Thanks, Dale.
The symptoms started appearing about a month ago, mostly a "creaking" in my chest that I attribute to my lung rubbing across my ribs. After the symptoms (shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, movement of the feeling in my chest) worsened last week I finally broke down and went to get checked. I had x-ray's done at the walk-in clinic that I went to last Wednesday. My primary care was out of town for the week so the walk-in after work hours is the route I went. The chest x-ray is what led to the diagnosis. I got a referral to see a pulmonologist and met with him Friday last week, basically an initial consult. It was set up on Friday for the thoracentisis (sp?), aka- tap/drain, today with the ultrasound to guide the tap.
What I didn't mention in my first post was that twice today I felt as if I was going to pass out right before the doctor was going to start the actual procedure. Part of it was that the room was small and had no air circulation. There was also 7 people in the room and I was instructed not to eat anything for 4 hours before the CT scan which was scheduled for 1:30. It was after my "normal" lunch time (noon-ish) when this all occurred too, so I'm sure blood sugar played no small part in how I felt. The doc was going to stick the needle in me anyway, even if it drained only one pocket so that labs could be run on it, but after my second episode of feeling hot/ready to pass out, he decided not to since there would be little benefit right now.
I don't know how long the adhesions have been there. My guess, from discussing it with the doc today, is that it's related to a severe bout of costochondritis that I had about 2 years ago. Costo is an inflammation of the cartilage and connective tissue around the lungs. I was never officially diagnosed with it, but my symptoms fit to a "T" what I found online and after starting a heavy regimen of ibuprofen it pretty quickly went away. My assumption is whatever is removed during the surgical procedure will be sent off for labwork. The doc told me last Friday that the ideal situation is (obviously) that this never comes back, and that they not figure out what caused it. If they can figure out definitively what caused it, chances are good that it won't be good.
"Young and otherwise healthy"- yeah, that's the problem. I'm 34 and have had no major health issues. The guy that checked off the form for the CT today made the comment that I was the easiest one he'd ever had as far as medical history/issues! Hell, I've never even broken any bones. I don't remember the last time I missed work due to *me* being sick...
