Today’s procedure went well. Before they took me into the procedure room, the doctor brought in an ultrasound machine and we made sure that there was enough fluid and that the fluid was in the right place so that he could do the procedure.

Quick post tonight…fluid is still building up around my lungs making it hard to breathe if I am doing anything at all. So instead of just having it drained, we’ve made the decision with the guidance of the doctor to put in a pleurx catheter so I can drain it at home. I had my COVID test today and have to be at Valley at 6:30 a.m. tomorrow to check in for the 8 a.m. procedure.

I’m also having horrible fatigue. I could sleep all the time…..

Thanks for praying.

We’ve been enjoying time with my Dad and Else up here. It’s pretty cold and most of the leaves are off the trees which makes me sad. I love looking at fall leaves.

I’ve been dealing with something over the past month or so that I haven’t shared with you yet. Nothing on this journey is easy, even the second time around. Here’s a vlog about it…

SPCU (special procedures care unit) room 12 is my room. For some reason, I always get assigned to that room. Next time I think I will bring a little plaque to put on the doorway so everyone knows.

Today, they drained 700 ml from my lungs after only 70 hours. That is a lot for such a short time! That means the fluid is producing faster and faster.

As soon as the Dr. confirmed with the ultrasound machine that I was as dry as possible, he pulled my chest tube out. I am chest tube free!

Quick update…

I still have the chest tube in but there is not much air left in the cavity, which is good. The problem is, is there’s quite a bit of liquid coming out. I just had another thoracentesis and they drained 800 ml of liquid. It has only been 6 days since my last one. That means fluid is accumulating quicker. While they could take the tube out as I don’t need it to get air out, it would pull fluid with it and cause a problem.

The amount I cried as Sage drove away from our house today for the first time by herself was ridiculous. It totally surprised me.

I’m so excited for her. But honestly, more excited for me because I am alive to see another milestone!

Thank you Lord!

I made it to see Sage turn 16!

It has been a long week and we were up seeing the doctor every single day this week either for an appointment or to get some sort of procedure done.

Yesterday I had another chest x-ray done, and there is still air in that cavity near my lung. So I still have the tube in.

Well, there’s not much to report. when I got there today, I turned off the valve which was allowing my lung to push air out. After about an hour they took a chest x-ray. There was air in that cavity again, almost as much as when they first did the procedure yesterday. Apparently the lung is not healed yet.

So we leave the tube in another day and we will go back tomorrow and do another x-ray. Hopefully the air will be gone and they can take the tube out.

Today I am thankful for all of the beautiful leaves I get to see on our drive to the Medical Center.

Yes, you read that right.

The picture below is the bottom of my chest tube. The procedure to insert the chest tube was pretty uncomfortable, but it’s already working, so it was worth it!

Quick post…Im pretty out of it.

I was on the table all ready to go and the radiologist got the ultrasound and started looking for fluid. I didn’t have as much fluid as he thought I would, and it was only accessible through my back.

The tube that was going to be put in is permanent, and is not meant to be taken out. Having it in your back makes it extremely difficult to lay down or sit. So he recommended waiting until there was more fluid and they could access it from a different point so that my quality of life wouldn’t be so greatly affected. I agreed!