Ever wonder what fluid around the lungs looks like?! This is it!
Jeff successfully had the fluid drained.
I wanted the doctor to put the amount of fluid drained into perspective for me. I questioned if it was a lot. The doctor responded, “well, it’s not good”.
That didn’t satisfy me, so I pressed, “but in comparison to other patients … have you ever drained, say, 4 bottles?” (Each bottle holds about a quart of fluid.)
The doctor said they’ve drained 4 and even more. So while Jeff was deemed “not good”, we realized it could have been so much worse.
With the blood transfusion, drained fluid, Lasix, and continuing to wrap his legs to push the fluid up and out, Jeff should be breathing and maintaining his oxygen levels much easier now.
They would have preferred Jeff stay Tuesday night for 1 more night of observation, however they basically gave him a choice and Jeff elected to go home. He was just done with being away from home and felt reasonably well. He was finally discharged around 7:30 Tuesday night.
I’m relieved Jeff is maintaining his oxygen levels, he is actively combatting the fluid retention, and we know his heart looks mostly ok.
However, we haven’t met with anyone about the cancer in his brain. I don’t have any new information on that nor do we have any type of treatment plan in place yet.
We don’t follow up with radiology until August 18. I fail to understand the sense of urgency and find this very upsetting. I’m grateful Jeff is back home though where I know he’s comfortable.
Paul Very Sick In Hospital
Is my husbands treatment working?
Has anyone given you a prognosis? I know when my father had esophageal cancer he got fluid around the lungs close to the end. and had it drained with a shunt so he wasn't gasping. Also a friend of mine got fluid around his lungs toward the end with neck cancer.
No prognosis nor have they implied this is end, at least not yet anyway.
They found the fluid retention is being caused by a small blockage in a vein in his neck going to his heart, but his heart looks and sounds good.
Gosh, trying not to lose hope here.
Please do not look at this pleural effusion as a sign that cancer has advanced to the space around the lungs (pleura) . There are many causes of this condition but you have been given a reason for it. Additionally, there are two major types of drainage notably transudative( most common and most often can be related to congestive heart failure) , and exudative (often seen with pneumonia and lung cancer and other metastatic cancers). Wondering if you know what type of drainage it was? Hopefully husband’s is transudative and etiology identified!
So far the notes say:
“Indications: benign pleural effusion”
“COMMENTS
We performed a post-thoracentesis ultrasound and found a negligible amount of pleural fluid remaining. We were able to observe lung sliding post-procedurally.”
Keep the faith !🙏🙏