Grrr - the pain (after a fluid drain)!

[realkarl]

Today I went in for a scheduled check-up at Virginia Mason. An chest x-ray showed a large fluid build-up under my left lung, also explaining why I couldn't breathe too well. It was decided to drain the fluid. The procedure itself wasn't too painful, but when they got to the end, and my lung started rubbing against the chest wall and catheter, it became excruciatingly painful as chest wall nerves were rubbed. I had searing pain emanating up my back and over the shoulder and into the arm.

It took 1 hour to get some painkillers. By then I could breathe a little deeper before the pain set in, and after it got better, but still impossible to draw a good breath. The good news is that they drained 1300ml = 2.75 pt (US). Once the rubbing pain between the lung and the inflamed chest wall gets better, it should help my breathing quite a bit! After my surgeon arrived, I told him me breath sounded rasping. After listening he agreed, it's the lung rubbing against the chest wall in that new empty space.

I have to classify this pain up there with a bone marrow sample I did 25 years ago, but it's hard to tell. It's certainly the most pain I can remember in recent years.

Has anyone else had this happen? The fluid buildup, probably, but the pain after draining as well? The doctor (not my surgeon) said my reaction was the worst he had seen it that direction. It was apparently more common to get a cough afterwards.

 

[Nancy]

My husband had fluid drained several times. He had a high threshold for pain, but did wince towards the end. However, he didn't complain too much after the procedure was done. But that could have just been him. I was in the room for one of them and for the others, I left and told the surgeon and Joe to have fun. So I don't know what transpired with the others.

 

[skeptic49]

Sounds horrible! Hope you don't have to go through it again.

Best wishes,

Jim

 

[Braveheart]

I had a pneumothorax. As a result, the docs had to leave in the chest drain for 4-5 days longer than usual. I just kept draining and draining. I was not in much pain from it, but it did slow my recovery in that first important week.

Funny that you should mention bone marrow biopsies. I had at least a half dozen of those little "delights" in the late 1980's. The pain ranged from almost intolerable, to "you mean it's over already", according to the expertise of the person doing the biopsy.

 

[Ross]

I've been there more times then I care to mention. Yes sir, it hurts.

 

[realkarl]

Thanks. It's ironic that now when the lung should have a lot of extra room to expand, my breathing is limited by the pain I reach at a certain point when breathing in. Using the spirometer is much more painful than before, but I bet it's more important that I am forcing myself to use it well, to expand the lung back into the empty space. So I am.

Karl.

 

[Ross]

Do the best you can. I know, for me, it was extremely difficult to take a breath because of the pain. Being freshly done, it's going to be ouchy for a day or two, then it should start to cease.

 

[realkarl]

Thanks, Ross. It's good to know this has happened to others, and that it gets better quickly, because right now it feels like quite a setback until the pain starts to cease. For some reason, the Percocet doesn't seem to work as effectively on it, as it did the breastbone pain. My surgeon suggested to take a couple of 400mg doses of Ibuprofen to help reduce the chest wall inflammation (yes, there's the interaction with coumadin, but he said it would be OK with so little)

 

[Ross]

There isn't really an interaction, it's just a concern if you have stomach ulcers. Ibuprofen may exacerbate a GI bleed, which you don't need. I've been there and done that too. Not to much hasn't happened to me.

Personally, I'd try taking two Aleve to start, then one every 12 hours. Naproxen Sodium, another no no, but do what works.

 

[realkarl]

Not to much hasn't happened to me.

That much I have gathered from your posts and I also found the info on ibuprofen.

We were advised to stop by the hospital's ER after I called in to speak with one my my surgeon's assistants, who after consulting with the surgeon himself suggested to get a new chest x-ray and some stronger anti-inflammatory medication.

The visit took 4.5 hours (grrr^2 waiting for them to play phone tag), but it seems the seepage has continued somewhat. They wanted me back on Monday during business hours. I am not sure what they plan to do then if it hasn't slowed down. Hopefully the 'ketorolac' will reduce the inflammation, and perhaps also the seepage, if some of it is from pleural effusion

Karl.

 

[Bridgette]

Hope you are feeling better soon Karl.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

This has been an interesting thread.

I've always wondered 'how uncomfortable' the draining procedure was... now I know.

Thanks for posting this informative thread!

Hope your pain subsides soon.

 

[ajay_22_86]

Wow, sounds painful! You'll make it through the pain though, which is the important thing.

I've had a drainage myself, but that was for fluid around the heart so I was obviously out cold for that! I don't think I had too much pain after it. It's probably different though for the lungs!

 

[realkarl]

Thanks again. Well the pain breathing is almost gone, but I worry it is because the space is filling back up with fluids. The x-ray yesterday showed that approx 1/4 of the fluid had built back up, so I'll go back to the hospital on Monday for more x-rays, maybe more drainage. Eventually I guess the fluid seepage will have to get to a level where it is absorbed and finally stop all together :S

 

[Bina]

Karl, I don't have any experience with lung fluid issues, but I hope you have a smoother road ahead.