Recovery
Donation protected
Due to recent medical events, I'm asking for help with assistance for rent, bills, food, cost of living and any necessities needed during my recovery. I need to find a new job as I am now unable to work for long periods of time around cigarette smoke in a bar. I also need to move in the beginning of February. This medical emergency could not have happened at a worse time in my life, especially with the holidays. I will have at least 4 weeks of recovery and have already been out of work 2 weeks. This is hard for me to ask but friends have asked me what I need. This is what I really need right now in my life. I would never ask this but I truly don't know how I'm going to survive this recovery without help. I'm going to miss all of you over the holidays and would love the gift of your time as I'll be stuck at home for awhile. All updates of my recovery will be posted here along with pictures and you can also follow me on Facebook.com/dfreyyy
On December 16th I woke up to chest pains, back pains, rapid breathing, shortness of breath and fatigue. I went to Tampa General Hospital's Emergency Room. Due to the circumstances I was taken to the back right away to run tests and x-rays. It was found that I had a spontaneous pneumothorax in my left lung, which is the sudden collapse of a lung without any apparent reason of cause. I was quickly given pain medication and anesthetics so that they could place a small tube between my ribs to remove the excess air/fluids around my lung which would allow my lung to inflate. When all was said and done I was told I would be admitted, figuring just for one night.
UPDATE #1: December 18th - Day 3
I got a CT scan which shows the top part of my lung isn't remaining inflated without the help of the tube/machine thats sucking excess air and fluid from the cavity that holds my lung. Basically when I don't have suction with this machine my lung slowly starts to leak air and will collapse.
What I had was a BLEB. Pulmonary blebs are small subpleural thin walled air containing spaces, not larger than 1-2 cm in diameter. Their walls are less than 1 mm thick. If they rupture, they allow air to escape into pleural space resulting in a spontaneous pneumothorax.
UPDATE #2: December 19th - Day 4
Not the news that I wanted at all... I'll be going in to surgery first thing in the morning for about an hour. I'll be in ICU for a day or two before returning to a regular room and HOPEFULLY home on Christmas Eve. It'll be a month of recovery. So if you dont hear from me for awhile, I wanted to let you all know why.
I'm scared to say the least. At least I'll be able to return to a normal life when this is all said and done.
UPDATE #3: December 20th - Day 5
I went in to surgery at 7:30am. They went in through my back under my shoulder blade and used a line of staples to secure the leak on my lung. They then used a substance to adhere my lung to the cavity wall so that this can't happen again. The operation was successful. I currently have a tube in my rib cage to clear out excess fluids/blood for a day or two. I'm not sure how many stitches are in my back but it looks like a good amount. On a scale of 1-10 my pain is a solid 74. If all goes as planned I will be returning home on Monday, Christmas Eve. *fingers crossed
UPDATE #4: December 21st - Day 6
A little winded but the nurse helped me walk down the hallway for the first time all week. Back in a clean bed watching Live PD waiting for my sandwich and chicken noodle soup. Hopeful for tomorrow!
UPDATE #5: December 22nd - Day 7
Bitter-sweet, I guess. The tube won't be coming out today. However the Doctor just informed me that the gap at the top of my lung post surgery has gone from 2in down to 8mm as of today. He's hopeful that tomorrow we will remove the suction from the tube and apply the water block for the final test. Keep sending your good vibes and prayers! I wish I could give you all a big hug!
Update #6: December 23rd - Day 8
The x-rays this morning looked good! Suction has been removed from my tube and if the x-rays 24-hours from now show that my lung is holding up on its own... the tube will be pulled and I can go home if I'm feeling okay! Staying positive and hopeful!
On December 16th I woke up to chest pains, back pains, rapid breathing, shortness of breath and fatigue. I went to Tampa General Hospital's Emergency Room. Due to the circumstances I was taken to the back right away to run tests and x-rays. It was found that I had a spontaneous pneumothorax in my left lung, which is the sudden collapse of a lung without any apparent reason of cause. I was quickly given pain medication and anesthetics so that they could place a small tube between my ribs to remove the excess air/fluids around my lung which would allow my lung to inflate. When all was said and done I was told I would be admitted, figuring just for one night.
UPDATE #1: December 18th - Day 3
I got a CT scan which shows the top part of my lung isn't remaining inflated without the help of the tube/machine thats sucking excess air and fluid from the cavity that holds my lung. Basically when I don't have suction with this machine my lung slowly starts to leak air and will collapse.
What I had was a BLEB. Pulmonary blebs are small subpleural thin walled air containing spaces, not larger than 1-2 cm in diameter. Their walls are less than 1 mm thick. If they rupture, they allow air to escape into pleural space resulting in a spontaneous pneumothorax.
UPDATE #2: December 19th - Day 4
Not the news that I wanted at all... I'll be going in to surgery first thing in the morning for about an hour. I'll be in ICU for a day or two before returning to a regular room and HOPEFULLY home on Christmas Eve. It'll be a month of recovery. So if you dont hear from me for awhile, I wanted to let you all know why.
I'm scared to say the least. At least I'll be able to return to a normal life when this is all said and done.
UPDATE #3: December 20th - Day 5
I went in to surgery at 7:30am. They went in through my back under my shoulder blade and used a line of staples to secure the leak on my lung. They then used a substance to adhere my lung to the cavity wall so that this can't happen again. The operation was successful. I currently have a tube in my rib cage to clear out excess fluids/blood for a day or two. I'm not sure how many stitches are in my back but it looks like a good amount. On a scale of 1-10 my pain is a solid 74. If all goes as planned I will be returning home on Monday, Christmas Eve. *fingers crossed
UPDATE #4: December 21st - Day 6
A little winded but the nurse helped me walk down the hallway for the first time all week. Back in a clean bed watching Live PD waiting for my sandwich and chicken noodle soup. Hopeful for tomorrow!
UPDATE #5: December 22nd - Day 7
Bitter-sweet, I guess. The tube won't be coming out today. However the Doctor just informed me that the gap at the top of my lung post surgery has gone from 2in down to 8mm as of today. He's hopeful that tomorrow we will remove the suction from the tube and apply the water block for the final test. Keep sending your good vibes and prayers! I wish I could give you all a big hug!
Update #6: December 23rd - Day 8
The x-rays this morning looked good! Suction has been removed from my tube and if the x-rays 24-hours from now show that my lung is holding up on its own... the tube will be pulled and I can go home if I'm feeling okay! Staying positive and hopeful!
Organizer
Daniel Lee
Organizer
Tampa, FL
