the amazingly easy way to end NG tube discomfort
Stop gagging immediately with this simple technique.
Be more comfortable - as soon as your next breath.
Exhale First Breathing and NG Tubes
NG tubes can be useful and even life-saving, but they are extremely intrusive, uncomfortable, and oh, how upsetting they can be.
Fortunately, Exhale First Breathing can eliminate much of the discomfort of the NG tube – immediately. It doesn't cost a penny. It is easy to learn. You don’t need a doctor, a nurse, nor medicine or device. You do it yourself. You are in charge. It takes just a few minutes to master.
Here is how it works
Gagging is the problem, swallowing is the trigger
Gagging isn't pleasant.
For the healthy person, the gag reflex is natural and helpful. It protects you. It occurs in the back of your mouth and is triggered so your body stops swallowing anything foreign or unexpected.
Unfortunately, the NG tube is both foreign and unexpected. In addition, the NG tube runs right through the sensitive "oh-oh, don't swallow!" gag reflex spot. That is why every swallow can be a trigger.
For NG tube comfort:
- we need to swallow less
- we need to calm the gag reflex.
Exhale First Breathing does that.
What is "Exhale First Breathing"?
Typically, we begin breathing with an IN breathe. Like this: IN. Out. IN. Out. …and then repeat it over and over. We don’t even think about it. It is an endless cycle. BUT…
… we can also begin with the OUT breath
OUT. In. OUT. In.
Because it is a cycle, it works the same. We get the air we need.
OUT. In. OUT. In.
To prevent gagging, all we need to do is to start by first breathing OUT of the mouth.
OUT. In. OUT. In.
That is the whole technique of Exhale First Breathing.
Every time you want to breathe, begin by breathing OUT.
That is the entire solution to gagging with the NG tube - by an easy change in how you breathe that naturally results in a change in how you swallow.
And it works.
Why ... out the mouth?
Swallowing - happens in the mouth.
Saliva - collects in the mouth.
So it's all about exhaling out the mouth.
The good news is, most of us exhale out of the mouth normally anyway. Plus, the nose is at half speed with that NG Tube in one nostril.
So ... don't exhale out the nose.
Exhale First Breathing is all about the mouth
Why does Exhale First Breathing work?
Exhale First Breathing is nothing new. It is common among snorkelers. When there is water in the snorkel, by breathing OUT first, the exhale pushes water OUT the snorkel, out of the way. Then you breathe IN. You get air. No water. No problem. Every time.
It is a little more complex with the NG tube, but it has the same successful result.
With the NG tube, the swallowing problem isn't about water, it is about your saliva. Specifically, it is about swallowing saliva - with a tube in the way - and that triggers the gag reflex. Normally, we swallow saliva 600-700 times a day. We don't think about it. So we need to change that. We need to be aware of every swallow.
When we are aware of our swallowing, we can choose to swallow less and gag less.
Exhale First Breathing is a trick to make it easy to be aware of every swallow.
How to do it - step by step
- Practice Exhale First Breathing. Try to do all the time so that you regularly and routinely breathe OUT first.
- But especially if it feels like you might need to swallow, breathe OUT first.
- Every time you successfully breathe OUT, then ... breathe IN. Don't swallow. You don't need to yet. Just breathe in. No swallowing, no gagging. No problem.
- When saliva accumulates and you cannot breathe out, then ... don't swallow. Spit the saliva out. After that you can breathe in. No swallowing, no gagging. No problem.
- By breathing OUT first you become aware. You don't swallow involuntarily. You have eliminated the "surprise" trigger of the gag reflex. Less surprise, less gag reflex, less problems. Then, if don't want to spirt or if you do choose to swallow... swallow carefully - slowly, gently, calmly - which also calms the gag reflex. More calm, less gagging, less discomfort.
More to know ...
Staying calm and swallowing less
When you remain calm, the gag reflex is naturally suppressed. Your mouth and throat are relaxed, not tight. The tube is there, but the unstressed body is not reacting to it. Staying calm when facing difficulties is useful, not just now but in every part of your life. Why not get the long-term benefit of that? Suffering can teach us things. You have paid a high price for this lesson, but the knowledge is yours now. You’ve found at least one silver lining in this dark cloud. Congratulations.
Is Exhale First Breathing hard to learn?
No.
Honestly, if you’ve read this far, you’ve probably learned already. Just start doing it.
If you are worried you'll forget to exhale OUT first, don’t be. If you forget ... you will gag and remember better after. Each failure becomes its teaching moment - automatically. It’s bulletproof.
If you need it, easy learning is guaranteed… because it helps.
Be comfortable - one breath at a time. You can do it.
Works for all ages, no barrier for the young.
Works for all ages, no barrier for the young.
Works for all ages, no barrier for the young.
Breathing is something we all do already. Exhale First Breathing is a slight re-framing of a very familiar activity, but breathing is well known to all of us. It isn’t new.
This means very young children can understand and readily benefit. Parents might choose a child-centric fanciful name. Call it "Mermaid Breath" and explain: this is how Mermaids are able to breathe underwater.
(see FAQ for more on this)
Whatever works...
... for whatever age.
Empowering
Works for all ages, no barrier for the young.
Works for all ages, no barrier for the young.
You are in charge.
This is a patient-lead healing practice.
Exhale First Breathing is empowering at the exact moment when you need all the personal strength you need to get through a difficult experience. Focusing on your breathing counteracts that feeling of being overwhelmed and out of control with your medical situation.
That alone is a huge health benefit.
Research on Breathing
Works for all ages, no barrier for the young.
Research on Breathing
Therapeutic breathing of many types has been studied and found to be enormously effective at reducing stress, even more than other such proven stress reduction activities as meditation and mindfulness. This is why we encourage you to write us with your experience, so we can begin to collect data on the effects of Exhale First Breathing.
Please contact us when you can.
Again ...
Exhale First Breathing makes you aware of each swallow
To repeat - when you want to swallow, you breathe OUT and:
- you spit and don't swallow at all
- or you swallow thoughtfully and carefully
- and you swallow less
Either way, with every breath you are more aware, more comfortable, and more in control.
... and it is free.
You don't even need that button to call a nurse.