Linda in MI.
03-15-2004, 08:08 AM
Hi Ladies,
As you all know, after battling lung mets with 7 rounds of carbo/taxotere/herceptin I am now battling pleural effusions. I had the lung talc done on the left, which was partially successful(80%) lung inflation, tiny amount of fluid left in lung. Now, my right side continues to fill with fluid after several drainages (thoracentesis) so now I', going to have a pleurodex catheter put in for continuous drainage every 3 days until it's completely gone.
I'm still on oxygen and very weak, not to mention frustrated that my recovery is taking this long.
FInally, my question for those of you with lung mets is do you still have any shortness of breath? My surgeon told me that my x-rays show changes in my lungs from when I had the cancer there that has caused a "thickness" in the elasticity of my lungs that is also causing the shortness of breath. I'm hoping the navalbine will take care of this.
I have to be honest....I'm really scared right now. I have these ongoing fears of being hooked up to this oxygen forever and I can't stand the thought of that!! These past 6 weeks have been pure hell and I just want things to be normal again. Right now I can't even do every day activities without getting short of breath.
My onc thinks another week or two the navalbine should kick in. Anybody who has been on it...how long does it usuallly take before you notice any improvements. I remember during the summer with my lung mets I was coughing a lot at the beginning and it took about 6 weeks for it to go away.
I"M NOT GIVING UP GIRLS but I really need to feel even a little tiny bit better every day to inspire me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I need your prayers angels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Blessings and Hugs,
Linda in MI.
As you all know, after battling lung mets with 7 rounds of carbo/taxotere/herceptin I am now battling pleural effusions. I had the lung talc done on the left, which was partially successful(80%) lung inflation, tiny amount of fluid left in lung. Now, my right side continues to fill with fluid after several drainages (thoracentesis) so now I', going to have a pleurodex catheter put in for continuous drainage every 3 days until it's completely gone.
I'm still on oxygen and very weak, not to mention frustrated that my recovery is taking this long.
FInally, my question for those of you with lung mets is do you still have any shortness of breath? My surgeon told me that my x-rays show changes in my lungs from when I had the cancer there that has caused a "thickness" in the elasticity of my lungs that is also causing the shortness of breath. I'm hoping the navalbine will take care of this.
I have to be honest....I'm really scared right now. I have these ongoing fears of being hooked up to this oxygen forever and I can't stand the thought of that!! These past 6 weeks have been pure hell and I just want things to be normal again. Right now I can't even do every day activities without getting short of breath.
My onc thinks another week or two the navalbine should kick in. Anybody who has been on it...how long does it usuallly take before you notice any improvements. I remember during the summer with my lung mets I was coughing a lot at the beginning and it took about 6 weeks for it to go away.
I"M NOT GIVING UP GIRLS but I really need to feel even a little tiny bit better every day to inspire me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I need your prayers angels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Blessings and Hugs,
Linda in MI.