Unclear History
@unclearhistory.bsky.social
Sharing what I have learned from my awake tracheostomy and windpipe stenosis
Shamrock shakes definitely soothe a scratching throat after being scoped!
a repeating pattern of green mccafe drinks with whipped cream and a cherry on top
ALT: a repeating pattern of green mccafe drinks with whipped cream and a cherry on top
media.tenor.com
March 3, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Shamrock shakes definitely soothe a scratching throat after being scoped!
Definitely learned patience last year while waiting for my stoma to close. In the end, surgical intervention was needed:
a blue and pink background with the words pause and breathe
ALT: a blue and pink background with the words pause and breathe
media.tenor.com
March 2, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Definitely learned patience last year while waiting for my stoma to close. In the end, surgical intervention was needed:
Happy Valentine's Day! Days like this can be really hard when your partner is in the hospital because flowers and foods may not be permitted depending on the situation. Planning for better days helped us get through, but my heart goes out to everyone going through that now.
two stuffed penguins are sitting in a hammock and one has a bandage on its head
ALT: two stuffed penguins are sitting in a hammock and one has a bandage on its head
media.tenor.com
February 14, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Happy Valentine's Day! Days like this can be really hard when your partner is in the hospital because flowers and foods may not be permitted depending on the situation. Planning for better days helped us get through, but my heart goes out to everyone going through that now.
A surprising quality gif for "trach." The rest of the results were trash, literally. They were gifs of trash. Oscar loves this
a diagram of a woman 's mouth and throat with an arrow pointing upwards
Alt: a diagram of a woman's mouth and throat with an arrow pointing upwards to show how a speaking valve works with a trach
media.tenor.com
February 12, 2025 at 7:03 PM
A surprising quality gif for "trach." The rest of the results were trash, literally. They were gifs of trash. Oscar loves this
I am super excited that I can now cycle for thirty minutes with a few breaks, whereas six months ago, my attempts at exercising would dislodge phlegm and tape and push air through the hole in my neck. Moving forward (although the bike is stationary).
a woman is sitting at a table with a bottle of water and a sandwich .
ALT: a woman is sitting at a table with a bottle of water and a sandwich .
media.tenor.com
February 8, 2025 at 8:54 PM
I am super excited that I can now cycle for thirty minutes with a few breaks, whereas six months ago, my attempts at exercising would dislodge phlegm and tape and push air through the hole in my neck. Moving forward (although the bike is stationary).
Happy Groundhog Day! So glad to have come so far since GHD 2024.
a man with glasses and a hat is asking another man if he is right
ALT: a man with glasses and a hat is asking another man if he is right
media.tenor.com
February 2, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Happy Groundhog Day! So glad to have come so far since GHD 2024.
Someday you will write the book.
Most people will not read it. But someone will, and it will change something inside them.
Then they will write a book, wholly their own, but slightly indebted to your ideas.
And so on.
The chain never ends. There are echoes of you at the end of the world.
Most people will not read it. But someone will, and it will change something inside them.
Then they will write a book, wholly their own, but slightly indebted to your ideas.
And so on.
The chain never ends. There are echoes of you at the end of the world.
January 27, 2025 at 4:21 PM
bsky.app/profile/abby...
I hope this Groundhog Day is nothing like the one I had last year, but I don't expect to have a groundhog either, just some kitty snuggles.
Almost 1 year since my awake trach...
I hope this Groundhog Day is nothing like the one I had last year, but I don't expect to have a groundhog either, just some kitty snuggles.
Almost 1 year since my awake trach...
I guess an old tweet from a year ago made it into the February 2025 issue of Reader’s Digest? My HS German teacher just emailed to let me know… 🤣
January 26, 2025 at 9:42 PM
bsky.app/profile/abby...
I hope this Groundhog Day is nothing like the one I had last year, but I don't expect to have a groundhog either, just some kitty snuggles.
Almost 1 year since my awake trach...
I hope this Groundhog Day is nothing like the one I had last year, but I don't expect to have a groundhog either, just some kitty snuggles.
Almost 1 year since my awake trach...
bsky.app/profile/thea...
It's getting easier every day now that some medical issues are getting sorted out. :)
It's getting easier every day now that some medical issues are getting sorted out. :)
January 25, 2025 at 9:11 PM
bsky.app/profile/thea...
It's getting easier every day now that some medical issues are getting sorted out. :)
It's getting easier every day now that some medical issues are getting sorted out. :)
How have others commentorated anniversaries of traumatic medical events? Do you stay quiet, grateful, and reflective? Send EMTs a gift card or donation? Looking for ideas.
January 24, 2025 at 10:19 PM
How have others commentorated anniversaries of traumatic medical events? Do you stay quiet, grateful, and reflective? Send EMTs a gift card or donation? Looking for ideas.
Hypoallergetic tape made a huge difference in the four months I lived with a hole in my neck covered by gauze and tape. Blisters, yes; but fewer blisters.
January 23, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Hypoallergetic tape made a huge difference in the four months I lived with a hole in my neck covered by gauze and tape. Blisters, yes; but fewer blisters.
January 19, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Why is my account called "Unclear History"? It's a phrase my surgeon uses to describe the unknowns in my medical case as there are several mysteries in my medical history that we are still continuing to unpack.
January 18, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Why is my account called "Unclear History"? It's a phrase my surgeon uses to describe the unknowns in my medical case as there are several mysteries in my medical history that we are still continuing to unpack.
I can only imagine how badly getting Covid would have been for me if I hadn't had some vaccine and booster help. Covid tipped my underlying condition(s) that I was starting to get addressed into an emergency awake tracheostomy.
bsky.app/profile/nyti...
bsky.app/profile/nyti...
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. petitioned the FDA to revoke authorization of Covid vaccines in 2021, when estimates had begun to show that the rollout of the shots had already saved about 140,000 lives. nyti.ms/4hkaSnl
January 18, 2025 at 11:55 PM
I can only imagine how badly getting Covid would have been for me if I hadn't had some vaccine and booster help. Covid tipped my underlying condition(s) that I was starting to get addressed into an emergency awake tracheostomy.
bsky.app/profile/nyti...
bsky.app/profile/nyti...
How I almost open conversations with strangers
a black and white photo of the joker saying `` you know how i got these scars '' .
ALT: a black and white photo of the joker saying `` you know how i got these scars '' .
media.tenor.com
January 17, 2025 at 8:33 PM
How I almost open conversations with strangers
I received one of these "not medically necessary" letters about my ICU stay for my awake trach (& Covid pneumonia/staph infection) that was followed by days of sedation and another surgery. Was I supposed to have checked the Holiday Inn's vacancy right after I got the hole in my neck or before?
January 17, 2025 at 5:13 AM
I received one of these "not medically necessary" letters about my ICU stay for my awake trach (& Covid pneumonia/staph infection) that was followed by days of sedation and another surgery. Was I supposed to have checked the Holiday Inn's vacancy right after I got the hole in my neck or before?
What are thickened liquids? Water, coffee, juices, etc. that have something (starch, gelatin...) added to make them less likely to "go down the wrong pipe." I was prescribed this for a while after getting trached, so one time my hot cocoa turndd into pudding due to an interrupted lunch. Anyone else?
January 14, 2025 at 7:30 PM
What are thickened liquids? Water, coffee, juices, etc. that have something (starch, gelatin...) added to make them less likely to "go down the wrong pipe." I was prescribed this for a while after getting trached, so one time my hot cocoa turndd into pudding due to an interrupted lunch. Anyone else?
I'm not the best texter, but a Text to Speech app was really helpful when I couldn’t speak because my speaking valve wasn't working.
January 13, 2025 at 12:23 AM
I'm not the best texter, but a Text to Speech app was really helpful when I couldn’t speak because my speaking valve wasn't working.
Another thing I knew but didn't acknowledge until today when seeing the trailer for an upcoming show is that Christopher Reeve lived with a trach too. Our experiences definitely change our awareness.
January 11, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Another thing I knew but didn't acknowledge until today when seeing the trailer for an upcoming show is that Christopher Reeve lived with a trach too. Our experiences definitely change our awareness.
What is a trach cap? This is a solid plastic piece placed on the end of the trach that mimics having the neck fully closed. It's typically used a few weeks before decannulation to see if the patient will do well breathing without the extra airhole. It can still be coughed off.
January 11, 2025 at 9:38 PM
What is a trach cap? This is a solid plastic piece placed on the end of the trach that mimics having the neck fully closed. It's typically used a few weeks before decannulation to see if the patient will do well breathing without the extra airhole. It can still be coughed off.
What is decannulation? This is when the trach patient no longer needs to have a trach, so it is removed. In many people, the neck closes up on its own. Some people, like me, need surgery to get it fully closed.
January 8, 2025 at 4:29 AM
What is decannulation? This is when the trach patient no longer needs to have a trach, so it is removed. In many people, the neck closes up on its own. Some people, like me, need surgery to get it fully closed.
What are granulomas? These are benign growths, similar in function to scabs, designed to protect raw throat tissue from further damage. I developed these on my vocal cords during the trach surgeries, so I had to have another surgery to remove them.
January 6, 2025 at 1:56 AM
What are granulomas? These are benign growths, similar in function to scabs, designed to protect raw throat tissue from further damage. I developed these on my vocal cords during the trach surgeries, so I had to have another surgery to remove them.
What is a trach care kit? This is a prepacked set of gauze, gloves, trach ties, and other supplies to help clean up a trach area, but I often found it was better to get each supply separately as some items are needed more than others.
January 4, 2025 at 4:34 PM
What is a trach care kit? This is a prepacked set of gauze, gloves, trach ties, and other supplies to help clean up a trach area, but I often found it was better to get each supply separately as some items are needed more than others.
What is a tracheocutaneous fistula? This is a hole in the neck that connects the trachea to the skin. In my case, the surgeon moved skin and attached it to my trachea to make future trach changes safer.
January 1, 2025 at 3:39 PM
What is a tracheocutaneous fistula? This is a hole in the neck that connects the trachea to the skin. In my case, the surgeon moved skin and attached it to my trachea to make future trach changes safer.
Before 2024, in all my rewatches of Scrubs, I never caught this sentence. After 2024, I will never miss it. How much I learned in a year! The literal scars this year left, and the figurative ones scratched on heart and mind...
December 31, 2024 at 8:27 PM
Before 2024, in all my rewatches of Scrubs, I never caught this sentence. After 2024, I will never miss it. How much I learned in a year! The literal scars this year left, and the figurative ones scratched on heart and mind...