**UPDATE** I coughed up a staple last night
Mar 6, 2018 16:48:56 GMT
grrlsmom and papercrafteradvocate like this
Post by compwalla on Mar 6, 2018 16:48:56 GMT
I don't believe I've ever been more shocked in my life. Was in the middle of a coughing fit and felt what I thought was perhaps a chip of tooth. Nope. It was a tiny surgical staple from when they did my lung lobectomy in August 2015. This may explain why I've been coughing, feverish, and having asthma symptoms for the last eight or nine weeks. I'm between scans and my docs (oncology, pulmonology, and primary care) blamed it on either progression of my cancer or infection so I've been using albuterol in a nebulizer, am on antibiotics and prednisone, and just generally have been miserable.Â
I felt better (not perfect but better) almost immediately after the staple came up. I sent a pic and a message to my docs to see what they want to do next. Dr Google says there might be more of them irritating my airway and they might need to be removed via bronchoscopy. I have no doubt my cancer has progressed since the fall; my CT confirmed that. I am just not convinced the rapid progression of my *symptoms* is because of it.Â
And here is a non-gross picture of the staple. It came up a bit more neatly folded than this but it was clean and not like, gunky at all. Just a staple that flew out. I poked at it to confirm it was a metal staple and changed the shape a bit. Bizarro.Â
**Updated**
My pulmonologist called me this morning. I sent him a picture and a message last night after this happened. Anyway. He wants me to come in for a chest CT because during my bronchoscopy earlier this year, he noted an area on the right (where I had the lobectomy and radiation) that wasn't getting great blood supply. He's worried the staples are coming through a weak area and this may mean I'm at risk for pneumothorax, infection, or bleeding. All bad things. So I'm going to Dallas on Thursday for the scan and to see him and decide next steps. Cancer is a real adventure, kids!Â
**********UPDATE*********
Started coughing tonight and it was all blood. So much it splashed onto my feet. DH called 911; ended up in our local ER. Scan shows tumor encroaching the airway and a separate pulmonary embolism. I am waiting on air ambulance to transport me to Dallas where they are better equipped to handle my case. Warm thoughts and good vibes are appreciated.
I felt better (not perfect but better) almost immediately after the staple came up. I sent a pic and a message to my docs to see what they want to do next. Dr Google says there might be more of them irritating my airway and they might need to be removed via bronchoscopy. I have no doubt my cancer has progressed since the fall; my CT confirmed that. I am just not convinced the rapid progression of my *symptoms* is because of it.Â
And here is a non-gross picture of the staple. It came up a bit more neatly folded than this but it was clean and not like, gunky at all. Just a staple that flew out. I poked at it to confirm it was a metal staple and changed the shape a bit. Bizarro.Â
**Updated**
My pulmonologist called me this morning. I sent him a picture and a message last night after this happened. Anyway. He wants me to come in for a chest CT because during my bronchoscopy earlier this year, he noted an area on the right (where I had the lobectomy and radiation) that wasn't getting great blood supply. He's worried the staples are coming through a weak area and this may mean I'm at risk for pneumothorax, infection, or bleeding. All bad things. So I'm going to Dallas on Thursday for the scan and to see him and decide next steps. Cancer is a real adventure, kids!Â
**********UPDATE*********
Started coughing tonight and it was all blood. So much it splashed onto my feet. DH called 911; ended up in our local ER. Scan shows tumor encroaching the airway and a separate pulmonary embolism. I am waiting on air ambulance to transport me to Dallas where they are better equipped to handle my case. Warm thoughts and good vibes are appreciated.
this was it. 
