Thoracoscopy - Lung & Respiratory Disorders / COPD Message Board

antoinettev3 · 12-03-2004, 12:44 PM

Anyone out there have this procedure done recently? Would love to hear what your experience was like.

I'm 42 years old with pleural nodules that were recently biopsied. The cells came back malignant but they can't say for sure what type of cancer cells they are. I'm being sent to a surgeon to discuss doing a thoracoscopy since that usually gives a more definitive diagnosis and allows for removal of nodules at the same time.

I'm concerned about how I will feel after the procedure since I feel pretty good now. I'm worried about potential complications that will make me feel a lot worse.

Thanks,
Antoinette

antoinettev3 · 12-03-2004, 02:06 PM

I'm SO sorry that your son has had to have so many chest surgeries. It must be very hard to see him go through all that.

I hear the chest tube is the most uncomfortable part of it all but I know that everyone's tolerance for pain is different. I've also heard that it will be several weeks before I'm back to "normal". For a procedure that isn't all that invasive I'm surprised to hear how long the total recovery is.

Thanks for sharing your son's experience.

Antoinette