Talc Pleurodesis

After coming home from the Cardio Thorasic Surgeon's, my sister and I did more research on the procedure that I will be having performed on my lung. It's easier to read from the website because at this point, I don't know the specific details myself. I do have a feeling that a biopsy will be part of the procedure. I will be in the hospital a few days. Not sure what lung the procedure will be performed on at this point.

What I do know is that I'm scared about the process but will put everything in God's hands as I've done in the past.

http://www.mactheknife.org/Patient_information/Talc_pleurodesis.html

Thanksgiving Blessings

                       This year's Thanksgiving was certainly one to add to the memory list.

My oldest son and my niece Shanay check out the "fried turkey".

My sister Colleen, myself, and my daughter-in-law Loren

The "Guys" with all pictures courtesy of my brother-in-law

The young kids enjoy dinner in the kitchen.

It used to be that the "kids table" was age 5 and under. Times have certainly changed!    

 

The "Adult Table" we can safely say is age 30 and older! Val's parents and my sister. Bill is our photographer.

Top Row: Loren, Shanay, Colleen, Val. Bottom Row: Cathy, Sharon, Sarah

My Wonderful Sons

My Thanksgiving Blessings

Cardiothorasic Surgeon

Upon our request to Dr. Major, we were immediately referred to Dr. Saum in Winchester.  Dr. Saum’s clinical interests include all aspects of cardiothoracic surgery with specialization in thoracic oncology, chest trauma, early detection and treatment of lung cancer, coronary artery revascularization and mitral valve repair and replacement. He is board certified in surgery and thoracic surgery.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
His office is several floors above Dr. Major's in Winchester Hospital.  After some routine tests, Dr. Saum's reviewed all of the x-rays on file at the hospital. He saw that the latest thorcentesis as last Friday, yielding only 20 m. of fluid. He saw that the right lung had significantly more fluid, needed to be drained as soon as possible. I left Butch and off I went with the nurse for the 6th thorcentesis but 1st one on the right side.

Same procedure as before. My upper shoulder hurt and I wanted to cough to release the lung. As soon as they took the surgical procedures off, I was headed off for a quick x-ray. All turned out well!!! No collapsing o the walls.

Dr. Saum's met with us for his recommendation for next step.I can't remember the name o the procedure ??? That will happen is the lungs will be "roughened" up and a type a type of powder will be put on them so that fluid doesn't continued to build on them. I would be in the hospital for several days for this process to occur.

It has taken me all morning to write this blog. I don't know why my thought process is so slow. It is what it is..

Happy Thanksgiving EVERYONE! May you have the richest of memories to share with each other today!

Where is your Sleep of Choice?

Last night, Butch tucked me into my lounge chair in my rec room so that I'm closer but far enough away from the propane stove. Off to sleep I went. Sometime during the nigtht, mother nature called and I made my short journey to the bathroom. What I found was that i fell asleep in the bathroom for an unknown amount of time. Woke I up and I came back to my chair, giving a few short giggles here and there along the way. At 4:00 a.m. not only was it time for my medicine, it was bathroom time again .Well, this time, I must have fallen asleep for a much longer period of time because when  I went to stand, all of my extremities were numb and I fell onto to floor. One loud yell sent Butch downstairs to help me up from the floor. Thank God Butch was home to hear me and come to my rescue.

Two Days Rolled Into One

Left home at 7:30 a.m. and didn't get home until after 4:00 with MANY fun filled activities to fill the hours in between.

Started with lab work, saw the doctor, had oxygen evaluated with finger oxygenizer, went for a chest x-ray, returned to the doctor, had chemo, had 4th thorocentesis, came home, oxygen delivered, got sick while oxygen men were teaching us about system, called after hours doctor because pain out of control, went to sleep.

My lab work allowed me to receive the last dose of round 2 chemo. That's a great accomplishment because it seems like chemo may be the only way to get control of this "lung thing" that is going on.

Thorocentesis is becoming unsuccessful, with only 20 ml. of fluid drained. The fluid that is in between my lung is becoming like a "honeycomb", although the radiologist said there wasn't a whole lot of fluid to drain. Why the intense pain then in my back?

My doctor was very involved yesterday with what is going on with me. When I thanked him for helping me, he said that the pain that I'm in is not acceptable and not to thank him until we figure out what's going on to cause this pain and cause the lung incidences.

I now have 2% of oxygen on a 24 hour basis. While it is certainly helping to get my breathing under control quicker, it doesn't take away the struggle. I have been prescribed a medication to help my diaphragm relax. Hoping the combination of the two make moving a little easier.

I was able to up my medications last night to help with the pain. The increase certainly helped to take the edge off and allow me to get some much needed sleep. It also allowed my husband some much needed sleep. He was at the edge of his rope last night. He has literally not sat down in 3 days, doing all of the house chores, yard work, grocery shopping, and 500 other countless things he has to make our life run. He has picked his fingernails to bleed and is in pure exhaustion mode. I ache for him.

Please give my husband a special place in your prayers today.

Just Killing Some Time

It's 10:30 at night and I'm trying to occupy my mind and find a comfortable position for my body until it's time to take my 12:00 pain medication.

Tomorrow is full of questions:
Will I get my 3rd dose of chemo in round 2????
Will I get fluid drained from my lung????
What will the doctor say about his medical feelings????

Chemo Went Well

On Friday, even though my numbers were on their way down, I was able to get chemo. The traditional pattern of my blogs after chemo is no postings for a few days because I am so tired.Didn't see a doctor on Friday...just got the treatment.

On Saturday, my breathing was very scary during the night even when I wasn't moving. I got a very panic feeling and kept wondering if there was going to be an ER trip in my near future. I was able to calm myself midway through the night. My breathing continued to be more stable during the day when at rest. I was able to get my back pain under control.

On Sunday, my breathing leveled out. Thank goodness because that panic feeling is unnerving. I am out of breath walking very short distances. As a result of reduced movement, my right leg is developing the superficial blood clot again. My mission today is to move my leg as much as I can to aid in blood circulation. I'm between a rock and a hard place. Can't breathe when I walk but develop problems when I rest.

When I watch T.V., I cannot tell you how much I envy people who I see carrying on their normal life. Walking is such a treasure. Please appreciate all the things that you take for granted. When it's taken away from you, life changes in an instant and things are never the same. Appreciate life! It's so precious!

A Cough Here and a Cough There...

I feel like I'm handling my 3rd dose of chemo pretty well. I'm extremely tired. I slept on and off ALL morning.

My breathing continues to be the culprit. It's so difficult to find the energy to just walk across the room. Scary feeling.

I'm coughing today. It's one shallow cough but has been throughout the day. I don't know whether to take that as a good thing (my lung trying to expand) or a bad thing (my lung trying to collapse). I'm keeping an extra close eye on this. When they take fluid off my lung during the thorocentesis procedure, coughing is expected as the fluid is removed and the lung has more room to expand.

I feel an afternoon nap coming on, after all, I have been awake for 2 whole hours already!

Two for the Price of One PLUS a Blue Light Special

Yesterday, our day started early. I began by having a chest x-ray at the diagnostic center. We then proceeded to the oncologist office for lab work.

Met with the oncologist to go over results. My platelet count was back up so I could get chemo. The chest x-ray showed fluid again on my left lung and a little on my right. That certainly wasn't a surprise to me because I definitely was having trouble breathing all week. I would be scheduled to have that drained after chemo.

Chemo went well. I use that time to think. I haven't read a page from a book or more than a few pages from a magazine in quite some time. I rested with my eyes closed for a little while.

We left chemo and headed to the hospital for the thorocentesis. I had a different team this time...new radiologist and new doctor. First the injection to numb the area. They compare it to a bee sting. Next the insertion of the needle to drain the fluid. Bad news...only 20 ml. of fluid was draining. They said that they don't have to do this often but they could insert a wire into the tube and work it around to break up any strands and scar tissue that was causing the fluid to not drain. I gave the go ahead...after all, my road is never the straight one. The wire procedure wasn't making a difference because fluid would still not drain. That meant another decision. Did I want them to reinsert the needle into a new area and try again. Road is more curvy but because I was systematic and having trouble breathing, I knew that I had to get as much fluid off as possible while I was there. Gave the go ahead to begin the procedure all over again. Second bee swarmed in for another sting, new needle inserted in between rib bones. I gave a cheer, well more like a command.  "Come on fluid....drain". They got 320 ml. out total. That's all that would come out. From using the wire, they actually showed me the "strands" that were in the fluid. The doctor that watched the radiologist do the procedure was wonderful. He held his hand on my shoulder the entire time as he told me each and every step. I actually raised my head from the pillow during the procedures and told him how much I appreciated him. His hand on my shoulder gave me such comfort. My two thorocentesis for the price of one and the wire blue light special was over. Off to get an x-ray.

I wasn't able to go home for a couple of hours because the lung had air that had accumulated in the bottom. I had to stay in recovery to make sure that the lung didn't collapse. Off for another chest x-ray. Things looked the same so I could go home. It was again stressed that if I had any difficulty breathing as a result of the lung collapsing, to call 911 right away. Homeward bound!

Got home, threw up and settled in for a nice siesta!