My lung biopsy

After a long two days at the hospital, we're home again (in Milton) following my lung biopsy. The procedure was scheduled for 1:30 PM on Wednesday. But, as with most medical scheduling, afternoon appointments tend to be late; I was taken to the operating room around 4:00.

Everything went well with my anesthesia, so I don't remember anything after arriving in the operating room. My thoracic surgeon made three incisions in my right back/chest, inserted various cameras and instruments, and took two wedge biopsies from my right lung (the VATS biopsy procedure). I awoke in the recovery area with several new tubes and wires, including one in my chest (a 'chest tube' that pulls any air/fluid out of the space between my lungs and chest wall), one in my bladder (a foley catheter), two IVs, lots of ECG leads, and a pulse oximeter on my finger. I slept for a few hours and was then taken up to our inpatient room. Gwyneth is often jealous that I get anesthesia during surgery and can sleep through it all - she doesn't have that luxury!

Gwyneth was able to spend the night with me but, as usual in the hospital, we didn't get much sleep. On Thursday morning, I was up, walking, and went for my last radiation treatment. The pleura (i.e., the lining between the lungs and chest wall) is very sensitive, so the half-inch diameter plastic chest tube really hurt as I moved around. After two chest radiographs confirmed that my lung was staying inflated, the surgical intern pulled out the chest tube and instantly became my hero. From this point on, I felt fairly 'normal' and was able to get around comfortably; we left the hospital at 3:00.

My right chest is still quite sore (my surgeon - always wise - noted that I shouldn't be surprised, seeing as he knifed me between the ribs three times). But, I'm getting around quite easily on ibuprofen and oxycodone.

We should have some preliminary information from pathology on Monday; this will help to determine our next steps. Gwyneth, William, and I are packed up and will be driving back to Baltimore on Saturday. We'll hope for good weather and a cooperative 2-year old!

Thanks as always for your continued prayers and support,
Robert and Gwyneth