One Mile?

Good evening everyone!

Two weeks ago today we received a life changing message. Boy oh boy has it been a roller coaster of emotions for everyone! I still find it mind boggling Dr. Mulligan preformed a double lung transplant on me. What doctors can do now days in modern medicine is truly fascinating!

Anyways on today’s update. Didn’t get much sleep last night. X Ray came at 3:30 am to do a chest X-ray and I think I was wide awake after that. The X-ray showed I still have a small pocket of air on my left upper chest. The main goal is to remove the air so my new lungs can adhere to my chest wall and expand correctly. The thoracic team said this is common. To remove the pocket of air they can go in place a small “pigtail” drain. It’s a tube that would be inserted into my left upper chest no bigger around than a pencil they say. The “pigtail” line would connect to a drain and within a few days drain out. So in order to have this procedure done the radiologists (who places the pigtail line) wants a detailed CT (cat scan) scan done. Next thing I know at 7 am I was being wheeled down to have a CT (cat scan) done of my chest. Doesn’t take long at all to do the CT scan. Came back to my room where my mom and Kerry where so we all three hung out and chatted for a little while. My morning nurse came in we did my morning pills, vital signs, morning shots and she began my morning ivs as well. Next thing I know the nurse gets a phone call saying transport was on its way to take me back down to radiology to have the “pigtail” line put in. It takes several hours to place the line. They don’t knock you out completely but they give you some medication to help you relax, numb up your chest and then by using wires, magnets and ultrasounds they go in and place the “pigtail” line. So I’m trying to remain calm. Next thing I know Dr. Jones (the attending radiologist who places the line) walks in and proceeds to tell me he reviewed my CT scan from earlier and by the looks of it the air pocket is getting smaller on its own over time. Plus since I have my mediport on my left side of my chest as well it’s acting like a “blocker”. It would do more harm rather than be helpful if we placed the drain. So needless to say Dr. Jones didn’t feel comfortable placing the drain, so we don’t have one! Talk about a world wind of events in one day!!!! I arrived back at my room around 3:30 in the afternoon. I was starving and thirsty!! I was finally allowed to eat!

After I ate physical therapy came and we started with leg strengthening exercises followed by a walk! Obviously my goal for the day was to walk a mile, but my other goal is to slowly start turning off the oxygen. I have to say after three walks today I did a total of 33 laps and roughly seven of those laps I used ZERO liters of oxygen!!!! Whoop whoop! Two goals accomplished for the day!! I walked 1.8 miles today and I CAN walk without using supplemental oxygen!!!

I still have two drain tubes left. The thoracic team reviewed them, the drainage is starting to slow down, but we still have a little ways to go. Dr. Mulligan thinks maybe in a day or two they should be done. So keep your fingers crossed!

Well today has been a very productive day and I’m sure tomorrow will be another productive day as well! Hope everyone had a great Tuesday!

Until next time………..

~Jen~
“Just Breathe”