attention and he'll be determined to fix me. I believe her so I'll give him the 2 weeks then we'll talk again. Until then I've got a green light to do whatever I want to help the scar heal so I'll focus on that for now.

[Rebecca]

Ugh the NHS surgeon has gone from clueless but slightly optimistic to absurd and trying to cover his own ass imo.

His best and only theory is that the stitches I removed weeks after showing him the problem and over an inch away from the problem actually caused it!!!!!!! So yeah apparently I'm supposed to believe it's my fault; like really the problem in my past was due to my future actions that hadn't happened yet.
Does anyone buy that..... and he's supposed to be the best/only guy in Scotland that can do this surgery and he's trying to sell me that as a reason.

Here's an easier one - He accidentally stitched through my larynx and it grafted to the incision site with a fibrous growth forming around the initial stitches.

His proposal is to blindly open the original incision (completely ignoring the fact it is grafted onto my larynx via a lump the size of a chocolate M&M) then take a look at it to see what can be done. No assurances that he can fix it and wont even offer a 90% chance of success.

Now I'm no surgeon but if he's cutting into the middle of it then he can't see squat until he then cuts his way out of it then work his away above and below it to remove the lump before he can even pretend to know what he's looking at.

He still also tells me ALL surgeons in the UK go directly through the prominence (tip of the adams apple at biggest bit) and it's the "Gold Standard". Finally he has never heard of ANY surgeon using any alternate incision site EVER!!!!

You don't need to be a farmer to recognise that scent it's 100% bull.

I've asked him for a second opinion but god knows how long that will take.
I'm going to try going back via my GP to try for a plastic surgeon to fix it.

[Dena]

I am not sure if the medical system is exactly the same here as it is where you are but I suggest you ask for a reconstructive plastic surgeon. The surgeon who did my work was one and they are trained to repair badly damaged faces such as somebody who received a crushing blow to the face. They have a higher degree of training so they can do the really difficult jobs that a normal plastic surgeon might not have the skills for.

[Rebecca]

Thanks Dena that's precisely the path I'm hoping to check out after Chet referred to my repair as scar revision. After googling scar revision I think plastic surgeon is the best way to go but wasn't sure. Glad to see my thinking wasn't as outlandish as it first sounded inside my head

Will check with my GP to see if he can refer me direct as I don't trust that other surgeon to think of it. He'd probably try to send me to another ENT.

[Rebecca]

Good a place as any to update but with graft and adhesion being based on the same principles I might be able to fix it myself without surgery.

I've been reading up on manipulating adhesion sites to gently breakdown adhesions to release tissues through massage and other techniques. There has been success on large adhesions and with mine being so small I am optimistic.

Recommendations say 12 weeks minimum before attempting anything to allow scars to settle. I'm not very good at waiting but seeing as I need to massage my scar already I reckon it may have a slight change of improvement prior to 12 weeks.

At least it's hope which I could really do with.