Jump to content

KenHorse

Members
  • Posts

    44
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    8

Everything posted by KenHorse

  1. There's not really much I can add to the numerous excellent responses by others but I'll add that I also had a lobe removed last April (right lower), done VATS and the process was much easier to go through than my overly active imagination allowed me to believe. I never needed any pain meds stronger than acetaminophen and ibuprofen and even those, only for a few days after getting home (I was in hospital 1 night). Aside from some complications I experienced that I'm a now past (I'm part of the lucky 3% who do!), I've been doing fine So far, NED. You'll do great, I just know it
  2. When this journey started for me, the nodule they found in my RLL was incidental to a scan I had to see if my diagnosed prostate cancer had spread (it hadn't). I guess I was lucky (if one can call it lucky) that my NSCLC was discovered at such an early stage. So, had the prostate removed at the end of January and my RLL at the beginning of April. Then, back into surgery at the end of June to fix a chyle leak. It's been an interesting year. Anyway, the results of my latest scan is the effusion is greatly reduced and NED otherwise!
  3. The results of my CT Scan are posted on their website but I am not going to look (learned my lesson about test results without context at the beginning of this adventure). Phone consult with my pulmonologist tomorrow afternoon. I'll know then
  4. After all the fun I've had with the aftermath of my RLL (https://forums.lungevity.org/topic/52143-probable-chylothorax/), I'm actually kinda anxious about the results of my upcoming CT Fingers crossed....
  5. Well....I reward myself (for behaving during the week, at least food wise , by splurging once during the weekend. Cheeseburger, Mexican or Hawaiian food, pizza, etc.
  6. Here I am, over a month later since my last update and I'm doing great! I'm back on my regular diet (although I have to admit I still watch my fat intake so as to maintain my boyish figure ) Doing all my normal activities again and no breathing issues Next CAT scan is due at the end of October and hopeful things remain good.
  7. I had a RLL done on April 3rd of this year. Recovery was much easier for me than my imagination had led to believe it would be. However, 8 weeks later I developed a chylothorax (the details of which may be found at https://forums.lungevity.org/topic/52143-probable-chylothorax/). Bottom line is the actual surgery (and recovery) was surprisingly easy for me. Very little SOB (which resolved after about a month) and no more pain that couldn't be managed by acetaminophen. I am back to my usual routines and life at the moment and feel pretty damn good!
  8. Not yet but I'm working towards it! I've increased my fat intake by 40% up to this point. So far, so good (I have 2 more weeks before I can go all out on fat content! Then Carl's Jr......look out!)
  9. I think this is probably the last post I need to make on this issue but..... I'm on Week 2 of increasing my fat intake (by 20% per week) and am happy to report no respiratory symptom changes. I am breathing well, not out of breath with moderate activity and the twinges of pain have all but disappeared.
  10. I'm not a terribly physical guy, at least not in the sense of walking/running/biking! What I am is a car guy who loves working on my cars. Does that count as needing lung rehab?
  11. Just got done mowing the lawn (for the first time since I started this thread back in May) and I feel good! No SOB, no pain and no tiredness! A bit sweaty (my surgeon said I could do physical activity "as I can tolerate it". Well, I can tolerate a LOT! Good to be back in the swing. I'll take it!
  12. My surgeon (not pulmonologist) says the reason for the slow reintroduction of fat more to allow my body to absorb the leaked fluid and make sure the ligation area is well scarred. Figured I'd ask my surgeon as he is the "hands on" guy 😆
  13. I wanna cheeseburger I tell ya!
  14. Update - X-ray looks stable (no increase in fluid). So I can slowly return to a regular diet over the next weeks...(apparently I have to up my fat intake slowly, still waiting for an explanation as to whether that's to allow my body to acclimate to increased fat intake or not to "shock" the repair by a sudden increase in chyle flow_
  15. Maybe this thread is finally drawing to a close? Met with both my pulmonologist and thoracic surgeon this morning and just came back from having another chest x-ray. It's been 2 days short of 6 weeks of my post op ultra low fat diet ( < 10 grams a day). If today's xray shows no increase in the fluid in my chest, that means the leak is finally sealed and I can return to a regular diet (although my gut tells me - pun is deliberate 😁 - I should ease back into it to minimize any eruption possibilities, if you know what I mean 🫢 As for the remaining fluid, I am told it is difficult for my body to reabsorb it but since it is asymptomatic (at least so far), it can be ignored or, if I chose, they could do a CT scan assisted thorcentisis. My pulmonologist "warned" me that could be traumatic and when I asked what he meant by that, he said I'd be awake and it would be done with a large needle. I laughed and told him as if this would be the worst thing to happen to me. "Numb me up and have at it" I said.
  16. Yet another update (and hello Sunday readers!) While I am still waiting for the final interpretations of my CT scan, what my pulmonologist HAS told me is there are 2 effusions, although I'm not entirely clear about where 1 actually exists. 1 is where you'd expect I suppose - in the chest cavity itself and collecting along my diaphragm. The other is "between my heart and lung". Both on the right side of my chest. What I can't seem to get answers about (at least so far) is whether or not there is a connection between the 2 collections of fluid. As in, can the fluid flow between the two areas and is it affected by gravity, etc? A reasonable question to ask, yes? Maybe I'm just asking it wrong..... As neither is causing any symptoms and the one by my diaphragm is "1 to 2 cm", they've chosen to monitor it for a week or so more. I'm scheduled to finish my ultra low fat diet a week from tomorrow (July 31st) and I'm meeting with my pulmonologist again that day. The tentative plan is to reintroduce more fat into my diet and see if the fluid volume increases.
  17. No results of the CT scan yet but I meat with my pulmonologist tomorrow morning to discuss where we are and (maybe) another thorecentisis. But I still remain without breathing issues and can still max out the IS with no difficulty.
  18. You and me both! I have a CT scan tomorrow (instead of the x-ray I was supposed to have today) due to what they're now calling a "loculated pleural effusion", probably caused by the continued chylothorax (before it was sealed). On the bright side, it has been 20 days since removal of any fluid from my chest and I'm still having no breathing issues and can still max out my IS although I have occasional burning and jabbing pain (that seems to be in my skin so I assume it's some sort of nerve thing) I tell ya. I have learned more about chest anatomy in the past 3 months than I ever thought I'd need to know!
  19. And the beat goes on..... The ultrasound confirms there is still an effusion however it "small" - estimated to be around 200 ml - and it was again determined to be too small to risk draining it as the remainder of my right lung doesn't appear to be affected by it (it isn't being compressed) and the risk is still high as my lung is expanding well. I can still (easily) max out my IS so the plan is for another x-ray this coming Wednesday to see if there is additional volume to the effusion. If it is enough, it will be drained and they have put me on octreotide (subcutaneous injections twice a day). Now I have to deal with a low pulse rate from the octreotide. Man o man.....
  20. Just received a call from my surgeon regarding the results of my x-ray. Firstly he points out that the buildup is nowhere near as extensive as previous times as my right lung (or more accurately, what is left of it) looks fully inflated whereas before it didn't. I mentioned that I can easily max out my IS and that is something I wasn't able to do previously either. He also said that the buildup appears to be seroma and not chyle (although he also said there might be *some* chyle in there too) and seroma isn't unusual after the surgeries I've had. Furthermore, it *may* not be drained on Wednesday as it is located in a specific area, unlike the chyle leak before, and it "might be" dangerous to try and drain it. Obviously I'll ask for more details on Wednesday! He also prescribed octreotide to help my body absorb the fluid At the minimum, I'll have an ultrasound done for sure but I feel pretty good with no SOB at all
  21. I was planning on specifically asking if they're doing pathology on what they remove and, if necessary, ask it be done. As for my bloodwork, yes. I've had 3 draws done in the past 2 weeks and things actually look OK
  22. What's the tag line used when the new series of Star Wars movies came out? Oh yea The saga continues.... My chest x-ray revealed a "moderate effusion" so I am due for another thoracentisis on Wednesday morning. I guess it will all come down to what the fluid is this time - more chyle or something else. Need I say this is getting old?
  23. I'm baaaack. I ended up undergoing surgery Wednesday morning (as originally planned) and am now home again. All went well, they found and sealed the leak and so far, so good. I am to remain on my low fat diet for 4 more weeks in order to give the repair time to properly heal. Hopefully, no more trips to be drained! I have to add that I'm getting worried with how easily surgery has become for me. 😁
  24. Well......tomorrow at 8 am, I report for surgery. I guess the bright side is that the problem should be fixed and I can go back to eating junk!🤣
  25. On a side note, my PSA level remains undetectable 👍 (unrelated I know but good news is good news!)
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.