Help

New Member Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Posts: 2 Location: U.K.

Hi all, I hope someone can help!
I have had a Bullectomy and Pleurectomy on my left lung since 07, then in April 08 I had a sp,The doctors called it that although the Lung did not collapse or tear away from the chest wall.
I have had a CT scan and all the Bullae that they removed in the Bullectomy had regrown!
My question is...When the Bullae bust and I have an air leak but not a collapse how safe is it to fly?
Also would it be classed as succesful surgery (for insurance purposes) as the Lung no longer comes away from the chest wall eventhough I have an air leak?
I hope someone can help as I cant get a straight answer from anyone!
Anne

Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:58 pm Post subject:

Anne,

Holy Shit!
I have Never seen this happen. "I have had a CT scan and all the Bullae that they removed in the Bullectomy had regrown!"
Shocked

I would seem to think that the Doctor missed some and just did not tell you the truth. If Bullae regrown that puts us all in a new light, and not a good one.
Please Call a Attorney at once if you have to. Get the information from this Doctor as soon as you can.
I don't know where you live and what are the laws there, but there is some big bullshit going on!

From all I know and have been told. "Bullae" Do NOT Regrow!

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:40 am Post subject:

Steady Hazz,

I know it sounds remarkably unprofessional for a Surgeon to operate aiming to remove the offending Bullae, only for them to come back, but it's certainly not unheard of.

I think some people's lungs are often littered with microscopic Bullae and removing the larger one's in a weak area of the lung can deal with the initial problem, but the tiny Bullae may develop in the surrounding area's given the right conditions. there's often not a lot we can do to prevent this, however the surgery is known to prevent the lung coming away from the chest wall again. so the leaks should gradually heal themselves.

So in some respects Bullae do not regrow, but when they are taken away new one's can fill their place.

I would assume for insurance purposes, they want to know if it's going to collapse again and require further treatment, and blebs or no blebs, the Pleurectomy tends to hold up longer than most other treatments - just look at the post on recurrence rates :
http://blebinfo.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=83

When you feel like you've had a significant leak, I would not encourage flying, however after pleurectomy the risks of flying when you have a leak are much reduced. See the following article on 'Spontaneous Pneumothorax and its Effects on Aircrews' :
http://blebinfo.co.uk/Docs/aircrew.htm

I hope this helps

Ross

Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 6:55 pm Post subject:

Sorry All,

I get fired up when see things that do not go with what I have been told. Embarassed

I called the American Lung Association here in the U.S.A. and they told Me they do not know of a case were the Bullae had just regrown like that.

I come from working class family that at the time of my 18th birthday and 2nd SP I had had in my life we not covered from insurance. Each time I had a SP The Doctor told Me I would be find and could just live like not a thing happened to me. "The Doctor Do No Know about Bullae" at the time until my 3rd SP on the Left Lung. He did the Open thoracotomy on my lift side. After one month in the hospital He told Me I was good as New and could live life without fear of it happening once more. The real fear was getting that $160.000.00 US bill. Surprised

Two years later the left side failed once more. The did the acid down the tube job and all most killed me for forgetting place a antiseptic with the other stuff down my tube. Evil or Very Mad

Then billed me for $102.000.00 US. I have had 4 small SPs after that that were just drained with Needle Aspiration on the Left side and about 8 small air pockets that were just left to themselves.
I have spent about $310.000.00 US out of pocket paying medical from all my problem with my lungs. It was so expensive trying to get insurances to cover what the Doctors told them what might happen. I got NO help for the Government or State from the same listed as "might happen" They only help people that "WILL" have other health compaction for the rest of there life.
I know other in the U.S know how I feel about medical bill. Crying or Very sad

The other thing is, They still seem to know so little about our problems and here we are going to send people to Mars soon. Shocked

New Member Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Posts: 2 Location: U.K.

Hi All,
Thanks for your replies eventhough I was slightly worried by Hazz reply Very Happy

I must have been mis informed...all I know is that they told me they had removed all the Bullae and then 18 months later they burst!!!!!
I think rossoe explanation is the most logical, and thank you both for your replies.
Its common sense really, if I have a "pop" not to fly, I have had to cancel so many holidays over the last 5 yrs with this problem that I was secretly hoping for a miracle answer that said " of course you can fly"
Anyway, thanks again for your answers, and sorry Hazz for making your blood pressure rise.
Anne