tracheotomy for sleep apnea and asthma?

[ill13632]

I had tracheotomy done and was wondering if it is really a great treatment for asthma and sleep apnea.  I could exhale better on the trach a shiley 6 and my blood O2 levels were good but I was dizzy and exhausted for 1 month after the surgery.  the vertigo went away after a course of prednisone
in the month after the surgery I couldn't sleep well or for long hours.  In the beginning I also had a hard time learning new words/thinking quickly- I began to question the surgery.  with my asthma I can't exhale well and wheeze all the time

I think the surgeon messed up the whole surgery by traching me too small on a shiley 6 instead of an 8 or 10 and repeatedly refused to change the sizing even though I am asthmatic

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello, Understand what you are going through. Hope nebulization is helping with the bronchospasm. And oxygen levels should be maintained above 88%, otherwise chronic hypoxia can cause damage to the vital organs. To assess if the apnea has improved with the trach, only a sleep study can help to objectively assess this. So, as you are battling with the wheeze and apnea, check to rule out other systemic causes like anemia, this could worsen your symptoms of breathlessness. Take care & wish you well.

[ill13632]

my O2 levels were ok except they were dipping down to 89%.  after the operation the O2 alarm was going off, the nurses told me to exhale deeply and that helped.  you have no idea what a terrible disease this is

[ill13632]

thanks a lot!  I had this constant exhale wheezing.  maybe I should have stuck with it longer, but the surgeon should have ordered the right size for me before the operation.  and these shileys were terribly painful with lung infection

[ill13632]

I went to the ER and after 30mg of prednisone the dizziness was better.  patients told me that it was cruel for the surgeon to put a large asthmatic male on a shiley 6....I didn't have dramatic improvement in my sleep apnea in 1 month on the 6.  I could exhale much better on the 8 than w/o trach and asthma.  but now I'm back to the ventilator and more miserable brain fog, exhaustion

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hi, A tracheostomy tube reduces the upper airway anatomical dead space by up to 150 ml or 50% and it will help in removing the secretions. So, it will help for Asthma and for sleep apnea, it helps to bypass the upper airway resistance. What is your present O2 saturation value? And your lung function tests have they improved? For tracheostomy, the tube size and type is determined by the doctor depending on the reason for the trach tube as well as the size, age and medical needs of the patient. In patients of average habitus, a  6 Shiley Cuffed Tracheostomy tube (SCT) is appropriate.  

If your O2 sats are good, then the dizziness may be due to other causes like inner ear problems. Please check with your doctor. Regards.