Physical Update

Kerry & Kathy

Kerry & Kathy

Member #007
Location
Fredericktown, Farmington and Viburnum MO
First Name
Kerry
Last Name
Owen
I apologize to the members who were in attendance at the meeting last night for being such a stick in the mud, but it has been a challenging year.
Most of you were aware that I had a stroke in August and a collapsed lung at Christmas that required draining 1.75 quarts of fluid out of my chest cavity.
Apparently the fun and games is not over...
I saw my lung specialist yesterday and he acknowledged what I already knew. The fluid in my chest is back to the extent that if he cannot find the cause, I will have to have a Thoracentesis done to drain the fluid every 4-5 weeks to be able to breathe.
I am scheduled to report to Mo Bap in the morning to have another of these procedures done. He indicated that they will again run tests on the fluid removed and if nothing obvious has changed, he wants to schedule me for Thoracscopic surgery where they will enter my chest through two incisions with an optical probe to look for whatever is causing the excess fluid build up. He also suggested that they may perform a Talc Pleurodesis where they spray a medical talc powder on the exterior of the lung sack to effectively "glue" it to the rib cage in an attempt to stop the fluid from collecting, resulting in another collapsed lung. To do that he will have to collapse my lung further while I'm under anesthesia. He told us I would be in the hospital for at least two days and possibly several more depending on what they find. He also indicated that I will likely have a flutter drain left in my chest that may be uncomfortable for several days afterwards. That surgery has yet to be scheduled. He also indicated that he has not ruled out cancer as a potential cause of the plural effusion.

That's about all I know at this point other than it is now as difficult to breath as it was at Christmas prior to the first Thoracentesis....and I am really getting tired of gasping for air. It is getting old real fast...

Unfortunately, I am learning way too many big words that my longevity may depend on... more than I like.

But understand that my lack of enthusiasm at the meeting last night was not intended.

Kerry
 
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Kerry, no need to apologize. If there is anything I've learned over the last year and a half is people don't know the half of what your own problem's are. Will say a prayer for you tonight as I know you need the help. Keep fighting the good fight, you're not done teaching me what I need to know about politics and ammo :D I've got some magazines I can bring up if you want them, but don't know if you will feel like reading them or not. Let me know (Hemmings Muscle Machines, Sports Afield and Missouri Game and Fish) and I will run them up. I'm not far from MoBap so if Kathy needs anything, tell her to call my cell and I will do my best to help. Good luck!
 
Thanks Tim for the thoughts and offer. Tomorrow should be an outpatient procedure unless they find something they don't like and try to keep me.

The surgical procedure won't be scheduled until after the lab test come back on the fluid. But I suspect within a week a date for the surgery will be set.

I have so many of my own books that remain unread, finding reading material won't be a problem.

Plus...Because I have moderator responsibilities on another firearms forum I may try to bring our laptop in during the hosp stay.

Regardless, I appreciate your kindness.
 
Same here Kerry. I don't live far from Mo Bap so if Kathy or you need something just give us a shout, be glad to help. God bless and we will be praying for your fast recovery.

Rick
 
Will be thinking of you. Good luck and let us know if you need anything. Hang in there, it will get better.
 
Kerry, being a lung cancer survivor myself, and having a portion of both of my lungs surgically removed, half on one side, I have sympathy for what you're going through. I remember a time when there was nothing more freighting then the feeling that I was going to sneeze because the pain was unbearable. It took me almost two years before I could climb a flight of stairs without stopping to catch my breathe.

Last year I ran the first 10 K run in my life at 61 yoa. I was 54 when the cancer was discovered and in the middle of building my Cobra. Hang in there and never quit fighting. Hopefully yours is no where as serious. Please keep us posted.
 
Kerry,

Damn how I hate to find threads like this but thank you for sharing your trials with people who really do care about you and Kathy. As another cancer survivor I've learned more medical words than I ever wanted to know too. Please let us know if there is anything at all that Linda or I can do for you or Kathy anytime day or night. Hang in there, you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Tom
 
Thanks guys for the moral support and offers of assistance.

LtMike...your comments were especially encouraging as it seems at times physical activities I have enjoyed in the past... from hunting... to SCUBA diving... to working at the farm were soon to be beyond my grasp. That is a very depressing realization. Your experience gives new hope that in time thinks will get better and that realization is very much appreciated. Thank you.

Kathy and I just returned from MO Bapt a little while ago where they removed another quart+ of fluid from my chest. I have been coughing up a storm since but that was to be expected. It will subside in a day or two. It appears the surgery will likely be scheduled in 7-10 days but am waiting for the lab work and CT scan results before the Dr. sets a date.

Will keep everyone advised.

Thanks again to all for the much appreciated support.

Kathy and Kerry
 
Kerry - thinking of you and Kathy. Hoping for the best. Can't really find the right words, but I know you're tough enough to beat this thing. It's just time to slow down a bit I guess. After hearing about Mike (whoa) and seeing Tom fight back, I'm confident you can beat this.
 
Kerry,

I have been away from the forum for a while, but hang in there you are in my prayers. From talking with you, I know you can beat this or what ever may be thrown your way.
 
Met with surgeon yesterday at Mo Baptist for a pre surgery evaluation. Very bright doctor.

The surgeon believes there is a second internal lung problem contributing to my inability to breathe and wants me to see a second pulmonary doctor before performing surgery. The reason being that the second potential problem threatens the success of the surgery and pleurodesis recovery. Apparently they will have me on a morphine drip for several days in recovery where the lungs have to be functional and reasonably efficient on their own for the pleurodesis to succeed. Once I am conscious I can then do the deep breathing exercises required on my own.

I had believed there was more than one issue from the very beginning but my initial pulmonary doctor only wanted to focus on the pleural effusions that were building up.

After yet another x-ray yesterday it was confirmed that the fluid build up is much more rapid now. Basically a quart in two weeks where it was taking five weeks to generate that much fluid in January / early February. If I get anymore x-rays I won't need a flashlight at night.

So the surgery has been postponed until I see the next pulmonary doctor on March 18th. I wish it were much sooner as breathing has become very difficult.

In the mean time I am only sleeping about 2-3 hrs per night due to constant respiratory distress keeping me awake. There will likely have to be a third thoracentesis performed before the surgery to remove the current fluid just to breathe.

Fortunately the doctors are looking less at cancer being the cause, although they cannot rule it out until a biopsy is done during surgery. They appear to be focusing more toward a previous lung embolism and potential congestive heart failure as the cause for the fluid buildup.

If my body was a car...I think I would have scrapped it by now and went shopping for a new low maintenance, reliable replacement.

...Feeling more and more like a zombie every day.
 
Thanks for the update Kerry. I know my Mom had hard time breathing and yes, it ended up being CHF. Hope this comes to a conclusion soon. Best of luck Kerry.
 
Why in God's name is it going to take 18 days to see another doctor?
Seems much too serious to wait almost 3 weeks.
 
STL Mark said:
Why in God's name is it going to take 18 days to see another doctor?
Seems much too serious to wait almost 3 weeks.
Click to expand...

Originally they said they could not see me until April 1st...
Only after they learned of my respiratory distress and a call from the surgeon did they set the date up to March 18th...two weeks sooner.

The best most qualified doctors are so overloaded that wait times to get in to see them are several weeks at best.

The inexperienced doctors with no patient base you can see the same day...
Been there before with an endocrinologist... and it was wasted time, money and effort.

I would rather deal with the symptoms for two weeks and know the medical assistance I'm getting is sound advise, particularly since this appointment is for a second opinion consultation.

Looks like I am going to have a third Thoracentesis done... perhaps this week... which will buy some relief until the next Dr. appointment.
 
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Damn Kerry, sorry to hear this is continuing, and you must wait to find the answer and get on the road to recovery. Will keep you in my thoughts and prayers for speedy relief and good health.
rich
 
Hang in there Kerry. Only you know what you are truely going through but I know that you have what it takes to get this behind you. I'm still here to help with anything I can, please don't hesitate to ask. Tom
 
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