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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsCan anyone describe what happens during drainage process
Of my lung? Will I be admitted? How painful is it? Any cheat codes? Last one is a joke lol.

SheltieLover
(66,829 posts)
FarPoint
(13,926 posts)Do you have a lung abscess? This sounds like a Thoracentesis Procedure .... They place a chest tube into the side of your affect lung/ chest...feels like a garden hose going in...Yes, they numb it first...it can be just to drain lung fluid then removed or left in place to negative suction/vac to drainage bag...this later will re-expand a lung...
Thoracentesis is a medical procedure that involves removing fluid from the pleural space, the area between the lungs and the chest wall. This procedure is typically performed to:
Diagnose pleural effusion: A buildup of fluid in the pleural space can cause shortness of breath, chest pain, and other symptoms.
Treat pleural effusion: Removing the excess fluid can improve breathing and relieve symptoms.
Obtain a sample of pleural fluid: This fluid can be analyzed to determine the underlying cause of the pleural effusion.
Procedure Steps:
JMCKUSICK
(2,017 posts)They've already diagnosed a Pleural Effusion per se. Needless to say, I hope they do ultrasound to locate it and I was also told the Cardiac-Thoracic surgeon has been notified of my case.
As I wrote in the main update, you guys are so unbelievably amazing that someday I'll come to understand how many mountains you've moved to save my life. Right now I just know you have. Thank you all so much for your gift of care, knowledge and love that will sustain me now and inspire me forever.
My prayer is to get through this and find the road map that you all have paved for me and have ever so gently led me to and one that I will need to travel with you, for you and for that completely unknown stranger that was me so short a time ago
Thank you FarPoint for the beacon of light that has shown me yet again that anyone is worthy of the depth of another ones knowledge, care and love.
FarPoint
(13,926 posts)When one has a good grasp of what is going on....the recovery effort grows 10 fold...
That you guys often are providing the graspable info makes it ten times more than that.
LuckyCharms
(19,941 posts)Good luck...they'll fix you up.
JMCKUSICK
(2,017 posts)You are an Angel in so many ways.
unblock
(55,031 posts)This was for a collapsed lung, so the fluid they were draining was technically outside her lung, but it's probably a very similar procedure when it's inside.
She was conscious, local an anesthesia only afaik. They clean the area, take a big needle in between the ribs to the location they're trying to drain, pull back on the needle to pull out the liquid, stick a bandage on it and done.
If it's not an emergency, maybe they ultrasound to visualize it. Otherwise I think they may have to do a bit of trial and error with the needle.
The casein saw, she did not seem particularly bothered by the needle, though she was in obvious distress from trying to get all her oxygen from only one working lung.
My job was to hold her hand, talk to her to distract her, and keep her from rolling over (if she tried to look at the needle area, it would move her out of position)
JMCKUSICK
(2,017 posts)You are yet another Angel who God has sent to me to show the way both literally and figuratively.
Even your name offers hope in a mental, physical, emotional and spiritual way. Not just hope it turns out, but one word guidance that we all need to be reminded of
I love you.
unblock
(55,031 posts)Especially if it's as easy as easy as showing my name
Hope you everything goes smoothly and with minimal discomfort.
quaint
(3,823 posts)Wishing you painless procedure and quick healing with full recovery.