Bronchoscope & Respiratory Therapy

Yesterday afternoon I had my bronchoscope done. This was my third time having this procedure done and by far the worst. The two previous times I don’t remember feeling anything, I simply remember waking up in the recovery room. This time was quite different. From the beginning I knew something was funny when they were starting to do things that I didn’t remember before without putting me out first. Finally asked for Fetanyl (sedation) and they gave me just a little bit. They continued with the procedure without giving me much more and I was awake and felt/saw everything. Because I had a tube in my mouth I couldn’t say anything so I kept raising my hand (that’s what you’re supposed to do to get their attention). They didn’t listen to me so I started to try to talk with the tube in my mouth (which was very painful/uncomfortable). I begged and cried for more Fetanyl, but they didn’t give me any. The whole thing was traumatizing and painful. I could hear/feel them in my lungs doing all kinds of stuff. This morning when I saw one of the pulmonary team specialists I asked her why they hadn’t give me enough drugs and she said it’s up to the doctor doing the procedure. Some like to go more conservative on the drugs. I’m going to make sure I never have that doctor again; no one should have to go through that.

After I got back to my room from the procedure I was starving so I had some soup. About an hour later I got really sick to my stomach and haven’t recovered since. I still also continue to be extremely puffy. My face, hands, fingers, and belly are all very much distended.

The only way I was able to sleep last night was sitting up. Any time I try to lie down I start coughing so much to the point of gagging. I’m better off on a chair then in bed. This morning I had some respiratory therapy and will be continuing that until I get better. This should help with getting rid of all of the mucus in my chest/lungs.

There haven’t been any results back from the bronchoscope (it can take about 48 hrs), however I was told that when they went in they found a lot of mucus blockage. They did get some tissue/cell samples so hopefully we will have a better indication of what is going on, whether there is pneumonia or it’s all disease.

Originally my oncologist was very optimistic about me getting out by Christmas, but at this time it’s looking very unlikely.