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Posts:8
Hi,
I had a lobectomy on 5/21/13. Follow up scan showed a small pleural effusion which I was told is completely normal after surgery. My question is: how long before it goes away? I am now 10 weeks out from the surgery but there seems to be a pattern of every 5-6 days I develop a rattling and some discomfort in my lower left side. It lasts about 24 hours and then it disappears...no rattle and no discomfort. It is very strange...
Thanks!
Sandy
Forums
Reply # - August 2, 2013, 12:59 PM
Reply To: question about pleural effusion after surgery
Hi Sandy :) It sounds as if you're doing pretty well post thoracotomy. I'm talking not from a perspective of a doctor but from one whose cared for several people after surgeries. It seems to me it can take months even a year to recover from such an invasive surgery. My husband had a thoracotomy that caused a small pleural effusion that took months to completely dry up, but it did.
The good thing about the rattling and discomfort is that it goes. I've heard several people on the forums talk about experiencing quite a bit of help from respiratory therapy. I even believe there is a study the suggests it should be prescribed much more often. Perhaps that would help.
I'll ask a doctor to comment.
I hope you continue to improve,
Janine
forum moderator
Reply # - August 2, 2013, 06:13 PM
Reply To: question about pleural effusion after surgery
Hello Sandy--
First of all, congratulations about having your lung cancer removed, and it sounds like so far you are doing very well after your surgery! People very commonly have effusions as a normal part of the healing process after part of the lung is removed. This occurs to different degrees in different people, and can vary in how long it takes to go away. I have some patients who always have a small amount of fluid remaining, although for many it goes away entirely, generally over months.
The fluid doesn't always cause symptoms. Commonly people can feel mucus and phlegm clearing out from inside the lung, which can cause a rattling, gurgling, wheezing, cough, etc. These symptoms can come and go as mucus is cleared.
Airway spasm can cause similar symptoms (like asthma reactions).
It is always important to make sure there are not infections, like pneumonia, or other complications causing symptoms, so it is best to check in with the doctor who knows your individual situation to help in interpreting and troubleshooting.
Wishing you a great recovery from here!