Question:
I need to know what having the air tube put in while awake is really like.

My surgery is 5/1 (3 days) and because my airway is so small, they are pretty sure I will have to be awake. I am SO SCARED...they said I could have something to relax me, but I had to be awake. They talked about needles in the back of my throat to numb so I wouldn't gag. Help! What will it really be like????    — Brenda A. (posted on April 28, 2002)

April 28, 2002
They didnt warn me this would be necessary I am am so glad they didnt. I would of worried so much. It really wasnt bad for me. Yucky tasting popsicles with numbing medicine while the relax drugs started. Then they laid me down and gave me a uncomfortable but not painful injection in my throat. I wondered at this point if they were traching me. A quick movement heard them say its in, he is outttt... Next thing I knew I woke up in recovery feeling pretty good. <P> Jen my wife whoi also had the same surgery had a rougher time, they had trouble getting the tube down. She is so petite everywhere. But she says today surgery was WELL WORTH IT!<P> The good news is once you loose the weight its unlikely you will need intubated awake again. Were fat on the outside but inside as well. This inside fat causes reduced size airways and requires intubating while awake. If they knocked us out first and had trouble getting the tube in bad things could happen... Dont worry about this, its not terrible just uncomfy...
   — bob-haller

April 28, 2002
Piece of cake...they make you suck this numbing medicine on popcicle sticks (thats the worse part) and that's all I remember. The anethesioligist said I wouldn't remember it and I don't. My airway was very tiny (one reason I had severe sleep apnea).
   — Lisa N M.

April 28, 2002
They didn't do ANYTHING except my IV while I was awake...I woke up with it all in....ask them if they can wait till you are lightly sedated..my opinion on that is "everything else done to you while you are awake is torture".....Ask everyone.....
   — Joi G.

April 29, 2002
I had to be intubated awake after they unsuccessfully tried the month before to intubate me asleep and couldn't do it. My throat and mouth were all cut up and bleeding. So, my surgery was cancelled until it healed. The next time, when they intubated me awake, I remember that they made me sniff this nasal spray a few times and then gave me the Versed which made me 1/2 there. Next, I remember them spraying something down my nose and throat that smelled like bug spray (AWFUL) I started choking and gagging and nurses were holding me down while they shoved this tube in my nose...last thing I remember was hearing this POP in my head (from my nose) and continuing to cough. Then, they said "You are doing good Karen...keep coughing...It's in!" and WHAM! I was knocked out. It is fairly unpleasent for a few minutes, but I'm sure you would rather have that than have your throat all cut up and hurting for 3 weeks AND have your surgery cancelled like I did. I am praying that for my tummy tuck surgery or any others I may have to have that they can intubate me asleep since I have lost about 65 lbs. Good Luck!
   — Karen B.