They took my lung!

That's what I found out today.  Not the whole lung, just a part of it.

When I had the tumor removed from my lung last year, I was told that they didn't take any of my lung out.  Well, they told me a story!!  Let me give you a little back history.

In June, 2011, I had a schwannoma removed from my right lung.  It was larger than an egg, solid with nerves and blood vessels all entwined in it and was positioned between my right lung and chest cavity.  When we first went to the doctor about it, he thought it was a liquid filled cyst and that he could make a 2-3 inch incision, drain it and be done with it.  But, I can NEVER do anything the simple way. :)

I ended up with a 9 inch incision, in CICU for 4 days with a chest tube and recovering from one of the most painful surgeries I have ever been through.  For the full story, check out my facebook note and see how the whole ordeal played out.

Anyway, for the past 6 months or so, my breathing has really been compromised.  I haven't been able to take a full breath of air and at times feel like I can't breathe at all.  My family doctor referred me to a Pulmonologist who ran some tests on my heart and did a pulmonary function test.  The tests on my heart came back great.  Everything looked normal. But my lungs were a different story.

He said my lungs, specifically my right lung where the tumor was, is significantly restricted and doesn't expand as it should.  He asked me how much of my lung they removed when they took the tumor out.  I told him that I was told they had not removed any of it.  He said, "well, they did."  Great. 

I don't know how much of my lung is missing, I just know some of it is missing.  How strange is that?  It's odd for someone to tell you that a piece of one of your most vital organs is just gone.  I am having a hard time wrapping my brain around that.  No wonder I can't breathe!

I am now on two different inhalers - one twice a day regularly and one for emergency situations.  He said that I will be on these inhalers indefinitely. 

While the news was not what I expected, it could have been so much worse.  Through all of this, I can't do anything but Praise God!!  This experience has taught me to rely on Him when things are way beyond my control.  I still struggle with that daily, but when I do, He finds a way to get my attention again.  Having someone tell me that part of my lung is missing is a GREAT way to get my attention, God.  Thanks!