PleurX Issues

[H_Daughter]

Hello all,

Feeling very frustrated today...I'm not able to drain the fluid from my moms lung today because there is too much tissue build up at the connecting site of her catheter. They make the connecting piece SO thin that its clogged up resulting in us making a trip to the ER today.

Besides this issue my moms been feeling pretty good. She has been experiencing some side effects from the gamma knife radiation, light flashing in her right eye. The radiologist said that can be pretty normal as long as it doesn't happen too often.

Has anyone else experienced issues with catheters, or the PleurX lung drain? I'm just nervous because pleural effusion doesn't have a great survival rate, and this is our biggest issue right now.

[missyrand Ambassador]

I don’t have any experience with lung drains. How did they clear it at the ER and is this something home health can do if it happens again. What is the preventive step?

Sorry this is frustrating. Your mom has a wonderful advocate and caregiver in you

Missy

[H_Daughter in reply to missyrand]

Unfortunately it is not something I can do at home, if it keeps getting clogged she may have to have a larger tube put in or more ER visits.

They also didn't really know how to operate her drain kit at the ER, and ended up causing her a LOT of pain. I took over and finished draining/re-bandaging. If there is a next time, I will make sure I'm the only one who messes with the drain, unless they truly know what they are doing!

[missyrand Ambassador in reply to H_Daughter]

Oh yikes.

Missy

[SGHSweethearts]

Dear H_Daughter,

I do not have any experience with lung drains either. I can only imagine your frustration. You have so much to deal with. It is heartbreaking to hear all of the different things people are dealing with in their journey caring for their loved one with melanoma.

You are doing an amazing job of caring for your mother.