Guest Posted June 15, 2004 Share Posted June 15, 2004 Our family dr. called yesterday with the results of my husband's pulmonary function test--he told us his lungs are not good enough for surgery--I lost it and started crying uncontrollably--what does this mean? My husband doesn't even use oxygen only 2 inhalers, he has been complaining of more difficulty breathing--but nothing drastic. He is being sent to a pulmonary specialist asap hopefully today or tomorrow and he will make the final decision. I am so confused at this point, I am hoping the dr. meant his lungs were not good enough to remove 1/2 his lung and will be able to proceed with removing just the nodule. Maybe I"m mistaken but I thought people with copd or emphysema were still able to have the VATS surgery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna G Posted June 15, 2004 Share Posted June 15, 2004 They used to do it therapeutically! Hope you keep up the search. Donna G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gail Posted June 15, 2004 Share Posted June 15, 2004 I remember that test well, and knew the importance of it. What about another opinion? gail ps We all have our crash moments. We need them. Then we regroup, and go to plan B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Lamb Posted June 15, 2004 Share Posted June 15, 2004 I have copd & emphasema (sp) in my right lung and cancer in my right lung, and they still operated and removed my left lung.Hopefully he meant something else and will clarify for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
berisa Posted June 15, 2004 Share Posted June 15, 2004 Go ask the reason detail of rejection behind. I think they should explain more clearly. There is still many options beside surgery. Don't be upset and disappointed. Go and ask.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamie Posted June 15, 2004 Share Posted June 15, 2004 AAHHH!!! How fusterating this all is.... I know, Ive been where you are, we are there right now. My dad had a PFT when he was first dx'd and he came back with all clean scans (X-ray, ct, biopsy, PET) and they want him to do one more thing before surgery... the PFT. The last thing and if all goes well, he will have surgery at the end of the month. Were hoping it goes as well as the first one. Call the Dr. and ask to clarify what he meant. Maybe its not as you suspect. If he didnt do well on the PFT, then its better off, because he will be struggling to breath after the surgery, ya know??? The doctor wil know best what he can handle and what he cannot. Best of Luck Jamie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elnodel Posted June 15, 2004 Share Posted June 15, 2004 By all means, make sure that the pulmonologist knows everything your husband can do. When my husband had his PFT, pre-surgery, the results were TERRIBLE -- he couldn't breathe out without lapsing into coughing, and coughing was terribly painful because he had a chest tube at the time due to a collapsed lung (post biopsy) that would not seal itself. So we were worried. But the pulmonologist asked lots of questions -- about his walking, his exercise level, the amount of exertion he got daily and the results of it all, and ended up giving him a green light for surgery. We were warned that he might end up with oxygen after surgery, but that didn't happen. His lung function is actually quite good, and that despite some emphysema (that he didn't know he had but rather suspected was there) confirmed after the lobe was removed. Ellen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john Posted June 15, 2004 Share Posted June 15, 2004 As Terri and others have pointed out, maybe RFA is an option? Dr Sewell (sp?) is one of the first to use this on the lungs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 15, 2004 Share Posted June 15, 2004 thanks for the replies and support. My husband has an appointment tomorrow morning with the pulmonary specialist, hopfully we will get some answers and can proceed with the surgery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 15, 2004 Share Posted June 15, 2004 thanks for the replies and support. My husband has an appointment tomorrow morning with the pulmonary specialist, hopfully we will get some answers and can proceed with the surgery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.