Minh Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 Is it normal to have malignant pleural effusion after lobectomy? And do you also get fever while having effusion? 6 weeks after lobectomy, I have pleural effusion and also fever in the past 5 days. Covid checked negative. Has anyone had this issue after lobectomy? I am waiting for thoracentesis to be scheduled. Not sure what is going on! Could it be stage 4? Help!!! I haven’t been able to have more than two weeks of peace since this cancer thing showed up in my life since 4/14/2021. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Galli Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 Minh, Normal and lung cancer are words I hesitate to use in the same sentence. That said, you might indeed have a pleural effusion, but until it is drained, you won't know if is malignant or not. When your effusion is drained, the pathologist will look at samples under a microscope and determine malignancy. So, yes you could have a pleural effusion, and yes they do occur after lobectomy, but no one can predict malignancy until after your effusion is drained. I know, peace after lung cancer is a hard thing to achieve. But, you've been through a lot already in your treatment. Give yourself a break and relax a bit. Try not to worry until the test results are in hand. Stay the course. Tom LouT and Judy M2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minh Posted January 5, 2022 Author Share Posted January 5, 2022 Thanks Tom for your kind and encouraging words! I am just a little frustrated about my situation. It seems like I can’t catch a break in the past 8 months since my heart surgery and cancer diagnosis. I constantly have all kinds of dr appointments, testings, and procedures every week. I’ve seen all kinds of doctors from heart surgeons, thoracic surgeons, GI doctors, pulmonologists, cardiologists, urologists, endocrinologists, geneticists, ophthalmologists, and all kinds of Physician assistants and practitioner nurses. It seems like it will never end. Because I am taking blood thinner I can’t get my lung fluid drained right away. I have to be off of blood thinner for 5 days before they can do anything. So every time I have some procedures I have to wait 5 days. Waiting and more waiting is just killing me. Now I have to wait until next week to have the fluid drained. At the meantime, I can’t do anything but to lay here and take the beating with all kinds of discomfort symptoms such as fever, high blood pressure, high heart rate, fatigue, cough pains, loss of appetite, and shortness of breath. thanks for listening! I am just total exhausted! LouT 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Galli Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 Minh, I completely understand your situation. In fact, I've experienced many treatment delays because of other medical complications. Just try and get some rest. You might ask your doctors for a sleep aid. That might help with your exhaustion. Stay the course. Tom LouT 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minh Posted January 5, 2022 Author Share Posted January 5, 2022 Thanks Tom! You’re the best! LouT and Tom Galli 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minh Posted January 6, 2022 Author Share Posted January 6, 2022 Just checked myself into emergency room. New dx: pneumonia on the left lung. Large pleural effusion in right lung (the one I just had lobectomy 7 weeks ago). Treatment plan: IV antibiotics and thoracentesis. Oncologist may order test for pleural fluid malignancy. Not sure how long treatment plan will take. That is all for now! Judy M2 and Tom Galli 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Galli Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 Minh, So very sorry to learn this. Treatment plan is a good one. Thoracentesis will immediately give your relief. Oncologist should (must) order pleural fluid test for malignancy. Likely you'll spend about a week on antibiotics. The thoracentesis will be over in less than 30 minutes. Stay the course. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minh Posted January 6, 2022 Author Share Posted January 6, 2022 Interventional Radiologist cannot drain fluid because my effected lung looks like Swiss cheese with many little pockets that hold fluid. He gave up and claimed he cannot drain one pocket at a time. So I was sent back to central control. This is at my local hospital. Now I am waiting for the next plan. LouT 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BridgetO Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 Can you check with your team at MD Anderson about draining fluids from a "Swiss cheese" lung? LouT 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minh Posted January 7, 2022 Author Share Posted January 7, 2022 Now they told me covid 19 positive. And I already had booster shot. Oh boy, how lucky do I get! Heart valve replacement then lung cancer and now covid. All in a span of 9 months! BridgetO, LouT and Judy M2 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouT Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 Minh, So sorry to hear this. It seems that when it rains it pours, doesn't it? My hope is that your covid is Omicron (much less severe) and that you recover quickly and completely. Has your doctor discussed monoclonal therapy with you? I know someone who is immune-compromised (kidney transplant recipient) and she got the antibodies and said that it was a game changer for her. Please check into this. Lou Tom Galli and Judy M2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minh Posted January 7, 2022 Author Share Posted January 7, 2022 Hi Lou, They decided not to do anything with my covid and let my body takes care of it because I had 3 Pfizer shots including the booster. It feels strange when your doctor said we are not doing anything. But they do give me antibiotics for preventative measures because at this time they still not sure what I got. But they are looking into it. I have more CT scans here than anywhere else. LouT 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyRoseBlade Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 Minh. You have been through the ringer. I have an effusion as well and no one has said anything. Having tests and waiting for answers is true torture. I’m to the point I don’t want any more tests. Don’t want them to find anything else. I’d ask about monoclonal therapy. I’ve had c-diff twice since surgery and may have it again and will ask for this. good luck… this group does help!! LRB LouT and Tom Galli 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minh Posted January 10, 2022 Author Share Posted January 10, 2022 Still in ER. They could not drain all the liquid because it’s multiloculated and thickening which means there are many small independent pockets of fluid in there. They still working on plans on how to drain them. Malignancy test result has not come back. They stopped antibiotics because it has not helped. Still have fever, high blood pressure, high resting heart rate, shortness of breath, and extreme fatigue. LouT, Judy M2 and Tom Galli 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BridgetO Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 Minh, I'm sorry you're going through all this. Hang in there and know we're all sending positive thoughts and prayers your way. LouT and Tom Galli 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minh Posted January 11, 2022 Author Share Posted January 11, 2022 Thanks Bridget! LouT 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minh Posted January 15, 2022 Author Share Posted January 15, 2022 Finally they were able to drain lung fluid after about a week. During the first couple days they could not drain the fluid because it was loculated which means semi liquid pockets of fluid. I still have high resting heart rate of 110bpm which is equivalent to brisk walking. Every time I get up and walk for 20 feet my heart rate goes up to 135bpm and short of breath. ER doctors could not figure why, so they sent me home with beta blockers. I am basically bedridden at home. It’s a terrifying feeling when your heart can stop working because of being overworked or you can get stroke. ER doctor told me to go home and go see cardiologist. There isn’t anything else they can do. So I am laying in bed at home and not sure of what to do next. Tom Galli 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouT Posted January 15, 2022 Share Posted January 15, 2022 Minh, I'm sorry to hear about your situation. I am glad that they were able to get the fluid drained. That's good to have done and behind you. I can't comment on what is keeping your heart rate high. After my lobectomy my heart rate was high for weeks afterward. In my case the surgeon (thoracic surgeon specializing in heart and lung) told me that it can happen sometimes after thoracic surgery, especially involving the lungs. I expressed how frightened I was to have a high rate for so long (like you it was a touch over 100) and he told me that since I had no underlying cardiac issues my heart can take the extra beats as he's had patients that went through this for months without damage. I was glad to hear this because I was afraid to do my walking and workouts for the same reason as you; overworking my heart. But over time my heart rate did go down and stabilize. I'm not saying that you have the same situation, but just letting you know that you need to let them find out what the cause is so they can correct it and try to stay calm as possible. ER docs deal with the immediate and are not going to do what a cardiologist will do for you. Once you get to a cardiologist they can figure out what the cause is and address it for you. Please hang in there and try not to be afraid...that only releases more epinephrine and raises heart rate. You're in my thoughts. Lou Tom Galli 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minh Posted January 17, 2022 Author Share Posted January 17, 2022 Thanks Lou, My resting heart rate is still about 105-110bpm and I am trying not to move around to keep it down. I am trying to get to see my cardiologist ASAP. It’s not easy because for some reasons my cardiologist group is very busy. I am only allowed to see him twice in a year. My next appointment is in June but I try to move it up. ER dr said it could be related to my prior heart surgery or covid 19 which could go away in couple of weeks or become permanent which required cardioversion. I just wonder how long did it take for your heart rate to go back to normal? Tom Galli and LouT 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouT Posted January 17, 2022 Share Posted January 17, 2022 Minh, In my case it took about 2-3 months before I got back to a lower heart rate. Even after I didn't stay as low as I used to pre-surgery, but it was very respectable heart rate. Lou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minh Posted January 21, 2022 Author Share Posted January 21, 2022 Got a message from ER Dr that my potassium level had been very high during my stay in the hospital. As they explained high level potassium can lead to dangerous heart conditions such as heart attack and stroke. They were able to temporarily bring it back into range. But they suspended my blood pressure medication as they suspected this medication caused high potassium. But they are still guessing because I never have this issue prior to admittance to ER. So now I have to go find out why my potassium goes up. Here we go, more doctor appointments again! I have at least one dr. appointment every week since ever. LouT and Tom Galli 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyRoseBlade Posted January 22, 2022 Share Posted January 22, 2022 You are going through more than one person should. I’m glad you got an answer. I’m sorry your life is md appointments. I feel a little of that. I tell people my social circle is now completely comprised of medical people. I hope you’re at a large teaching hospital and getting top notch care. thinking of you! susan LouT 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BridgetO Posted January 23, 2022 Share Posted January 23, 2022 Minh, I'm sorry! to hear that you're having a new problem. Poor you! You have such original problems! I'm thinking of you. LouT and Tom Galli 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minh Posted January 25, 2022 Author Share Posted January 25, 2022 Thank you all for listening to my whining! I have been on sick leave for almost a year. If I don’t go back to work soon (assuming my job is still there) I will lose my health insurance, then I will have no more dr. appointments. I have pulmonologist appointment on Thursday. Not sure what tests he will put me through. Hopefully there isn’t much damage to the lungs due to covid 19 and pleural effusion and I can recover quickly enough to return to work to keep my health insurance. As of now I still have shortness of breath when I walk 20 feet or more. Tom Galli 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouT Posted January 25, 2022 Share Posted January 25, 2022 Minh, You have had a tough time of it for sure. My hope is that you are able to recover and go back to work...I hope the pulmonologist can help you with your breathing, as I believe it is from more than the lung cancer (effusion, Covid, etc.). Lou Tom Galli 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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