Can someone advise me on lung lavage please?

[jib70]

Hello people. I'm new here, with a few peculiar health problems one of which involves my right lung. Found after a ct scan that I have an area that has possibly collapsed - a small area - which they say has been there a few years.

Apparently it suggests an infection of some sort and a lavage was proposed but as I have no cough and only some breathlessness after exertion I declined. My lungs weren't the reason for the scan you see. Now due to other symptoms I've accepted I need to go ahead with the lavage to try and find out if it is an infection.

I'd be really grateful for information about what this is like because I'm really ignorant of this procedure. I shall see the consultant again of course and can ask questions then, but hearing from others who've been through it would be such a help.

Thanks.

[Hidden]

Hi jib and welcome

I had not heard of a lavage before and I have not experienced it myself, but a google search revealed a lot of information and videos if you want to check them out:

google.co.uk/search?q=lung+...

[jib70 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for the link. I have checked on google but do find personal experience is hard to beat. Thank you for bothering to reply to me.

[Carnival567]

I had lavage when I had a bronchoscopy last year. Since I went to sleep following the sedation I can’t tell you much about it, but I do know that it enables the doctors to collect cells so they know more about your lung problem. I felt fine afterwards, and went home straightaway. I too had a collapsed lobe in my right lung which righted itself after the procedure. The consultant thought the problem was an infected mucus plug which was washed out during the lavage. Hope all goes well for you xx

[Hidden in reply to Carnival567]

I’m glad that it worked for you Carnival567

[jib70 in reply to Carnival567]

Thank you so much for your reply Carnival567. Hearing that you fell asleep and went home straight after is really reassuring to me. Living alone and quite a few dozen miles from the hospital I wasn't sure what to expect. I hope the process it clears up my problems. x

[Hidden]

Hi jib70. Lavage is an old fashioned treatment and rarely done today. The type of investigation that you are talking about, to look at a collapsed part of the lung is usually done by bronchoscopy. I have had bronchiectasis for 65 years with several parts of my lungs in collapse. It shows on a ct scan and I manage my condition very well. Personally I wouldn’t let them within a mile of me with any of these invasive procedures.

[Alfiebax2]

I had a lavage during a bronchoscopy in February .My lungs were washed out as they found I had a bacteria in my lungs as well as COPD .The upshot was they feel it is colonised in my lung as it causes me no symptoms or problems.They did this as I'm having lung surgery in September and it was under sedation so although you are awake I don't remember a thing .Good luck with yours and there is nothing to be scared of .

Love Babs ❣️ xxx

[jib70 in reply to Alfiebax2]

Hi Alfiebax2. Thank you for taking the trouble to reply. I've been told they think I have an infection, maybe a fungal one, though my COPD hasn't been a lot worse. Better to be sure I suppose though like you it doesn't seem to cause me symptoms or extra problems. Just reassuring to hear from others who have been through it. So grateful for people's replies.

Wish you well in your September lung surgery. j x

[Alfiebax2]

As I said in my previous post it is nothing to worry about .They put liquid into your lungs while you are having a bronchoscopy .They then draw off the liquid and take it to the micro biology lab to see what is in the liquid .Maybe the doctor wants to know what your infection is that's why you are having this procedure .You won't feel a thing .I hope this has helped you .If you want to know more type inlung lavage into Google and it will come up ..Take care

Love Babs xxx

[Grammyluvs]

I had a lavage. Nothing to it. I was put too sleep. Never knew what happened. The fluid she collected from the lavage was sent to lab for evaluation. Went home afterwards and was fine.

[jib70 in reply to Grammyluvs]

Thank you for replying Grammyluvs, that's good to know.