They take you in, the machine sits next to the table, with a black mask, lovely black corrugated tubing hanging in loops, the rebreather bag, hanging beside. They get you to sit up, and put sensors on - pulse ox, BP, ECG. You hear them beeping, tracing your excitement, which you try to contain.You keep looking round, and see intubation tray but nothing else.
You'd come as a volunteer for medical trials, not expecting this but that's OK, you're open minded and know they'll look after you
They're not really speaking to you, short orders - lift your arm, lean forward, hold still.Then they reach for the mask.
"Let's get you started" one says from behind her face mask.She takes the mask in her hand, and stands behind you, reaches round and holds the mask to your face. It smells strongly of sweet rubber, you get a little shiver as it closes on your face, and then it's held on ,by her gloved hand.
"Breath normally, from this point on I'll be managing and controlling what you breath" you take a breath, your chest expanding as the gas slightly rushes in. "Its just air" you think
Her colleague stands in front of you, mask straps in her hand. She reaches round the left of your head, her other hand grabbing the other end of the strap, and clips it tight on both sides. Your face is slightly squashed but it feels soft and nice. You're suddenly very aware of the sound of your breathing. You notice the rebreather expanding and contracting with your breath. You hear your heart rate rise on the monitor. The BP cuff suddenly springs into life, squeezing your arm tight
You keep breathing, the mask feels cool and the gas, the air feels normal, if coming in with more pressure than you expect.
"Time to lay back" you're told. Two hands on your shoulders guide you down as you rotate and lift your legs up onto the table. It's firm but comfortable. As you lay back a small pillow is under your head.
"Arms out, please" one says. You stretch your arms out and two boards are swung out, your arms are velcro strapped to them
You realise you can't see what they are doing, and a new smell comes unto the mask. You breath it in and after a few breaths feel a woozy and detached a little. You look up at the white ceiling of the room. You try to turn your head towards the machine. Two hands firmly return you head to centre
"stay focused on your breathing, leave us to do our job" you're firmly told
You feel a sharp scratch in your arm. A canula is placed. You hear "push the..." but cannot make out what was said. You feel coldness travel up your arm
You start to feel quite distant, the sounds echo round you. "Breath with me" is the instruction. As you take your next breath, you feel it being somewhat forced in, quicker than you'd like. And again. And again.
You get scared, why are they forcing me to breath? You hear a tray rattle behind you
You feel another drug go in, this one burns, for a second or 2, then another cold sensation as another goes in
"That was a muscle relaxant, I'll soon be doing all your breathing for you"
"Head back, open your mouth wide"
You're too spaced to do anything other than follow the order
A wet feeling in your mouth, you look down to see a tube, an lma entering your mouth, and being pushed in
You swallow as best you can, it's awkward but you do it. A tightening in your throat as the cuff is inflated
The tubes from the mask are attached. You look upwards and back, and realise the rebreather bag is in her hand, and she's squeezing it hard and often. Your lungs burn a bit as each breath is pushed in, but after 5 or 6 you realise the ability to breath is lessening, she is more and more breathing for you
The relaxant has taken effect, you try to move your head and realise you can't.
In the next couple of breaths, as the gas takes affect, as you get more and more distant, you hear
" see you soon, get used to this" ......