Another Thoracentesis

[Blake777]

Had my check up today for one month. Had a lot of fluid on lungs, this time a whole liter. But this time I guess I had a lot of scar tissue or something from last one and it hurt like heck! Felt every freaking inch of the procedure. I bet people though I was having a baby in the waiting area.

I told them I will never again have it done, it was the most horrible experience of my life. How often does fluid keep building up on your lungs when you have this problem. I swear I can't do it anymore, I just can't. Still in shock, from the procedure.

 

[bugchucker]

I've not had the "pleasure" of that procedure...sorry to hear of your experience. Hang in there!

 

[Jkm7]

Blake..... So sorry to hear what a miserable experience you endured.
Can't they give you sedation such as we get when we have caths and TEE's so you don't have to suffer so much?

Hopefully this took care of the problem and you'll never need it done again.

Go rest up and hope you feel better. I so hate hearing people suffering pain when there are such good pain meds.....what the *&^^% don't they use them?

 

[Nancy]

I'm with Jkm7 on that! It is cruel to cause you so much pain. What was that doctor thinking of???

 

[Tbone]

I hope you do not have to through that again. Best of luck to you & God Bless.

 

[Blake777]

I don't think anyone should have to undergo anything like that ever. I prayed and I asked the Lord "Why?" I just felt that this was needed and won't ever be needed again' they did draw a lot of fluid off. They had to go to another area through the ribs because the other place where I had it done before was still tender. And the resident who was helping the doctor said it always hurts worse when they have to go through the rib area. This was after the procedure, if I had known that I would have let him do it in the tender area.

But I told myself never again unless the chief of surgeon does it, he did it last time and he was so gentle. It did hurt but was not awful as that was.

I pray no one has to go through what I had to go through. It does need to be done to be able to breathe easier but make sure you get someone gentle or at least get a second opinion on other ways to remove the fluid if it's not that much.

In my case sedation would not have helped the hell I went through and they can not put you to sleep.

 

[Nancy]

But I told myself never again unless the chief of surgeon does it

I have to agree with you. Joe's was done by the Chief of Thoracic surgery and he has good "hands" and is a kind and gentle man.

This is also true of any procedure which has the potential to cause pain or difficulties in inept hands.

I can remember that Joe had many TEEs and they were all uneventful until a young inexperienced guy did one on him. He was absolutely was brutal. I was in the room during this procedure, and it was terrible. The guy (hesitate to use "doctor") didn't numb his throat as well as he should have, plus the twilight sleep either was inadequate or hadn't had enough time to work. This guy shoved the transducer down his throat like he was snaking was toilet.

And my poor husband's throat was sore for weeks afterwards.

Joe was a person who never complained and had a high threshhold for pain, but he made it known to superiors that he was not happy with this guy.

So always ask who is going to do the procedure, and then talk to that person directly like an interview, and find out if he is going to be learning on your body, or if he has done this successfully before. Be careful of young ones.

And I hesitate to say this, because it is inflammatory, but there are some people who enjoy causing pain.

Nuf said!

 

[Blake777]

Thanks Nancy, I must have gotten one of those who enjoy causing pain. I understand what you husband went through also, I had about 4 TEEs, one I remember waking up on, I was always sedated to almost sleep mode, but anyway the thing in my throat was hurting and all I could do was motion for more meds. I had a horrible sore throat for days also so I know how it felt.

They tell me drinking two many fluids adds to the fluid buildup, so I'm so scared to even drink anything. Trying to get off pain meds also, I think maybe the shallow breathing from them may be causing me not to deep breathe which may cause so fluid also. So just trying extra strength Tylenol.

Now I'm just so nauseated from not taking pain meds, slowing coming around that today though, still can't stand the smell of food though. I had some Promethazine so took it and it made me feel better.

 

[zipper2]

omgoodness i do pray you are done with this now.
I come close when they thought i had fluid,now i don't know
what their plans are with me,but i am sorry you had to endure
so much .....God bless.You are very strong to go through so much.

zipper2 (DEB)