Embolization question

J

jmiller

New member
I am considering having a (preventative) embolization. I’ve been coughing up relatively small amounts of blood (~1T) every couple weeks for a few months now. I’ve done IVs, have been doing all the “right” stuff, tried continuous hormone stuff, my lung function is stable around 100%, and still having the bleeds- so I’m thinking it is an enlarged artery/vein that can’t be helped. Fortunately I am at a center with a great IR team that is on board with preventative embolizations (before you are in crisis and coughing up cups of blood).
So my question – what materials were used in your embolization? Coils? Particles? Etc?I’ve heard recently that coils are not the way to go… but I’d like to hear from the group.
Thanks!
 
J

jmiller

New member
I am considering having a (preventative) embolization. I’ve been coughing up relatively small amounts of blood (~1T) every couple weeks for a few months now. I’ve done IVs, have been doing all the “right” stuff, tried continuous hormone stuff, my lung function is stable around 100%, and still having the bleeds- so I’m thinking it is an enlarged artery/vein that can’t be helped. Fortunately I am at a center with a great IR team that is on board with preventative embolizations (before you are in crisis and coughing up cups of blood).
So my question – what materials were used in your embolization? Coils? Particles? Etc?I’ve heard recently that coils are not the way to go… but I’d like to hear from the group.
Thanks!
 
H

hasbro

New member
I recently had an embolization for a fairly large hemoptysis. The IR team found multiple bleeds in both lobes and used the small spherical particles to block them. If memory serves, I was told the coils would be used for larger bleeds and coils for smaller bleeds.

The procedure went very smoothly and it took about 4-5 days to recover. The first two days were the worst, mostly due to groin pain which worsened when I had to cough. The chest pain (hard to take a moderately deep breath) and sore throat took longest to subside, but I felt incrementally better each day and pain meds definitely helped. I had back pain for maybe a week or more, but I'm not sure if that was a direct side effect of the procedure -- lying in bed and IV antibiotics certainly contributed.

Being able to lay down and sleep again was a big relief for me. Good luck with your embolization, hopefully you'll gain some peace of mind afterward!
 
R

RytheStunner

Guest
I had an embolization about a month ago for a massive bleed and have ZERO chest pains afterward. The only pain I experienced was a mild groin soreness that I really only felt when I was walking.
 
C

CyrilCrodius

New member
Oh, the groin is definitely the worst. I have a hernia in the groin close to where they punched the hole so I assume that it made the pain worse. It's far from being unbearable though. I had some chest pain, but it's NOTHING like having pleurisy. It is very bearable.
What I hated the most is that I couldn't get up for what, 2 hours after the surgery? They make you fast obviously, so I was starving and ate right away when I came back... bad idea. I had to hold back a #2 for 2 hours.

There is a way to cough so it doesn't hurt the groin too much.
 
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