Re: VATS

[Guest guest]

Stefani,

I just had VATS on 7/22. I was only in the hospital overnight. It went well- I

don't have much pain at all, I only use pain meds to sleep because if I don't

I'll roll over on my right side where incisions are and THAT hurts and will wake

me up. I'll be going back to work on Tuesday and am feeling really good,

especially since starting O2 at night. My pulmo dude is setting me up with O2

for exertion so I can start exercising again. I know some people don't do as

well as I did but keep a positive attitude and you'll be fine. Good luck!

nne, 55, ILD 6/09

>

> Well, I have made a decision to go in for the VATS biopsy here in Salt Lake

City. I would have preferred at National Jewish in Denver because I felt so

human there. Not just an experiment or disease of interest. I have made this

decision after some discussion with National Jewish personnel and my family.

The decision was made because my current pulmonologist (pulmo-dude) is reserving

treatment until a more positive diagnosis can be made (which is what National

Jewish was going to do as well... INDICATIONS are cellular NSIP) and biopsy is

only way to increase confidence in that observation. As to Salt Lake City, well

a VATS biopsy procedure is not something to sneeze at. First there is the 3

days post-op in the hospital. It takes 6 weeks to recover relatively fully from

the surgery and probably a full 6 months after that until I am totally " up to

snuff " . I meet with the thoracic surgeon August 6, after I get back from

Minnesota. I also start pulmonary rehab that week. I am hoping to get at least

4 weeks of rehab prior to the surgery and reserve the other 4 weeks paid for by

insurance after I recover from the biopsy. I am posting this because I am a

little anxious about the whole thing, but I want to have a degree of confidence

in what I am dealing with and what I may expect in coping treatments in the

future.

>

> Stefani

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

>