Spontaneous Pneumothorax

[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

More updates to come, I actually have to get to work tomorrow :/ Probably won't be able to concentrate much...

[corey]

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

[LMT]

I hope things turn around for the better soon.  Hang in there and know we are all pulling for her.

Mary

[DesmoDiva]

Sending well wishes and hugs your way. 

Stay strong. 

[swampduc]

Well wishes and prayers sent for both of you.

[somegirl]

Sorry to hear about her setback, sending more well wishes.

[Howie]

Keri is still in our thoughts.

[corey]

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

[swampduc]

Good news. And xrays would be 

[corey]

Ugh. Leaking again...
Getting really frustrating and hard to continue being postive...

[swampduc]

Poo 

[Howie]

Sorry to hear.  Set backs suck, but stay positive.

[TiNi]

hang in there corey
stay strong for keri

[T. Rush]

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

[corey]

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?