After getting Covid 16 th April and symptoms not too bad then tested negative 22 nd April thought I was all clear apart from the hacking cough and short of breath.Then on 29 th I literally could not breathe one morning. I went for an emergency chest X-ray and they found my pleural effusion was covering 80 % of lung instead of the small amount of fluid normally there. Had to wait until today for a drainage and I can breathe hurrah but had a couple of weeks sleeping on sofa and living downstairs couldn’t even walk 10 yards. The NHS respiratory are so busy it’s a nightmare, Covid is still very much around. Anyway I have opted to have a more permanent catheter in if it comes back and they will do it promptly and fluid has been sent away for analysis from today. The week before Covid I could walk 5 miles I did not realise how it would affect me even with 4 jabs. I’ve also got a meeting with oncology as I’ve been on Ibrance for 18 months and I think I may need to change meds, will this be seen as progression, not sure, I’ve requested a meeting with them asap..
I don’t know how I survived 3 weeks of the drowning feeling it was like being underwater and not being able to breathe .
At least I know the options now and I would definitely opt for a permanent drain but will see if Covid was the culprit too such a coincidence.
When I came home today my 19 year old Uni student is home and said great you seem a lot better but now you can get up the stairs I suppose better tidy my room a bit lol.
Have a lovely weekend everyone.
Debra.
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Oh no DebbieSo sorry to hear you have been so poorly. All of this after the wedding as well - both thank goodness you got to enjoy that.
I had a mediocre sized pleural effusion at diagnosis and I couldn’t believe how short of breath it made me. I felt so much better when it was drained.
They can also do a procedure where they glue your lung to the chest wall so the space can’t fill up. It’s a day surgery case and might be an option they will talk about with you. I was meant to have it done, but I thankfully never had another effusion.
You have definitely done the right thing asking for an urgent review.
Hi yes I was and I took them for a day but had an awful reaction to them vomiting constantly , rash and shaking so came off them. I was given pills for 5 days but only managed 1 day. Debra😍xxx
Hi Debbie. I am sorry for your troubles. I also have been going through a lot. Since January, I had three surgeries, one fr a primary endometrial cancer. You may want to check your heart. Also check your hemoglobin. I had sob in a few occasions. First the low hemoglobin. I got a blood transfusion. Second time around after the Covid vaccine I started experiencing a very severe sob. Like you said from walking miles, I could not walk around the house. It turned to be an av block in my heart and I got a pacemaker. Then I was ok. Good luck
Marina
I am glad to hear you are doing better , that sounds like a very rough couple weeks . Luann
Hello Debra,Wow can I relate to your post. I am recovering from a failed right breast mastectomy that got terribly infected to the point where the skin rolled back exposing 3 dead ribs. I went to any siege on as my first had no clue what he was doing with a gaping wound that he put on a wound vac. I was blessed to find another surgeon in the nick of time as I was so septic with terrible infections. Needless to say, after the surgery that saved my life, I was recovering at home and began gasping for air. Just like you described I felt like I was drowning and couldn’t get air. Was rushed to the ER. My right lung filled with fluid from the pleural lining. Ironically my left pleural also filled up. Long story short the right lung in trapped and unrecoverable. I had pleural effusion cancer as part of my metastasis. I didn’t realize the pleura was outside the lung. Does that mean I have lung cancer? I don’t think so. Needless to say, I have a drain in my pleural on
My left side now that I drain every 3 days. The hope is it gets back to acceptable levels and I can have it removed. Also am on oxygen of 3 liters to help bring my left lung healthy again as both lungs suffered trauma. I’m a walking mess of air oxygen tubes and a wound vac. My prayer is I can get off the oxygen get the new graft for the right breast mastectomy and finally get off the oxygen and wound vac. My goal is in 30’days to be scheduled for surgery. How are you feeling now ?
Hi You’ve been through the mill, so sorry that you have had to endure this.
My symptoms today have improved and I could walk around supermarket this am , still hard to get up my stairs tho.
How do you manage with the drain as I would go for that option if this keeps filling up until they find the reason behind it, I’m suspecting a change of meds is needed , got update appt Wednesday with Oncology.
You are amazing even through all that you have your goals in your head.
Wow Debra, so sorry to hear your story. COVID is no joke, especially for us! I’m currently on COVID Day 10, planning to take the test tomorrow. I’m sure that I got it in the hospital where I was admitted with Hgb 5. My oncologist is very “sympathetic”. Upon learning that I have COVID,
she recommended to stop Ibrance for now and said that “You can manage it” which I do the best I can for myself and for my husband who also contracted it, likely from me.
I really happy that you’re better now, you went through a lot. Hope that effusion will be seen as infectious in nature and not considered progressive disease.
Gee, I bet the period of not being able to breathe must have been awful! That’s such a long time to have to wait. A perfect example of why the community as a whole needs to keep covid spread under control! I’m glad you got through it ok and that your meet with your oncologist goes well this week . I’m also glad your covid symptoms were not too bad. We can never know what to expect with that
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Whole Brain Radiotherapy Treatment
8 weeks waiting list for a ct scan
Scan results
6 weeks on Afinitor 
My first time outside my apt. in Brooklyn, NY since March 16th. (long, as usual)
