I’ve been proudly wearing my (imaginary) I Survived Getting a Nose Tube badge. Wasn’t it so nice of them to match the tube to my hair and complexion?
I took this shortly after getting to the hotel after the procedure. If I don’t look real thrilled it’s because I was not real thrilled! But so relieved. So this is my relieved, unthrilled face.
The handy dandy nose tube came with an even handier dandier monitor that I got to wear around my neck for 24-hours.
My instructions were that if I coughed, cleared my throat, experienced heartburn, burped, ate, drank, laid down, or stood up, I was to push various buttons so that those things would be recorded.
Of course, the hope was that significant symptoms would show up because that would mean there was a good possibility that my lung problems have indeed been caused by ongoing long-term reflux which can very possibly be cured with surgery.
If anyone had overheard Steve’s and my conversations in our hotel room they would have thought we were crazy people.
I’d say, “Steve! I just felt heartburn!”
And he’d say, “That’s great news!”
Don’t tell us we don’t know how to have a good time. (This was before we headed back to the hospital for the removal.)
I was so excited about getting that thing taken out. Having it in wasn’t incredibly awful but it was just something I was constantly aware of, that odd bump and discomfort in the back of my throat. (And may I just say that when I think of Sarah having a feeding tube for weeks on end during cancer treatment, I admire her stalwartness all the more.)
Dealing with the monitor and all the cords was also a bit of a challenge. When I was getting ready for bed Thursday night, I ended up getting myself and my clothes and my pj’s all wound up in my cords and had to call for Steve to come and extricate me.
Who knows what I would have done if he hadn’t been there? Too bad there wasn’t a button to push for “got tangled in clothing.” I would definitely have made use of that one.
Since I know you’re probably wondering how the actual procedure went, I’ll give you a little rundown.
A nurse took me back to a room with a hospital bed in it where I donned a hospital gown. As I did so, I was doing my best to think calm and cheery thoughts and telling myself over and over, “It won’t be that bad. It won’t be that bad.” (As I’ve mentioned, I have a strong gag reflex, and any kind of procedure that involves the back of my throat historically has not gone well.)
The nurse spent the first fifteen minutes getting everything situated and explaining to me the first steps of the procedure which included her putting a syringe full of lidocaine way up my nose. After about a minute, it started running to the back of my throat and all I can say is that if you’ve never actually tasted lidocaine, well . . . don’t. It’s nasty and it’s bitter. But if it was going to help with discomfort, I was all about it.
I was all calm and cool, thinking, “This is fine. I can do this. It’s all good. I’m okay.”
And then I caught sight of the long scary tube she started dangling over my person and my brain changed its tune to, “This not fine. I can’t do this. It’s not good. I’m not okay!”
But what was I going to do? Leap up from the bed and go fleeing down the hall with my gown flapping in the breeze?
Nope. I was committed, just like you’re committed when you’re on a roller coaster and you’re right at the top of the hill before the big plunge.
She handed me a glass of water with a straw and instructed me to start sipping as she began the tube insertion. Bottom line? Do not stop sipping!
I nodded in miserable muteness and tried to think a happy thought.
She started to insert the tube and I fought back panic as I began to sip the water. After about three sips I got distracted and overwhelmed which caused me to stop sipping which then caused me to start making huge gagging sounds.
She said, “Sip, sip, sip!” so I closed my eyes and sipped for all I was worth, as I felt the tube making its way down my esophagus. It probably took a total of 10 seconds but it felt like multitudinous hours.
But I had done it. The tube was in! Woo-hoo!
But there was more to be done.
She then told me that she was going to squirt a syringe full of saline water into my mouth seventeen times and I was supposed to swallow the water in one big gulp. In between gulps, I was not supposed to swallow at all.
Have you ever been told not to do something and then the only thing you can think of is doing that thing?
That’s how it was for me.
I could feel a strong discomfort and lump in the back of my throat and I was trying to swallow on command and then not swallow and I was getting all of this saline squirted into my mouth and my only comfort throughout that whole experience was that at least the tough part was done and the tube was in.
We finally finished the saline squirts and I was so looking forward to climbing down from the bed and telling Steve, “I did it!”
The nurse said, “Good job!” and I glowed with the accomplishment of it all. But then she added, “And now we are going remove this tube and put in another one.”
I was like, “Wait. What? What do you mean another one?
Turns out the first tube was specifically for the saline squirt test (pardon my medical-ese) and was not the tube used for the 24-hour test.
Let me just say I was not the happiest of campers.
So out came the second tube and we prepared ourselves all over again for the insert/sip/insert/sip exercise. I can’t say it was all that much easier the second time around but at least I knew what to expect and I knew that I could get through it. And I remembered to sip nonstop so there was no gagging. Yay, me!
And then it was on to the mysterious monitor tutorial about all the buttons I was supposed to push and not push and finally, after about ninety minutes, I was ready to rejoin Steve in the waiting room and go on my way with instructions to “eat food that causes heartburn.”
I’ve never been so happy to carry out a doctor’s order in my life; pepperoni, sausage, and onion pizza were on the dietary docket. Since I had been off my prescription reflux meds for a week prior to the procedure, I did, indeed, have heartburn, and Steve and I did, indeed, rejoice.
Here I am leaving the hospital the second day, pointing to where the tube used to be. There was never a better feeling in the whole world than having that thing removed.
I would like to thank all of you for your sweet comments and prayers and thoughts. I thought about my circle of supporters many times during those long moments; I had you right there in the room with me,
We will have the results back in two weeks or less so I’ll let you know what we hear.
I have been summoned for jury duty in a town that is three hours (round trip) away. So I wrote this blog post yesterday and am hitting the road at 6:30 a.m.. Don’t know if I will actually be chosen to sit on the jury but we’ll see.
We are not big celebrators of Halloween but Sarah and Gage love costumes and dressing up. They have spent the past couple of months preparing and shopping at thrift stores for fabric for their costumes. Gage designed and sewed everything except for Sarah’s fans.
They were headed out to a family trick or treat event downtown–all dressed up and someplace to go! (Does anyone recognize their characters?)
I’m glad to see them have so much fun together.
Today is the first anniversary of their first “I love you” and their first kiss; we are so grateful that the two of them found each other and are building such a beautiful life together.
So glad you made it through the tube insertion without being sedated. I don’t think I would want that myself. I gag brushing my teeth many mornings.
Sarah and Gage’s costumes are great. Not sure what they are supposed to be but I’m not up to date on all current characters.
I got called for jury duty for early September. I think the day after Labor Day actually. That was when I was trying to care for my mom at home and looking for a place to admit her. Fortunately when I called, they said the jury had been postponed to the next week and I might or might not be selected again. Thankfully I didn’t get called.
Phyllis,
It’s funny how jury selection works. Sometimes you go years and don’t get called at all. I’m glad you didn’t have to leave for duty in the midst of caring for your mom. That worked out so well for you and your family.
Your description of the tube insertion made ME want to gag. I’m so glad that you got through it OK and am hoping you get good test results.
I’m very impressed that Gage did the costume sewing although I have no idea who they are impersonating. Can’t wait to find out!
Dear Becky & Pastor Steve, you deserve medals for BOTH the saline squirt and reflux tubes! I can hardly imagine the courage it took to endure the insertion and wearing of the tube! I loved the story and photos of Sarah and Gage wearing their beautiful Halloween costumes and especially the photo of them kissing behind the fans!
Fred and Lucy,
Yes, Sarah and Gage were definitely cute in their ensembles! They had so much fun putting all of that together and when they went downtown, a good number of people complimented the outfits.
Thanks for your cheery comment.
Gage did such a great job on their costumes! I’m glad the tube is out…but I felt some indignation that you had to have not one, but two tube insertions. Prayers for good results!! Have a wonderful week!
Sue Ellen,
Yeah, the two-not-one thing was a bit of a bummer. Thankful I didn’t know about it earlier, though.
I’m so glad that you have completed the test. I will continue to pray for an excellent report.
Love the photos of Sarah & Gage!!
Gloria,
Thanks for the encouragement and prayers. And Sarah and Gage are really something, aren’t they? 🙂
PS You say you thought of Sarah and how she had borne her feeding tube and it helped you be brave. Well you will be interested to know that for Juliet (my daughter) and me, down the years we have often said ‘think of Sarah Smith!’ when we need a bit of courage of our own – because what a small Sarah faced day in dayout needed so much courage and she bore it all with astonishing strength, and it has made us pull up our bootstraps and just get on with it.
PPS I don’t recognise the characters!
Teresa,
Oh, what a dear comment! We are honored that our family–and especially Sarah–would find its way into your lives at moments when you needed courage. Thank you so much for sharing that.
The characters are Suki and Sokka from the Last Air Bender. (An animated show they both watched as kids.)
Well done, WELL DONE Becky. It sounds absolutely horrible and awful to be honest! but you write about it with your usual grace and humour. Sending love and hope that all this leads down a good path!
LOVED the photographs of Sarah and Gage! They look absolutely fab in their costumes. Lovely to see a young couple with such a sense of fun, enjoying life.
Teresa xxxx
Teresa,
Yes, I did try to keep the humor going; a smile makes the yukkiness seem less overwhelming.
Sarah and Gage definitely know how to have fun!
Thank you for the update, Becky. I am so thankful that you made it through this as well as you did! I was thinking that the nurse should have told you ahead of time that a tube would have to be inserted twice….but then I wondered if that would have been worse! Praying for clear info from the test that will help the doctor know how to help you!
Blessings on you!
DeLynn,
I agree. Being told ahead of time would have definitely increased my stress so it worked out okay.
I will be very interested to hear what the results are and where we go from here.
I feel for you. I had a big ole tennis ball camera for a TEE test 3 years ago before my open heart surgery. I was in a panic when I saw it and they put me out within moments of me starting to panic. Glad you were able to get through your procedure, not once but twice. I would have been gagging also.
Awww! Sarah and Gage are so cute together. I have no clue who they are though.
Wendy,
A tennis ball camera? That makes me nervous just to think about it! I would think they would put anyone out before even starting something like that. Whew!
Sarah and Gage were Suki and Sokka from the Last Air Bender. (An animated show they both watched as kids.)
Think I started to panic when I read your story. I have a touch of claustrophobia and just reading about someone in a tight situation makes me panic. But you did good, and like you said the second tube was a little bit better since you knew what you had to do = the same as the first. We don’t do Halloween either, but if there are kids I wrap the candy around a gospel track specifically for kids on Halloween. Great job on those costumes!
Sharyn,
Yes, I definitely get the panicked feeling. Sometimes even reading about someone else’s situation can make me a bit antsy.
Best part of the experience is that it’s over!
So glad that it is all over for you and hopefully it won’t have to be done again. Gage and Sarah’s costumes are great and I love the beardless Gage look.
Nancy,
Yes, I am beyond thrilled to have experience behind me, especially since I had known about it for several weeks to had a long time to get nervous about it.
Becky, that sounds like a terrible test! I am so happy it’s behind you. Congratulations for getting it over!
Cindy,
Thank you! It was the best feeling in the world when she pulled that thing out.
Glad to hear that you are done with the whole procedure. I just got finished with a 2 week heart monitor. It was better that previous times as it was wireless. Not fun taking showers and not letting water pour onto it. Hope you get good results that the Dr’s can use to help with your overall health.
Love the costumes and have no idea what they are from, but I guess it is an animated show. Love dressing up and Halloween is the best time for it.
Patti,
What a great improvement to be given a wireless monitor! And yes, I was given strict instructions about NOT showering with my monitor but just wearing it 24 hours, it was not a big deal. I’m sure you were thrilled to have your 2-weeks at an end!
What a time… Terrible time! Thankful you got through it well.
I have strong gag reflex too, so I know it would be hard to contemplate undergoing that procedure.
Hope you have a good day at jury… Another possible hard situation.
We take each day as it comes to us…. The Lord upholding us by his strong right arm. Ruth
Ruth,
The jury experience was quite interesting but definitely challenging in its own way. I was thankful to be in the jury box and not be the one on trial.