A year huh? That's a little longer than I had mine. Mine was only in when I was in Intensive care (about 5 weeks). I couldn't have any solid food, for that entire time which was a bit of a pain in the bum but hey, I was alive and that's what mattered.
It took me a couple of days after I woke up to get used to it but on the whole my experience was ok. The tube between the trach and the ventilator popped off a few times which stopped my breathing altogether. I took those times amazingly well in my view. I had a dedicated nurse that was always there to pop it back on and after the first couple of times I could do it myself. I think the reason I took not breathing so well was because I was do darn bored!!
The only real complaint I have about it was shen they cleaned it. It was like tickling the back of my throat with a feather
and it made me hack a lot. I still have the scar to remind me. It gets fainter every year and I know that I'll miss it when it eventually disappears.
On the whole though, I'd rate my experience with the ol' trachy as 10/10. The trachy and the ventilator were the only two things between me and the pearly gates for about two weeks. I couldn't help but love it
