Justakid Posted July 30, 2004 Share Posted July 30, 2004 Has anyone experienced a leak in their lung after the lobectomy? When I went to radiation this morning I told the Dr that I felt like I had an air bubble floating around. She took an x-ray and there is a leak in my lung, she called the surgeon on call, he said that he can not believe that there is a leak two months after surgery. Have to have another xray on Monday to see what is happening then. Any ideas on how this treated? Do they insert a needle to drain it, cut you back open and reseal it? Anyone know anything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginnyde Posted July 31, 2004 Share Posted July 31, 2004 Beth, I really don't know, just hope that whatever it is, it is real easy to fix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindseysmom Posted August 2, 2004 Share Posted August 2, 2004 Dear Beth, I am no help as I never had surgery. I certainly hope they can correct this without it being to invasive. Keep us posted. Best Wishes, Dee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teresag Posted August 2, 2004 Share Posted August 2, 2004 First, they won't have to "cut you back open." They will insert a tube into the area where the leak is located. The tube will allow the air to escape and any accumulated fluid to drain into an attached reservoir. It is a bit painful to have it inserted, and uncomfortable to have, but you can manage it at home until the leak seals itself. A bit odd to have the leak show up 2 months later, but weird stuff happens all the time with lung cancer, doesn't it? Good luck to you. Hope this bump in the road flattens out very soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamie Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 Beth... PM ME!!! MY DAD IS GOING THROUGH THE EXACT SAME THING RIGHT NOW!!! I would like to hear whats been going on... maybe we can help each other.... hes in alot of pain... noone here seems to know of this, I posted awhile ago about it, and noone knew. Jamie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justakid Posted August 3, 2004 Author Share Posted August 3, 2004 Thanks for the responses! I ended up in the emergency room on Sunday because I couldn't breath and my chest was very tight. Seems my lung collaped 20%, but it was re-inflating by itself. Spent the night in the hospital on oxygen, no chest tube (Thank God). Dr's say it is weird that it happened 2mths after surgery, but not unheard of, they said the radiation can weaken the lung even though it is not directly targeted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindseysmom Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 Dear Justakid, Check your PM. Dee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJAS Posted August 3, 2004 Share Posted August 3, 2004 I don't know anything about surgery, but Steve had a pleurodesis which sealed the lung to the pleural cavity and it has been fine. His problem had been fluid fillling the pleural cavity, totally collapsing the lung (2 thoracentesis & chest tube 9 days). Also, a friend from Ireland said she had a pleurodesis many, many years ago to correct a leaking lung and no problems since (she did not have lc). Hope you can find the answer soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fay A. Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 Thinking of you and hoping you are okay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 Info on Air leaks. I think a chest tube can be put in to get the air out. Is it an air leak or fluid? http://www.umm.edu/thoracic/lung_surgery.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine Posted August 9, 2004 Share Posted August 9, 2004 Beth You are great to be so in tune with your body! Hope they find and fix the problem soon. love and fortitide elaine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeniseMarie Posted August 14, 2004 Share Posted August 14, 2004 Hi--I asked the forum a similar question a few weeks ago when my mom had fluid building up in her lungs after surgery too. Hers appeared about 3 weeks after surgery. The Dr. removed the fluid about 2 weeks ago, but unfortunately it is now back. She is going in on Monday for an additional procedure to remove the fluid again and to stop the leak--I'm not sure of the name, maybe the "pleurodesis" procedure mentioned above. We hope this works, since it has been causing her to cough non-stop which is exhausting to her body. Best wishes to you Denise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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