lilgna Posted June 8, 2005 Share Posted June 8, 2005 ......well for the third time since Febuary, I am having a thorencentesis, to remove fluid in my right lung.. They are talking now, if it comes back again to consider a talc procedure, sounds yukee.. with a chest tube and all for several days, but has anyone had one done? And , it so, did it resolved the fluid issue for good? HELP.. I hate the idea, rthe hospital and all, and the needle removal is not all that bad, but I am gettting tired of this too. This time it went almost two months in between the built up of fluid. Any help will be aprreciated. gina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patkid Posted June 8, 2005 Share Posted June 8, 2005 We don't know about the procedure, but want to be sure you know that we care and have you firmly in prayer. Best, Pat and Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginnyde Posted June 8, 2005 Share Posted June 8, 2005 Gina, my sister had it done after having fluid removed 2 times. After the talc procedure she was fine. She was having the fluid build up due to a heart attack not lc, but I don't think it makes any difference what causes it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeniseMarie Posted June 8, 2005 Share Posted June 8, 2005 Hi there--my mom had the talc procedure last year and it seems to have worked okay so far--there is still a little bit of fluid, but it hasn't grown a lot--previously they had to drain the fluid twice. I think it was a 2 or 3 day hospital stay--she had an extra complication, when they went in to do the procedure, they found that her lung had collapsed, but she recovered from the procedure and lung collapse okay. good luck and best wishes for a quick procedure and hospital stay! Denise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendy Posted June 8, 2005 Share Posted June 8, 2005 Gina, Sorry to hear that you are having this problem again! I acan imagine how frustrated you are. Can't be help on your questions but wanted you to know that I am hoping that they can get this resolved quickly. Wendy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j ross Posted June 8, 2005 Share Posted June 8, 2005 My husband had the talc procedure over a year ago. Yes it did work and he recovered quickly. Best wishes Jennie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieD Posted June 8, 2005 Share Posted June 8, 2005 Gina, I had it offered to me as a clinical trial when I was dxd over a year ago but declined since it would have delayed the beginning of Chemo for thirty days and I was pretty anxious to get started. They also offered a catheter that you drained yourself. TAnn on this site had it and has had reasonable success with it. She will probaably respond. Anyway, mine never came back so I assume the Chemo stopped it. Good luck with it and God Bless. CharlieD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maryanne Posted June 8, 2005 Share Posted June 8, 2005 Hi Gina, Lets just hope the fluid will not return and you won't have to worry about that procedure. But if you still continue to get fluid build, then from all the posts here, it sounds like a plan that could work for you. Good luck, Maryanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don M Posted June 8, 2005 Share Posted June 8, 2005 Hi Gina; it looks like the response you have gotten on talc seem encouraging. I guess i would try it. Good Luck, Don M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pammie Posted June 8, 2005 Share Posted June 8, 2005 Gina, last year in June i had the pleural effusion. They did the talc when they put the drainage tube in my left lung. I have had no fluid in my lung since then. It wasn't painful for me but I was sedated after having an anphylactic shock to zosyn. My left lung hurts some when I take a deep breath but doesn't usually bother me at all. This procedure is often very effective in eliminating pleural effusion. praying it will work for you also. pammie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathyjack Posted June 9, 2005 Share Posted June 9, 2005 Hi Gina, My Husband had it done and it worked for about 8 months. We felt like it was worth it. He experienced some pain right after they did the procedure and the strangest thing was he drank some ice water and the pain went away immediatley. I hope it will go well for you. Cathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAnn Posted June 9, 2005 Share Posted June 9, 2005 Gina, I did not have the talc procedure. My doctor says that it doesn't always work. Instead they put in what's called a Denver Catheter. I'm going to be honest, I hated it, but it solved my effusion issue for over a year now. Basically they insert a drainage tube into your pleural space and you have to drain it yourself every day until no more fluid drains. It only takes about an hour to have the tube put in. No hospital stays, no invasive surgery. This process creates some friction between the lung and the pleural lining and causes it to become sealed. I had the tube in for 5 1/2 weeks, then had it removed and haven't had to have any more drainings on the lung. Some people only have to have it in for a few days, some a couple of months, it just depends how fast you are accumulating fluid. I developed fluid quite rapidly, like you, before having the catheter I had 4 draining procedures. Feel free to pm me and I'll give you more info. I think you should ask your doc about this option if you don't want to go through the surgery and hospital stay. TAnn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJAS Posted June 12, 2005 Share Posted June 12, 2005 Steve had 2 thoracentesis before he was fully diagnosed (over 6 liters of fluid). Once he was dx'd he was hospitalized for about 9 days with a chest tube to drain all the fluid out before the talc procedure. The chest tube was the bad part, the pleuradesis was a piece of cake and worked beautifully. There was a small area of the lung which never reinflated, but he has had no problems since the procedure - no breathing problems at all. I also work with a woman who had the procedure done about 20 years ago (not lung cancer) with no problems at all. One interesting note. Steve had an ER visit due to heart issue (probably a result of some damage done by the huge amount of pleural fluid - it was pushing on his heart). They did an x-ray and the ER doctor called a pulmonary specialist when he saw my husband's left lung fully opaque. We said "Oh, that's just from the talc procedure. Did see people still looking at his x-ray when we left Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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