TO VATS or NOT TO VATS

[Guest guest]

HI all. I've been out here listening and watching your comments for sometime.

I find the site helpful, informative and interesting.

I am a 58 year of woman with diabetes, acid reflux disease, High blood pressure,

sleep apnea, obesity and pulmonary fibrosis ( DX not confirmed.) I have been on

O2 24/7 since 02/01/09. I am still working and amazingly mobile ( with the help

of my husband) and self reliant in most things. Working is getting more

difficult and I will probably give it up this fall or winter.

The Pulmonary Fibrosis DX has not been confirmed because I balked on having a

lung biopsy. I now have 2 pulmonary guys and 1 surgeon saying although there

are some additional risks for me they are 90% sure they can do the scope

procedure and feel it is important to have it done so they can determine weather

I have the type of fibrosis that will respond to steroid treatment. They will

not start me on steroids without the procedure because steroids will definitely

push me into insulin dependancy, and will wreck havoc with my sugar levels.

At this time I am extremely happy with my progress on O2,and feel so much better

that I have in the past year that I am not inclined to rock the boat.

On my next visit to the surgeon if the 3 month followup catscan show I am pretty

much holding my own, I do not intend to have the biopsy. Not because of the

surgical risk, but because of previous experience with steroid side effects. A

bacterial infection treated with steroids in 2002 is the reason I am diabectic

now. I want to put off the use of insulin as long as possible. Of course if

the catscan shows a rapid or marked decline, I will have to reconsider.

I do not know if this is a wise or foolish decision, but I am very concerned

about quality of life over quantity.

If any of you are interested in commenting or relating your experience, I would

much appreciate it.

Thanks,

Margaret, Chandler, AZ