Back from the world of VATS biopsy....

[Guest guest]

Hey, I am back. You can't get rid of me that easily guys (lol). I went in for

my VATS biopsy last Friday, August 21 at 2:00 pm in the afternoon. First night

was night from hell. Everytime someone came in and went to the left side of my

bed I threw up (actually figured out why the 3rd time). Everytime a nurse went

to the left side of my bed and knelt down (to check my " folley " ) I would get a

sour turning feeling in my stomach and would throw up. The " folley " is the

catch container for the catheter. When they were going to the left, they were

checking to see how full it was, they were lifting it maybe 3 inches. We

figured the catheter was improperly inserted and causing a backwash of air. The

catheter was adjusted and we fixed that bit of discomfort right off the top.

SaturDAY was a day of pain and lots of offers of percocet and morphine. I

declined the offers as I, personally, have a high level of pain tolerance.

Asked for other pain options, but they did not have any. Just hung in there.

Was prepared to say yes to pain meds if it got intolerable. The occasion just

never came up. NOT FOR EVERYONE, JUST ME. That night was one of little sleep.

Fortunately, I had my Ipod Touch with me. Was able to read your posts and keep

up with you all, at least as a voyeur (lol). I also had some games and emailed

family from bed (that was cool, sister in North Carolina, son and

daughter-in-law at Iowa State, Ames, my husband and daughter locally). It sure

beat having guests in the room when I wasn't up to visiting. Sunday the

hospital had someone in to take me for a walk around the ward. Actually walked

twice on Sunday, second time with husband (it was our 34th wedding anniversary).

I had quite the walking entourage with the drain tube from the lungs, the

catheter bag, the IV drip and my oxygen tank. I chose to use a hospital walker

so we could hang some of the stuff off it. The doctor's nurse came in and had

me do spirometer exercises. Oh, and there is this god-awful rattling cough that

you get. Got to clear fluids off the lungs, have to cough, but family and

nursing staff do not like to be around you when you do it. They cannot help

you, it hurts to cough, and it sounds like (excuse the expression) you are about

to die. I developed a technique of grasping the bed rails, pulling myself up to

almost a 90 degree sit and giving it my best effort to cough (again and again

and again). Sunday night was another almost sleepless night. I had taken in my

own CPAP machine and tubing for bleeding in oxygen. So glad I did. Also

brought in my own oximeter (they wire you to monitor your sats, but you don't

know what they are... knowledge is power, so glad I had my oximeter), even had a

couple of staff members inquire about mine. One of the nurses has a son that

has severe asthma and she found the information helpful (the last $350.00 one

she bought her son crapped out and was ecstatic to learn there was a less

expensive option that might help her son). Monday, well everyone came out of

the woodwork. They took an xray. My surgeon was not available til really late

as he had spent most of the day doing emergency heart surgery. They had a 'code

blue' in the parking lot of the hospital (which is still under investigation...

they found a man, deceased, in the passenger side of a car). The hospital

parson came by (for non Mormons in Utah, something you just do not pursue),

physical rehab came by to assess me, patient recovery came by to walk me twice

(two laps around the ward each time), and hospital services came for a " quick "

survey of my experience. I sat up for 2-4 hours that day. The hospital I was

in did not have comfortable beds (talk about an incentive to get ones self out

of the hospital!!). I talked with my first male overnight nurse that night and

he looked into getting me someting to help me sleep (Ambien). He also looked

into all of my meds. I have diabetes II. I take 1 to 2 metformin a day to keep

it in check. They had not been giving me any metformin, blood pressure meds or

cholesterol meds since I had come to the hospital and kept remarking that my

sugars were high (my highest was around 190). They offered me insulin, but I

told them I really would prefer my metformin. They would give me one, but the

second one (because I listed my meds as 1 - 2 a day as needed) for some reason

was not an option. The male nurse that evaluated my meds, slipped me a second

one Tuesday afternoon. Brought everything in line on my sugars. He also gave

me the equivalent of my blood pressure medication in a hospital combo. That

also worked. So, Tuesday, I am chomping at the bit to get at least the catheter

out (it hurt in a very personal way when I coughed). The doctor came in Tuesday

night, looked at the days xrays and pulled my drain tube. He said I needed

another xray Wednesday morning, but anticipated releasing me on Wednesday. Long

story short, I came home 11:00 am Wednesday, feeling ever so good to be home. I

know I have 3 holes in my left side, but other than that, the plumbing works,

having normal bowel movements (which by the way did not start until late

Monday). My cats are glad to have me home, and my sister and I had a nice long

conversation by phone. My mom wanted to hear all about the experience. My mom

is 91, a retire nurse, and about as " nosey " about all the particular as one can

get. I should have results within a day or two. My next appointment with the

pulmo dud is in a week (September 9) and I actually start pulmonary rehab at the

University of Utah on Monday, August 31 as I did the pre-testing a week before

the biopsy. They are keeping next weeks rehab in the realm of cardio only, at a

non-pressure, but get the body moving mode. I will have Monday, Labor Day, off,

so it is probably a good thing to get the 8-week program under way. Don't want

to be driving when the roads are icy, later in the year.

That's a wrap. Sorry it was so long, but it just about spells out everything.

Word to the wise, DO NOT HAVE A BIG MEAL BEFORE YOU GO IN. They can't always

issue stool softeners and it can make life a bit uncomfortable, but then, in the

end, it all passes (lol).

Stefani age, 61

ILD 2/2006, NSIP (cellular) 6/2009, Diabetes II 2/2006, Sleep Apnea 4/2009