It is the
start of the Golden Week here in Japan. 🙌
I am in my
5th week now and hoping that the virus will go away so I can go
home. I am getting better and it has been 4-5 days that I am not taking pain
killers.😊 But the edema was still occurring so I have albumin drips and
additional medicine so I can urinate more.
One day I
woke up, it seems everything was fine and I was feeling good. But, I suddenly
felt back pains, pain in my lower right rib, and gradually difficulty in
breathing. CT scan was taken and the doctors found out that one of my lungs was
ruptured.😱 It was like a balloon that was out of air. The air that I am inhaling
is not getting out of my body which caused the difficulty of breathing. They
said that it could be due to the bacteria that damaged the lungs. Although the bacteria
is cured, and the lungs got better unfortunately it is still swelling so it is
vulnerable to tearing. Also, it may be the side effect of the current
treatment.
*By the
way, in some other cases, when a woman`s menstruation is coming the possibility
of ruptures is high.
Because of the rupture, I must
have a pneumothorax. The air must be taken out so that my lungs will be back to
its normal shape and will naturally heal. 😥Even though they used anesthesia
during the process, I still felt the pain when the tube entered my body. It was
placed on my right rib side. The tube is connected to a machine that sucks up
the air from my lungs. There is an indicator that air was sucked out, the sound
was like blowing bubbles in glass of water. The doctors
said that if the machine is making that sound, the ruptures are bad. There was
also some water from my lungs extracted.
But hours
after the procedure, my breathing is almost back to normal. 😹All the air is not
yet sucked out so it will be a while that I will be having this. Also, I am
using oxygen because there is still difficulty in breathing.
The next
day, I had an X-ray taken. My lungs did improve a little bit, but still far from
the normal shape. So there is no choice but to put this on for a little while. The
next day, the Pulmonologist, Doctor Sumitani, checked my condition and said
that the rupture is worse, that with this machine only, it will not be healed
naturally. Then, he consulted with my family of doctors. Before lunchtime,
Doctor Sumitani and my family of doctors together with two surgeons came to see
me. They told me about my situation and the only way to be healed is to have
surgery.😨😟
WHAT???!!!
A surgery? 😭I was so shocked that I don’t know how to react, I only laughed. It didn’t
sink-into me easily but I got a hold of myself, and said, I have to do this,
this is the only way. They said that it is urgent. Then I said, can we do this
today?! And they were all surprised. They looked at each other and seems to
have a conclusion. They said that I have to contact my family, but my family of
doctors said, your family is in the Philippines ☹, do you have someone to contact? A! your colleague, Matsumoto san. Then
my attending physician, Nagatsuji Sensei, contacted Matsumoto san and said that
he is needed for the explanation about the surgery procedure and his signature is
needed as an agreement. Later that day, Matsumoto san came. It has been over a
month since I last saw him. Due to the covid19, the visitation here in the
hospital is prohibited, but there are some other cases that we can have visitors,
just like my case. I even received cookies. Lucky me! 😼He said to eat it as a reward after the surgery.
The procedure
was explained. As a summary, the goal of the surgery is to patch the hole in my
right lung. My tissue will be used for patching. Tei Sensei said that even if
the patching will be successful there is a chance of reoccurrence. If will
happen, the affected area will be taken. What?! Taken? And if it will be cut,
it will not grow again. Oh my God!!
Unfortunately,
the operating rooms were not available that day. I was scheduled the next day,
May 9, 2020 at 10:45 am. I was thinking that after this everything will be back
to normal and will be okay. I was not nervous or anything, in fact I was
excited, even though it was my first surgery.
So the moment
arrived. 😰I was observing the room at that time and there are so many doctors
and I don’t know why and what are their parts. The new nephrologist in charge
of me, Miyamoto sensei, was there too. I felt relieved seeing a familiar face
and cheered for me. The whole body anesthesia was administered while I am still
awake. It was such a good thing that I am used to pain that it was no problem
for me. It took about 15 minutes or so. After that process they put me to
sleep. I don’t know how but I just blacked out.
I heard
someone was calling me and when I opened my eyes, the surgery was over. And the
patching was successful! They need not cut my lungs. It was 14:00, it took 3
hours. I was brought to my room. The doctors told me to breath using my nose
and as deeply as I can. I realized that many things were attached to my body. There
were drips, a machine that monitors my oxygen levels, oxygen, 2 pneumothorax
tubes, and catheter. I was feeling over drugged and my body was aching especially
my right side. Every time I inhale, I can feel my lungs expand, as in literally
I can feel it expand. Even though it hurts I need to do this. I was not able to
sleep that night. I think of the things I want to eat the next day (I was granted
permission from my doctors that I can eat anything I want after the surgery 😊)
The next
day, the doctors told me that the catheter and the machine that monitors my oxygen
levels will be removed.😕 I was worried because I am taking the water pill and I have
to go to the toilet often. But the doctors told me that I have to walk so that
my lungs will be exercised and will heal faster. I tried to walk even though it
is painful. I went to the toilet, I had the trouble of getting up, but the nurse
was always there to help me. I felt so sorry for myself that I wanted to cry. Because
I can`t do the normal things I can do and I felt pathetic. I tried hard and
walk around as the doctors advised.
The next
day, they told me that the recovery is doing good, 😲and one of the pneumothorax
tubes will be removed. Tei sensei removed it for me. It was painful but relieving.
On the third day, even though it was still painful, it was like nothing happened.
I was brought back to the nephrology ward. Tei sensei and Kanou sensei was checking
my condition so every day (for 3 or 4 days) I have to take an x-ray. Since there
was no problem, the last tube was taken out. it took a week from the surgery to
the taking out of the last tube. I have 3 scars. It was so fast. Now I can feel the pain from the
wound, I think it still swells but I am trying my best to exercise it. I can`t
sneeze or cough hard because I am afraid that my lungs will be torn again (but
the doctors said it's okay). 🙋
It was the golden week here in Japan and for me it was a golden week after all. 😜
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