tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637036654782535608.post4189406497536769729..comments2023-07-09T00:56:26.642-07:00Comments on My Eclectic Thoughts: My experiences with the latest Pneumothorax, VATS and the healing process directly after surgeryTiny Lost Worldshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03214303849510905597noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637036654782535608.post-52165194122696020472015-10-11T13:31:32.762-07:002015-10-11T13:31:32.762-07:00It's interesting to read people who have had s...It's interesting to read people who have had similar experiences. To date I have undergone three Vats procedures including lung pleurodesis on both lungs. My left lung started collapsing when I was 18, my right not until I was 25. However when they started they never stopped until surgery. My first Vats procedure failed after I was discharged but the second two have held well. For anyone in a similar boat thinking of having this procedure. It is no pleasant but as others have said it is more the chest drains that anything else. If you get offered the epidural it does make it a lot more comfortable. I have this on one of my procedures as it was a complicated one, I had the epidural for three days and during which I didn't feel a single thing. After that it was more discomfort until the chest drains were taken out. James Hardinghttp://www.jamesharding.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637036654782535608.post-5441365365408366372015-06-27T17:03:46.675-07:002015-06-27T17:03:46.675-07:00Evi, thanks for this update! I'm happy that it...Evi, thanks for this update! I'm happy that it went well for you and that you are back to 100%. Tiny Lost Worldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03214303849510905597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637036654782535608.post-6179507273976685252015-01-08T21:59:15.553-08:002015-01-08T21:59:15.553-08:00It's been 10 months now that I had the procedu...It's been 10 months now that I had the procedure and healing was very quick. I was in no terrible pain after surgery. The worst were the breathing treatments I had to do every day but that pain subsided quickly too. I'm back 100% with no issues whatsoever. I hope it stays that way. <br /><br />I recently received the bill for my 3 week stay with multiple xrays, MRI, one surgery, three chest tubes etc and it was close to 100.000 Dollars.Evi Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03200262212855131516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637036654782535608.post-30487040918479245402014-12-11T10:24:19.418-08:002014-12-11T10:24:19.418-08:00I did have a lot of pain for many weeks after the ...I did have a lot of pain for many weeks after the procedure but it was more in my chest, shoulder and upper arm... not my stomach. Since you've had an infection too, if I were you, I would get it checked out by a doctor right away... just to be safe. <br /><br />I wish you a full recovery!Tiny Lost Worldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03214303849510905597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637036654782535608.post-52191445008828367642014-12-11T08:35:55.763-08:002014-12-11T08:35:55.763-08:00Hello I had a pneumothorax 4 weeks a go spent 2 we...Hello I had a pneumothorax 4 weeks a go spent 2 weeks in hospital had infection cos of the air box thing thay put in my side but now I don't no if this is normal my stomach fails like its bean punched it's so painful and most of my left side fails numb ? Philip-work-statham@hotmail.com<br />If som one can drop me a line to let me no if this is normal thanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637036654782535608.post-306411599795777652014-12-11T08:32:41.156-08:002014-12-11T08:32:41.156-08:00Hello I had a pneumothorax 4 weeks a go spent 2 we...Hello I had a pneumothorax 4 weeks a go spent 2 weeks in hospital had infection cos of the air box thing thay put in my side but now I don't no if this is normal my stomach fails like its bean punched it's so painful and most of my left side fails numb ? Philip-work-statham@hotmail.com<br />If som one can drop me a line to let me no if this is normal thanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637036654782535608.post-78191252745324136542014-05-02T14:07:27.506-07:002014-05-02T14:07:27.506-07:00Hi all
Sat in a hospital bed right now after VATS...Hi all<br /><br />Sat in a hospital bed right now after VATS three days ago.<br /><br />It's very painful taking a deep breath or coughing and I have had a bad reaction to morphine, but, the pain is beginning to subside.<br /><br />It was my second pnemothorax on the left side.<br /><br />Hopefully that's the end of it as it is very life disrupting.<br /><br />Best to all fellow sufferers<br /><br />NeilNeil Masonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15898445274842829010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637036654782535608.post-45644217009463845552014-04-17T19:39:17.103-07:002014-04-17T19:39:17.103-07:00Hi Stacy Sorry you had so much pain. It was good...Hi Stacy Sorry you had so much pain. It was good to read yr. account, as another patient. I recently had a chest tube, then, VATS procedure in OR. No cause for fluid was found. But, no cancer or infection.<br /><br />Luckily, had excellent surgeons, docs and and staff, and virtually no pain.But then I didn't have a collapsed lung. Lots of draining, so was in 2 weeks! <br /><br />People, every case is different, but you won't necessarily have pain. Doing o.k., hiking, etc. now.<br /><br />Fingers crossed new x-ray will reveal no more fluid.<br /><br />Be well and good luck. Best,<br /><br />AlanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637036654782535608.post-40927953017900979282014-03-31T18:18:21.039-07:002014-03-31T18:18:21.039-07:00And my lung collapsed again, so we went ahead and ...And my lung collapsed again, so we went ahead and did the vats. It's all good. Not as painful as i expected. The chest tube is uncomfortable and my arm hurts but other than that, I'm feeling pretty good. Evi Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03200262212855131516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637036654782535608.post-10756452633159097072014-03-31T06:07:04.145-07:002014-03-31T06:07:04.145-07:00Yes, we have been taking about vats. I am prepared...Yes, we have been taking about vats. I am prepared (mentally) to go through with it. It looks like after 16 days in the hospital my lung has finally healed though. No surgery. I just had my tube pulled and will be having another xray later on. Fingers crossed that I get to go home tomorrow. Evi Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03200262212855131516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637036654782535608.post-81632154397126465082014-03-27T11:53:23.033-07:002014-03-27T11:53:23.033-07:00Evi, has your doctor discussed doing a VATS proced...Evi, has your doctor discussed doing a VATS procedure instead of surgery? It's a lot less invasive than normal surgery. Tiny Lost Worldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03214303849510905597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637036654782535608.post-6169943680198962862014-03-26T20:17:24.977-07:002014-03-26T20:17:24.977-07:00I've been at the hospital for 11 days and my l...I've been at the hospital for 11 days and my lung leak doesn't seem to get better. It takes about the days for my lung to collapse. My doc advised against surgery but there's no end in sight on when my lung will heal. I'm terribly scared of the surgery and the pain that comes with it. I have three kids and I'm worried that I won't be able to care for them anymore. Btw, I'm a 32yo female, non smoker and this was my first spontaneous pneumothorax. Evi Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03200262212855131516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637036654782535608.post-56609798595842469632013-11-09T17:45:45.232-08:002013-11-09T17:45:45.232-08:00Don't worry about the lung pleurodesis. The pr...Don't worry about the lung pleurodesis. The procedure is painful but most of the pain is from the chest tube, once it is removed you feel a lot better. My left lung has collapsed three times and I just had my second pleurodesis done on 22 October. The following has been and is my plan of attack for recovery: Once released from the hospital my main goals are to get off of the oxygen as soon as possible under the guidance of my physician and move around as much as possible. Another thing I found handy was tp purchase a pulse oximeter (amazon) that allowed me to monitor my oxygen saturation. I discovered that although I was feeling short of breath at times in reality I had good oxygen saturation levels. Be patient, complete recovery has taken me about three months.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637036654782535608.post-57021418208165015472013-10-03T07:51:47.623-07:002013-10-03T07:51:47.623-07:00Great article Stacy. I love your positive attitude...Great article Stacy. I love your positive attitude. I'm going in for the same procedure tomorrow and just seeing that you managed get through it and stay positive is very helpful. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637036654782535608.post-23150602412382375752013-08-29T06:26:38.081-07:002013-08-29T06:26:38.081-07:00Hi, i had VATS procedure 2 months ago. Is it norma...Hi, i had VATS procedure 2 months ago. Is it normal that i'm having difficulty breathing for past few days? Not really difficulty breathing, it felt like there's less air coming in. It's tolerable , but just wanted to know if it's normal. By the way, i'm 28 yrs old, male, smoker for 11 years. Nicotine free since after the vats procedure. ThanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637036654782535608.post-83628185578152782322012-10-23T15:11:37.118-07:002012-10-23T15:11:37.118-07:00Hi I ended up proceeding with the VATS after my se...Hi I ended up proceeding with the VATS after my second spontaneous pneumothorax. The doctors removed 2 tiny blebs and and also performed pleurodesis. I was discharged from the hospital just yesterday after having the chest tube in for about a week. I'm taking your advice and will walk 30mins to an hour everyday to help with the recovery process. Was there anything else you did to help relieve the pain around the surgical incision site? I'm having a lot of pain especially when I try to get up after laying down. And am also taking Tylenol. Thanks so much for your help!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637036654782535608.post-1206690031950443092012-08-20T19:29:07.355-07:002012-08-20T19:29:07.355-07:00Hi there, well I had the first collapsed lung in e...Hi there, well I had the first collapsed lung in early June, just out of nowhere! One day I woke up feeling really tight in the chest and it was difficult to breathe. There was also a very sharp pain in the upper back. So I went to the ER a little later in the day after I realized that it wasn't getting any better. I had a few more since then, so this last time, the doctor decided to do the VATS procedure since it was reoccurring and not getting better. The experience was all painful and right after the VATS, was when I had the most pain, but it gradually got better. They prescribed me hydrocodone, which helped a lot with the pain. Now, most of the pain is gone, although there is still a little bit of pulsating pain coming and going from the left side, which is where the surgery was and still minor pain around the 3 scars that the VATS produced. Also some of the skin along my left chest and running along my under arm toward the elbow is a little numb, but that seems to slowly be getting better. My doctor just cleared me to fly again too! Anyway, I walk everyday for about 30 minutes to as much as an hour and half and I think this is important for the recovery. Let me know if you have any more questions and I wish you the best of luck. Btw, I would like to know how you are doing and what you decide to do, etc... so please stay in touch. You may email if you wish. stacyflower1@gmail.com Tiny Lost Worldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03214303849510905597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8637036654782535608.post-59467499152045717712012-08-20T18:54:17.745-07:002012-08-20T18:54:17.745-07:00Hi! I'm considering undergoing VATS for my spo...Hi! I'm considering undergoing VATS for my spontaneous pneumothorax too. What made you decide to go through with VATS instead of just having the chest tube? And was this the first time your lung collapsed? Any advice would be greatly appreciated in terms of recovery as well. Thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com