Trying to decide

Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 5:41 pm Post subject: Trying to decide

To make a long story short, I've had several SPs growing up, requiring two surgeries and some chest tubes, but only on the left side. About 8 months ago I started having the same pains on my right side that I had when my left lung had collapsed, so I went to the ER. They did a chest xray which showed a small SP and observed me on oxygen for a few days. The SP healed itself. Since then, I have had several occasions where that same pain has returned but haven't gone to the ER because it seems to usually go away in a few days (I have a pulse oximeter at home that I use for safety's sake). My surgeon did a chest CT and found 9 blebs on my right lung, all located near the apex. My question is this; knowing that the right lung is starting to give me problems, should I elect to have the surgery to remove the blebs on my own terms rather than on emergency terms, or should I just wait and see how it goes? My surgeon said he would rather not do surgery until I have another SP that doesn't heal itself, so I'm being torn in two directions. Part of me says to get the surgery over with because my first SP took over a year to diagnose, even with chest xrays, and I don't want to go through another year of random, debilitating pain while trying to avoid the inevitable. Do many people opt to have the surgery when there are blebs on their lungs, even without an active SP? Thanks everyone, I eagerly await your reply.

Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 9:18 pm Post subject:

I would say, about 99% of people do not get surgery unless they are in the hospital with a SP. Doctors do not wish to crack you open unless they have to.
We all know your pain. It would be nice to make your repairs up front and get it over with, without the chest tub to boot. If I had the call I too would just get the surgery before hand. It's no fun having a SP in the middle of no place.

Posted: Wed Jan 20, 2010 6:50 pm Post subject:

I have had the surgery on both lungs. However... I was not told I had blebs on my right lung. I ended up reading that in my medical record after having surgery on my left lung. Less then a year later my right collapsed. They made me spend 4 days in the hospital with a chest tube before they gave me the option of having the surgery on my right. Apparently they want to treat it with a chest tube and if that fails then they opt for surgery. If I was given the chance I would have just choosen to have the surgery before having to go through what I did. Over $80,000 in hospital bills and 10 days in the hospital. Next month will be 2 years since my last surgery and I have had no problems since.

Kari M
_________________
Kari Mckellepp

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 8:26 pm Post subject:

My understanding is that few doctors (if any) will elect to operate before you actually have a collapse. However, with a history of SP's, it's likely that they would operate right away and not wait to see if you'd have a 2nd or 3rd.

Wait -- I just went back and re-read your post...you've already HAD an SP on the right, so I'm surprised your doctor is waiting for you to have one that doesn't heal on its own. Small or not, it certainly is disruptive and I would imagine you are not able to work when it's happening. Perhaps you can ask your doctor to reconsider...and the next time you're having pain that is SP-like, I'd go right in and tell him you've had enough. If he still wants to wait, I'd go for a second opinion.

I, too, have blebs on the right, but I haven't had any SP's yet....can't say it's fun knowing that they're there.

Good luck and let us know what you decide...

Mackie
_________________
41F, VATS w/mechanical pleurodesis and parietal/visceral pleurectomy-Sept. '08