Hi
As you all know in my previous post, I'm on day 10 after my thymectomy...anyway....I have pain in my right side...I figured that I pulled something. This pain started on or about day 7 after returning home. When I breath in I have some discomfort on my right side. The only way I can describe it is the kind of pain we would all get when we were little and you ran a whole lot....and your side would hurt.

I guess I pulled something but I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this. It doesn't hurt constantly, just sometimes when I breath deep, sneeze, yawn and sometimes first thing in the morning after sleeping. The pain sometimes can be stabbing but eventually goes away for a short while.

Thanks for any insight!
Jujuan

You cannot wait to go and get this checked out. I don't want to scare you. It could be pleurisy or a blood clot or something else. That kind of pain should be checked out IMMEDIATELY. Especially since you just had surgery.

It could simply be atelectasis (a "slight" collapse of the lung) that can happen if you can't take a deep breath in. I've had it several times and it usually goes away. It's usually only a small area of the lung, so don't let the thought of that alarm you. Though that doesn't usually hurt.

You need urgent care or the ER. If you can reach your doctor's office tonight, then please do so. Jim (in MI), was it you who had the blood clot(s)?

Do take this seriously. It's when people wait that bad things happen. You can't "guess" at this. They need to run some tests. Take it easy, ok?

Annie

Did you have chest tubes put in when you had your surgery? I did and I had those pains too but I would listen to what Annie said and have it checked out, better safe than sorry. Please keep us updated.

Annie - Thank you for your response. I did call my surgeon's office today. They ordered me a chest xray to check everything out. I should know the results in the morning.

Joan
I did have two chest tubes as well....I hope that it is something minor like that.

Thanks so much and I will update soon.

JJ

JJ, A chest xray is not accurate for a blood clot in the lung. You need a CT Scan with injectable dye put in via IV. Even the CT Scan they do where you breath in the 'dye' is not accurate. Its important to know a normal chest xray is not enough. I have had a DVT after surgery and PE a few years later ( where the dr did the wrong test) and have since been told by my Respiratory Dr what must be done. My DVT came 10 days after surgery. I don't wish to scare you but it is better to know these things..

I have a genetic blood clotting disorder called Factor V Leiden and most drs never test for it before surgery. FVL affects 5% of the population .. and during surgery we must have special care. I have been reading your story with interest in case I have my thymus removed.Take care and keep us posted on this.

Xanadu

Thanks, Xanadu. I completely agree. That's why I said to go to urgent care or the ER. They would've done the test right away. They are equipped to fully evaluate that kind of pain. A call to your doctor is ok but not enough.

I hope it turns out okay.

Factor V Leiden and APS (antiphospholipid antibody syndrome) are common blood clotting disorders and aren't often found until a situation like this.

I hope it's no more than muscle weakness.

Annie

Hey JJ,

It's good you're having it checked out and I hope it's nothing to worry about. Take care and remember you still have some healing to do.

Big Hugs,
Pat