VATS scheduled for 2/13. Should I go through the proceduere? Please give me your input.

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

A rookie here. My name is Dilwala. I’m very touched

by the love and support being offered at this site.

My VATS is scheduled for 2/13. Below is the

chronology of what brought me here. Please read and

advise as I’m confused if I should go through the VATS

as scheduled? Currently, I’m living a full life at

47. I work all day and coach in the afternoons

without being fatigued. I walk four miles during

lunch time without any shortness of breath. About the

only thing I cannot do is to play Basketball like I

used to. My Pulmonologist ‘thinks’ that I have had

the lung condition since my childhood. I do want to

go thru the procedure because of what I have read

about PF but reading through the complication caused

by the procedure is making my real nervous.

I took a lung test at a health fair at my work IN

2005; reading was at 57% capacity.

I consulted my PC, who listened to my lungs and stated

that all is Ok.

He wasn’t convinced that the reading was accurate and

I did not feel that I had an issue either.

I’m a Systems Engineer (computers) during the day and

a yr around coach after hours. I coach Football,

Baseball and Basketball.

Repeated the lung test at work health fair in June

2007; reading was at 35% capacity.

I was spooked. I visited my PC. He listened to my

lungs and declared that all is OK.

While coaching baseball I experienced running out of

breath when giving a long, emotional tirades.

At the end of the baseball season (Aug 2007) X-rays

were taken.

Radiology report read “Query small patch of left lower

lobe infiltrate vs scar”. PC told me that it was

nothing to worry about.

While coaching football in Sep 07, I realized that I

indeed have an issue with my lungs.

Football required a lot of yelling. I could not go on

long tirades. I had to use short phrases. Also, I

could not blow the whistle like I could a year

earlier.

I returned to the PC. Got a referral to a

Pulmonologist. A high resolution CT scan was taken in

10/2007.

It read,

FINDING: There are bilateral, predominantly

subpleural, reticular densities which appear to extend

all the way out to the pleural surfaces. Tiny

scattered subpleural cysts may represent early changes

of honeycombing / pulmonary fibrosis. There is mild

peribronchial thickening predominantly at the lung

bases. No bronchiectasis is identified. No

centrilobular nodules are seen. A few scattered

ground glass opacities are noted. No diffuse internal

or interlobular septal thickening is noted. No air

trapping is noted.

No focal consolidation or effusions are identified. I

do not see evidence for pleural thickening or pleural

effusion. There are mild prominent mediastinal nodes

in the paratracheal an AP window measuring

approximately I cm in greatest diameter. Heat size

is within normal limits.

IMPRESSION: Diffuse bilateral subpleural reticulations

and suggestion for small areas of honeycombing.

Findings are compatible with usual interstitial

pneumonia (UIP) or nonspecific interstitial pneumonia

(NSIP). The pattern of NISP can be seen in patients

with collagen vascular disease or hypersensitivity

pneumonia. Clinical correlation is recommended.

The Plumonoglist also sent me for a PF testing.

Comments read; PT unable to perform DLCO maneuver up

to ATS standards otherwise good effort. Albuterol

used as Bronchodilator.

Other number are,

PRE-BRONCH POST-BRONCH

Actual Pred %Pred Actual %Pred %Change

SPIROMETRY

FVC (L) 1.82 3.76 48 1.93 51 6

FEV1 (L) 1.49 3.08 48 1.73 56 16

FEV1/FVC (%) 82 82 100 90 109 9

FEF 25%(L/sec) 2.94 6.61 44 4.06 61 38

FEF 50%(L/Sec) 1.64 4.40 37 2.61 59 59

FEF 25-75%(L/Sec) 1.43 3.24 44 2.34 72 64

FEF Max (L/Sec) 4.74 7.01 68 5.75 82 21

FIVC (L) 1.96 2.01 2

FIF 50% (L/sec) 2.01 4.32 46 2.78 64 39

FIF Max (L/Sec) 2.92 3.74 28

LONG VOLUMES

SVC (L) 2.55 4.00 64 1.92 48 -25

IC (L) 1.31 2.78 47 1.58 57 20

ERV (L) 1.24 1.22 102 0.33 27 -73

TGV (L) 2.70 2.78 97

RV (Pleth) ( L ) 1.46 1.57 93

TLC (Pleth) (L) 4.01 5.56 72

RV/TLC (Pleth) % 36 28 129

In addition to CT scan and PF test, an extensive blood

test was performed. All results were within normal

limits.

Thanks for reading it thru. I’m headed to bed shortly

as I’m running a baseball clinic tomorrow for the Jr’s

(13-14 yrs old). However, I’m eagerly awaiting for

your input/advise. I will respond to any questions

you may have.

Dilwala