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  • #1

    Are You Kidding Me?

    For the past few days I've had a nagging pain in my side. It was a bit of a, well, pain, but bearable. Until last night. Fiance took me to the ER, where they managed to trigger a lot more pain trying to put an IV line in (took them 2 times of sticking it in and then wriggling it around). Took an X-ray - there's a spot on my lung. Take a CT scan....a portion of my lung has collapsed. Which is actually good news, because they thought that I might have a blood clot. So somehow, I managed to get a mild case of bronchitis or something without knowing it and the infection caused the bottom part of my right lung to deflate. Huh?

    At any rate, they gave me a breathing treatment and injections for pain and nausea while I was there and sent me home with scripts for pain pills, antibiotics and an inhaler. I have to go see somebody on Monday, and take as deep a breath as I can about once an hour to re-inflate it. Fuuuuunnnnnn.

    Seriously, I could not make up all the stuff that's happened in the past 6 months or so. Sheesh.
    "Even arms dealers need groceries." ~ Ziva David, NCIS

    Tony: "Everyone's counting on you, just do what you do best."
    Abby: "Dance?" ~ NCIS
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  • #2
    At least they're not surgically going to re-inflate it.

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    • #3
      Let's hope not, anyway. I've got to see a specialist ASAP, so we'll see what they say. Still hurts like a bitch. The hydrocodone helps me rest but not so much with the pain.
      "Even arms dealers need groceries." ~ Ziva David, NCIS

      Tony: "Everyone's counting on you, just do what you do best."
      Abby: "Dance?" ~ NCIS

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      • #4
        Oh that sucks. Did they give you an approximate percentage of collapse? Most "small" collapses (under like 7% is I think what my ER doc told me) they won't do anything for but what they're doing for you, and the issue will repair itself in time.

        I, on the other hand, went to the hospital 2.5 years ago with what turned out to be a 90% collapse of my right lung. I had to have it surgically repaired (chest tube in the ER, wedge resection, pleurodesis, the works--my torso looks like i was on the losing side of a knife fight), which was enormously unfun. I hope it doesn't come to that for you, but I have a feeling if it was that serious, they would have done a chest tube insertion in the ER.

        As for the pain, the hydrocodone will help, but unfortunately nothing will make it go away completely. Something I found helped was to take my hydrocodone on a 3-hour alternating schedule with ibuprofen. that way there was always something in my system, and I didn't have to wait for the new dose to kick in while the old one had worn off.

        Whatever happens, good luck. I know the pain you're in and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
        My Space

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        • #5
          No, the doc didn't give me a percentage. Well, I don't think he did. They gave me some kind of potent narcotic after finally sticking me and running the EKG so I don't really remember. Plus, y'know ER doctors, it was basically, "This is what is wrong with you, here are some meds, go to the doctor on Monday." BOOM, that was it.

          Oh, and he suggested a particular doctor, so I assumed it was a respiratory specialist. Nope, just a family practice doc, but one who works in that hospital's regular clinic. Ummm, no. I'll just go to the student health center like usual. So I have an appointment in a few hours, which means no pain meds, since I have to drive myself. *whimper*
          "Even arms dealers need groceries." ~ Ziva David, NCIS

          Tony: "Everyone's counting on you, just do what you do best."
          Abby: "Dance?" ~ NCIS

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          • #6
            Quoth AdminAssistant View Post
            No, the doc didn't give me a percentage. Well, I don't think he did. They gave me some kind of potent narcotic after finally sticking me and running the EKG so I don't really remember. Plus, y'know ER doctors, it was basically, "This is what is wrong with you, here are some meds, go to the doctor on Monday." BOOM, that was it.

            Oh, and he suggested a particular doctor, so I assumed it was a respiratory specialist. Nope, just a family practice doc, but one who works in that hospital's regular clinic. Ummm, no. I'll just go to the student health center like usual. So I have an appointment in a few hours, which means no pain meds, since I have to drive myself. *whimper*
            the narcotic they gave you could have been one of several, but i'm thinking fentanyl. that's what they gave me, and after the injection i don't remember anything else that night except being cut and having the tube inserted (it was that painful ).

            and sending you to a gp to follow up? i don't know what they're thinking. at the very least you should be seeing a pulmonologist, if not a thoracic surgeon. i saw both, plus an internist.
            My Space

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            • #7
              It started with a d, and they said it was in the same class as morphine, but not quite as strong. Maybe it was just a small collapse, so that's why they didn't send me to a specialist? I don't know.
              "Even arms dealers need groceries." ~ Ziva David, NCIS

              Tony: "Everyone's counting on you, just do what you do best."
              Abby: "Dance?" ~ NCIS

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              • #8
                Sounds like Dilaudid. Packs quite a punch an you go from 0 to wheeeeee in about 4 seconds.

                I hope you get well soon! Keep us updated.

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                • #9
                  Amina, that was it. Potent stuff.

                  Just got back from the clinic. The doctor reviewed all my stuff from my ER visit and.....the notes from the x-ray and the CT scan don't say *anything* about my lungs. At. All. Ugh. But, apparently they noticed something with my liver (probably unrelated to my pain) and I have an ultrasound for that on Thursday.

                  My e-mail is getting flooded by students asking questions, since their final assignment is due on Wednesday. And I really want to go to class on Wednesday. Bleh. This sucks.
                  "Even arms dealers need groceries." ~ Ziva David, NCIS

                  Tony: "Everyone's counting on you, just do what you do best."
                  Abby: "Dance?" ~ NCIS

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Wait, your lung partially collapsed, yet the log from your ER visit mentions nothing about it?!



                    Scary!
                    Hinakiba777- Student of Divinity-Always trying to get laid.

                    Annoying student=I pay tuition here so I pay your salary!
                    Desk Worker=I pay tuition here, too. So I guess I pay myself.

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                    • #11
                      Dilaudid didnt do diddly (say that fast) when I had my gallbladder attack. I got morphine then D..and it took 2 sets of D to get the pain done. And I was intact, functional and fine..Just not in pain.
                      In my heart, in my soul, I'm a woman for rock & roll.
                      She's as fast as slugs on barbituates.

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                      • #12
                        Just had the ultrasound (owwwww, seriously dude, those are *ribs*, you can press all you want, they aren't going anywhere!) The clinic should have the reports tomorrow so maybe I'll know something then.
                        "Even arms dealers need groceries." ~ Ziva David, NCIS

                        Tony: "Everyone's counting on you, just do what you do best."
                        Abby: "Dance?" ~ NCIS

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                        • #13
                          Update: I had an MRI yesterday. I'm claustrophobic so it was...interesting. I had music and a cloth over my eyes, so it wasn't so bad. But the IV was uncomfortable (my arm's still sore from my ER visit), and I barely fit in the tube. Plus the "hold your breath for 23 seconds" thing...that sucks. Especially when you're in a mild state of panic. The student clinic called and went ahead and scheduled my follow-up with my doctor for Thursday. So, yay, don't have to think about this for a few days, focus on work, etc. Have I mentioned it's finals week? Yeah, I have a big project due tomorrow, 25 more papers to grade, etc. etc.

                          The hospital just called. The radiologist wants to *re-do* the MRI (or at least, get some more images) with a different contrast. And what's more, the guy who called said that they do this when they see something that's worrisome. So, I have to get down there in just a few minutes to go through all that again. *whimper*

                          Dammit, I have so much to do this week, and I don't need this hanging over my head. And, frankly, at this point I'm terrified that the next step is going to be biopsy. Have I mentioned how broke I am? Pretty broke. I do have health insurance (thankfully), but it's not great.

                          Anyway, I could use some good thoughts right now. I've been trying really hard to not be scared or worried and to just not think about it but....I can't.
                          "Even arms dealers need groceries." ~ Ziva David, NCIS

                          Tony: "Everyone's counting on you, just do what you do best."
                          Abby: "Dance?" ~ NCIS

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                          • #14
                            *offers loads of hugs*
                            1129. I will refrain from casting Dimension Jump and Magnificent Mansion on every police box we pass.
                            -----
                            http://orchidcolors.livejournal.com (A blog about everything and nothing)

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                            • #15
                              If anyone's still reading

                              The MRI(s) were inconclusive, but, according to my doctor, the most likely diagnosis is this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hepatocellular_adenoma It could also be hemangioma. It is unlikely that it's, well, cancer, but they can't rule that out completely yet. I have an appointment with a GI specialist on Monday and we'll go from there.

                              The doctor didn't say this, but I could read the actual report and I did see the words "biopsy recommended." I really really really really don't want to have to do that. :/
                              "Even arms dealers need groceries." ~ Ziva David, NCIS

                              Tony: "Everyone's counting on you, just do what you do best."
                              Abby: "Dance?" ~ NCIS

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