https://health.google.com/health/ref/Spontaneous+pneumothorax
The person I care about most is going through a resolution process currently.
It involves a painful chest tube, suction, and surgery.
I'm not close with many of you, and I know that this pales in comparison to a lot of thing going around right now, but if you have some spare room in your prayers, Keri could really use them.
Surgery is Friday morning, and I'm scared as hell. I'm a pretty young guy, this might be the hardest thing I've ever gone through.
Thanks so very much, it's been a hard week.
I will post up news when I can.
God bless you all, and please, do all you can to take care of your health. without it, we have nothing.
Sending both of you ((hugs)) and positive healing thoughts, hang in there and keep us updated.
Prayers sent, brother. I went to med school once upon a time. I might be able to answer questions if you want to pm me. Best of luck.
Send Keri best wishes from the wife and I. Keri will be in our thoughts.
Big hugs sent
I think I know a bit about how your feeling. My wife is battling a major illness. You never expect anything like this when you are young. My best to you and Keri.
There is nothing more scary than having a loved one go through something like this. My prayers are with Keri and yourself. Hopefully everything comes out all right.
prayers sent!!!
Corey -- good luck and all my best wishes to you & to Keri!
Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes guys, it's so very much appreciated.
Keri underwent thorascopic surgery this morning to remove a "weak" portion of her right lung (very small, less than 10% of her total lung). They also purposely created some inflammation that would induce scarring that actually causes the outside of the lung to heal itself to the inside of the chest cavity, preventing this from happening again. Everything went smoothly, with no complications. After some waiting we were able to finally see her. She's a little beat up, but she'll pull through fine i think. A few more days of recoup and we can finally have those damn chest tubes removed, and get her home.
It's been a rough weak, and something i hope to not have to do ever again.
Thanks so much again for all the prayers, we know they really do mean everything.
You guys are the best.
More updates soon, things are looking up :)
Glad to hear everything went well with the surgery, give her our best. :)
That's great news Corey!
Best wishes to Keri.
Good to hear Keri is doing well ;D
Corey, Glad to hear everything turned out ok with Keri. I had a collapsed lung, ( spontaneous pneumothorax), in 05. Two surgery's, seven chest tubes and three weeks later I went home with a chest tube in. Needless to say it hurt. I'm sure taking it easy won't be a problem and tell Keri not to try to start a chain saw for least a month. I learned the hard way! Best wishes on getting well.
Tod
glad the surgery went well,
and hopefully keri will make a quick and healthy recovery :)
hang in there corey!
Thanks for all the well wishes guys.
We had some pain problems yesterday, but that's been solved again with the help of a "panic button" for keri.
It beeps, she instantly feels better, and then falls asleep. It's pretty funny.
Her X-rays today looked very good again, the hole in her lung has apparently healed up, but there is still a weak spot that is occassionally fluctuating some air through when she coughs. They are keeping the tubes in for another day, maybe two. She will be removed from suction tomorrow to see how her lung responds. We hope it stays fully inflated, and we can finally get at least one of the chest tubes out.
If all goes according to plan, it looks like she could be home as early as tuesday evening, but more likely wednesday in my opinion. I'd rather take an extra day just to be safe.
Thanks again for all the support guys, it's been helpful.
With a little luck, Keri and I will still be able to make the ride to SkyLine this year ;D [thumbsup]
More updates to come, I actually have to get to work tomorrow :/ Probably won't be able to concentrate much...
Update...
They took Keri's chest tubes off suction today. Unfortunately, by the time her lunch-time Xray rolled around, her lung had begun to collapse again. Looks like she still has a small leak. They put her back on suction...
I'm not really sure what the next steps are... I'm heading to the hospital tonight to keep her company for a bit whilst her folks take a little break. Trying to stay positive... she is doing a better job at it than I am...
Cor
I hope things turn around for the better soon. Hang in there and know we are all pulling for her.
Mary
Sending well wishes and hugs your way.
Stay strong.
Well wishes and prayers sent for both of you.
Sorry to hear about her setback, sending more well wishes.
Keri is still in our thoughts.
So yesterday finally brought some decent news.
They think Keri's lung is finally sealed back up, but is still a bit fragile.
They left her as she was through the day and all night, and are going to water-seal the tubes today and remove her from suction. This is going to simulate removing the tubes to see how her lung will react. If there is no further air escaping into the chest cavity, and the lung stays fully inflated, then we are in business. Hoping for the best.
Her pain is well controlled now, so it's just a matter time for the next few days.
Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers and well wishes guys, they have really made a difference.
More to come, including maybe some x-rays ;D
Good news. And xrays would be [thumbsup]
Ugh. Leaking again...
Getting really frustrating and hard to continue being postive...
Poo :(
Sorry to hear. Set backs suck, but stay positive.
hang in there corey
stay strong for keri
Hang in there Corey. Collapsed lungs can be stubborn. They sent me home with a chest tube still in since the thorax membrane would not seal. It took another two weeks for the lung to re-inflate. That was a total of five weeks so I feel Keri's pain literally. Unfortunately oxicodone was the only pain med that worked in the end. Almost works too good. Good luck.
Tod
After a late-night run to the CT scan room and some really close examination of said scans, they finally found (hopefully) the leak. It was on the front of her lung, so they had to insert another small chest tube (they called it a "pigtail"). The air stopped burping out through the other tubes, so hopefully everything is going to start healing up.
Looking up again, i hope this works this time!
thanks for the help guys.
T.Rush, i know what you mean about these things being stubborn. Are you having any lingering issues?
Keep making progress -- great work, Corey & Keri!
Update.
Keri's lung seems to be sealing up slowly. Unfortunately, the leak on the front of her lung is being persistent. They are doing another procedure today to replace the "pigtail" tube with a much larger one to get more suction directly on the leak. Poor thing just wants to come home. 2010... what a year so far.
Sorry to hear this is dragging on and on!!! No fun at all for either of you, but you're doing a great job of being there. Keep at it!
keri is home and recovering nicely :) thanks for all the help guys!
That is great news! Glad to here she is home and getting better [thumbsup]
Glad to hear the good news! :)
Awesome news!! [thumbsup]
Yeeha! Great to hear the good news [thumbsup]
Awesome news, y'all!
Excellent.
Whooo Hooo [thumbsup] [thumbsup]