I had a lung biopsy thur. 15th DOC GAVE ME A PIC OF ME LUNG LOOK HORRIBLE /BLACK AND DECAY/ALSO HE LEFT A LONG

Question

HE LEFT A LONG SCAR from under my r. nipple to the begining
of my r. arm pit. He said it would only be a small hole. I don't see him for 2 wks. I'm scared because of the size of opening and the photo of my innerlung.I could use some suppor or advise
Jim

Answer 1

If my doctor left me like this I'd be on the phone in a minute, I wouldn't have left the hospital to start with. Not without some advise and some warning of some kind. I would find out what the heck is going on and then find a new doctor. Go to a lung doctor.

Answer 2

Jim, I had an "open chest biopsy" and my experience was much different than yours. I had 3 wounds on the right side of my body, one in the front just below and to the right of the nipple, one under my arm, and one on my back. The wounds were about 1 to 2 inches in length. The front was where the chest tube was inserted and it was the largest wound. I was in the hospital for 5 days and left with a small open wound where the chest tube was inserted. I also had to be on supplemental oxygen for about 3 weeks until the lung healed. I did not get a picture of my lungs from my surgeon. I did get a personal visit every day I was in the hospital and a full explanation of what took place. I did have a follow up visit with him at two weeks so he could examine the wounds.

Instead of waiting 2 weeks to find out exactly what took place, you need to call your surgeon's office and demand a 15 minute consult either by phone or in person. This type of behavior by a physician in the US would be highly suspect, so if you are in the US, this doctor needs a crash course on doctor/patient relations. If you are not in the US, perhaps this is standard for physicians.

If you are a smoker, then your lungs look like that because of your habit. If you are not a smoker, then it is obvious that you have other serious problems that should have been discussed prior to discharge from the hospital. If you smoke, you need to quit. Your lungs can repair themselves, not completely, but they can regenerate. They need your help and you can provide it by living a healthier lifestyle. Good luck and give that doctor a call. Demand an explanation. Hope this helps a little.

Answer 3

Jim hello sorry to hear about this, ummm I have to agree with Cowboy. Although I'm guessing the experience alone was scary enough, and that was probably the last thing on your mind. I can never stress the importance of TRUST between a Doctor and Patient. My husband had a liver transplant 4 yrs ago and although it was a very big ordeal the hospital and Doctors we chose was FANTASTIC!!! If I were you I would be calling around and finding a new Doctor. Even talk to several with your records and find the one that can give you honest answers. If the Doctor you had did indeed tell you there would only be a small scar and another Doctor can not explain why you now have a very large scar I would talk to a lawyer. Sometimes they run into problems and have to modify what they originally said but he should have told you from the beginning, saying maybe "generally it only takes a small incision BUT if there is a complication we MAY have to cut a larger incision" It just sounds more like you are not completely trusting of this Doctor, and trust is the most important thing to have in ANY Doctor you hire> Good Luck hon hope to hear good news!!!

Answer 4

Please DO NOT put vitamin E on your wound! It's still an open wound, so you don't want some oily substance on it attracting dirt and holding in the germs.

Were you unconscious for the procedure? Maybe they started with a small biopsy but had to alter course based on what they found. It seems stupid for a doctor to leave a patient with a photograph and no explanation--you have no basis of comparison to know whether or not that that photo is good or bad or normal or abnormal.

I think you need to call him because the stress of waiting two weeks is going to affect how your scar heals. You need to have some peace of mind about this, so just call him and if he isn't available maybe someone else in the office can pull your file and interpret the results for you. Your doctor needs a lesson in "bedside manner". It is just cruel to leave a patient in that state of wonderment and fear for two weeks.

good luck to you!

Answer 5

I am so sorry to hear of your worries
sounds like from the description of the tissue , that you were/are a smoker
Its not a death sentence- its a chance to change the bad habits NOW
research treatments for Lung Cancer on google for information to already have when you see your MD again
research types of Chemo and read up on radiation

Aunt was a heavy smoker for over 50 years- Lung Cancer diagnosis, surgery, radiation and has been Cancer free for over 3 years now
She did have to quit smoking though

Good Luck

Answer 6

If you are a smoker then I guess you'll be quitting...NOW.

Put some vitamin E on the scar to help the healing & look into ways to help start your lungs getting rid of all the goo....there is a "lung cleanse" you can buy at the health food store....talk to them & see what they think.

All the best........

Answer 7

maybe you should look this up on the computer and see what they say. maybe you and him should have discussed this more before you went along with his decision. you could have had an 2nd oppion.