Trach Issues

[joneal]

I had a trach due to emergency situation for about 4 weeks.  It was removed 2 weeks ago.  Since then I have trouble with shortness of breath when lying down.  It comes on worse in the evening when going to sleep even if I am partiallly sitting up in a chair.  The best way to describe it is a smothering type affect but I can still breathe.  It seems to be worse when nose breathing.  Also some mornings I awake with a weak voice and some days a pretty strong voice.  I have been checked for blockages none was found.  I was put on steroids but am now weaning off those.  
Any word on recovery and healing after a temp. trach would help me to calm down .  I have heard 2 weeks to 2 months for recoery.  

[joneal]

I have been examined above and below the laynx (at the same institute by 2 physicians).  Just yesterday an above exam was done.  The one doctor who took the pictures said I had a stenosis.  The other sent me home to 'continue to try to heal on my own'.  I was told there was tissue swelling a month ago - my symptoms have improved somewhat but I still have the breathing difficulty at times and stridor at times and the voice issues.   Steroids - 2 rounds completed.  
Would a CT or MRI give a definitive answer regarding stenosis an.or scar tissue? And what treatment options are available?  I am now off all medication except if swelling occurs I am told to take a steroid.
It has been 4 weeks since my trach removal.....thanks so much for the encouraging words...the first I have heard!  

[National Jewish Health]

You state that you have been checked for blockages.  Does that mean that a physician has directly (with a fiberoptic laryngoscope) examined your vocal cords and visualized the trachea and sub-glottic area below the cords?  If so, that would rule out inflammation, edema (tissue swelling) and persistent vocal cord paralysis.  With vocal cord weakness, the cord might function better sometimes than at others, during the (eventual) recovery period.   If the visualized anatomy is normal, you may be experiencing a softening of the trachea (malacia) that could result in partial, position related, tissue obstruction.

That you were put on steroids, suggests that some tissue swelling or inflammation might have been visualized by the examiner.  

The good news is that, whatever the cause, these symptoms will subside and you will experience full recovery.  And, this could take 2-6 weeks.  If, however your symptoms worsen or you do not experience progressive improvement, you should have re-examination of your larynx, while both seated and supine.

Good luck