vocal cord health after surgery/intubation
Hello, music major here... I'm hoping someone in this community might have some advice for me. I'm an instrumentalist by trade but have always sung in choirs and have been taking vocal lessons for 2 years. As you know vocals are an important part of college music, whether an instrumentalist or not. my current college requires voice lessons whether you are instrumental or not, but I've always done vocal performance anyway. So of course with vocals being a requirement of my major and my college, I'm a little worried.
I'm having some abdominal surgery next week and I'm worried about being intubated.
3 years ago when i had another major surgery, i must have had a crappy anesthesiologist (correction - i know i did, he put the central in wrong).
Basically I coughed for 6 months, could barely talk a sentence without my voice cracking and needing to cough. I couldn't sing for almost a year. It was horrible. Definitely my worst intubation experience yet during surgery.
So unfortuantely I found out I need more surgery (ugh) and I'm trying to do a few things to plan ahead so my voice isn't trashed for spring semester. I've had multiple surgeries in my life, unfortunately, so by now I know a few things to plan for.
Basically, here's my thoughts on preparation and post-surgery:
1) buy a personal steamer at Walgreens/pharmacy. My vocal teacher says to do it 3x per day in the hospital, or whenever I feel dry. and of course, hospital air is especially dry. Does anyone have any recommendations for a certain brand?? I assume they're all the same.
2) no mentol. Keep the cords moist with different losenges, but make sure they're menthol free, since menthol dries out the cords.
3) tea. non caffeinated. cuz caffeine dries out too.
4) ask for small tube from anesthesiologist during intubation, and hope i get a really really good one who knows what he's doing. this may or may not help if i happen to get the crappy anesthesiologist who scrapes my throat putting it in. i hate waking up and immediately coughing uncontrollably as my first sensation after surgery. it sucks.
5) talk to RT prior to surgery (respiratory therapy) so when they come in after surgery and try to make me "cough" I'll have already discussed the proper way to clear a throat without causing sandpaper effect on my cords...their job is to makeyou clear your throat after surgery, I'm hoping I can use that blowing thingie (I can't remember what it's called, that thing they make you blow into all the time to make sure your lungs are filling to capacity) more often to show my lungs are ok. RT's job is to make sure you don't get pneumonia after surgery from all the morphine and crap.
So what I'm wondering is, any additional suggestions or thoughts? I feel pretty screwed, because I know there isn't a whole lot I can do. I'm pretty much at the hospital's mercy. I'm going to a very good facility for specialty surgery (I have intestinal disease and an ostomy) but there's always that chance I'm gonna get the one anesthesiologist who is or isn't having a bad day.
I'm 26, not sure if that matters as far as vocal health or not, just thought I'd throw that in in case someone had some thoughts there. It's been hard for me getting through school at a good clip since battling this illness has taken up more than half my life. :/ But I'm trying to be optimistic and not let it stop me. I'm an open book on my illness if you want more info (rare BCIR ostomy)
and of course I'm always looking for more music friends :)
Thanks everyone,
Since I need all the help/advice I can get, this is of course Xposted to:
communityname
I'm having some abdominal surgery next week and I'm worried about being intubated.
3 years ago when i had another major surgery, i must have had a crappy anesthesiologist (correction - i know i did, he put the central in wrong).
Basically I coughed for 6 months, could barely talk a sentence without my voice cracking and needing to cough. I couldn't sing for almost a year. It was horrible. Definitely my worst intubation experience yet during surgery.
So unfortuantely I found out I need more surgery (ugh) and I'm trying to do a few things to plan ahead so my voice isn't trashed for spring semester. I've had multiple surgeries in my life, unfortunately, so by now I know a few things to plan for.
Basically, here's my thoughts on preparation and post-surgery:
1) buy a personal steamer at Walgreens/pharmacy. My vocal teacher says to do it 3x per day in the hospital, or whenever I feel dry. and of course, hospital air is especially dry. Does anyone have any recommendations for a certain brand?? I assume they're all the same.
2) no mentol. Keep the cords moist with different losenges, but make sure they're menthol free, since menthol dries out the cords.
3) tea. non caffeinated. cuz caffeine dries out too.
4) ask for small tube from anesthesiologist during intubation, and hope i get a really really good one who knows what he's doing. this may or may not help if i happen to get the crappy anesthesiologist who scrapes my throat putting it in. i hate waking up and immediately coughing uncontrollably as my first sensation after surgery. it sucks.
5) talk to RT prior to surgery (respiratory therapy) so when they come in after surgery and try to make me "cough" I'll have already discussed the proper way to clear a throat without causing sandpaper effect on my cords...their job is to makeyou clear your throat after surgery, I'm hoping I can use that blowing thingie (I can't remember what it's called, that thing they make you blow into all the time to make sure your lungs are filling to capacity) more often to show my lungs are ok. RT's job is to make sure you don't get pneumonia after surgery from all the morphine and crap.
So what I'm wondering is, any additional suggestions or thoughts? I feel pretty screwed, because I know there isn't a whole lot I can do. I'm pretty much at the hospital's mercy. I'm going to a very good facility for specialty surgery (I have intestinal disease and an ostomy) but there's always that chance I'm gonna get the one anesthesiologist who is or isn't having a bad day.
I'm 26, not sure if that matters as far as vocal health or not, just thought I'd throw that in in case someone had some thoughts there. It's been hard for me getting through school at a good clip since battling this illness has taken up more than half my life. :/ But I'm trying to be optimistic and not let it stop me. I'm an open book on my illness if you want more info (rare BCIR ostomy)
and of course I'm always looking for more music friends :)
Thanks everyone,
Since I need all the help/advice I can get, this is of course Xposted to:
communityname