Medical question - right place?

peanuthead

Hi there

I'm writing here because I have a medical question - I hope it is in the right place and if it's not could it please be moved.

My problem is that I need some kind of one of the following:

1. An expert's opinion/advice
2. Guidance on where to go to get advice.
3. Advice from anyone who may have experienced the same thing

Here is the issue.

On 30th December I brought my father to A&E as he could not breathe.

He got oxygen and xray - it was noticed that he had a collapsed lung.

He immediately had a procedure done to inflate the lung and insert a drain.

The drain had to be repositioned that same night.

The following morning, 31st December when I visited him in the Main hospital, his neck was very swollen.

That night the tube in his lung fell out and he woke up minus the drain and one of his eyes was swollen shut.

As the next day progressed, 01st January, his face and neck got more swollen and both eyes swelled up leaving him temporarily blind.

The doctors explained that his eyesight could easily be restored by applying pressure to his eyes but that as soon as we eased off the pressure they would swell up again. They explained that the swelling was air and not an infection.

They later said a drain would have to be re-inserted through more surgery or else my father would die.

This procedure should have stopped the swelling.

It is now 05th January and the swelling has not subsided.
Scans have been rushed to a specialist by courier this evening and the hospital have now admitted that while they are positive that this swelling is being caused by air (it is not bruising) they do not know where it is coming from, are not sure how it was caused and do not know how to stop it.

Very long winded and thanks for staying with me so far.

Basically we are at our wits end. He is now over a week in hospital and his condition seems to be worse now than it was when he was admitted!!
His face is distorted and is twice the size it should be. He is afraid that because it is taking so long to sort this out that he may be left disfigured.

I have a feeling this may be breaching some kind of rule, but I did look at charter and I know I'm looking for medical advice, but I have tried to ask the doctors in the hospital and I am getting no answers. I don't know what else to do

So can anyone tell me about this condition, what it's likely to be (allergic reaction / rare side effect) Has anyone come across it before?

Thanks

P

peanuthead

Update: After trawling site among site I am fairly sure I know what this condition is now called - Subcutaneous emphysema.

Anyone available to give me any info on this? It seems that it may be a case of cutting what they call 'blow-holes' into his skin to release the trapped air?

IrishKnight

I don't think you'll get much here other than, ask the doctors. I know you said you are getting no where with them but we can't answer medical questions here many reasons. Try your GP, perhaps they might enlighten you.

Capt'n Midnight

Thread closed.

From the charter http://boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055702312

There are just a few things to note when posting here

First and foremost.......

THIS IS NOT A MEDICAL ADVICE BOARD.

No medical advice will be given here, so please don't ask for any.
If you want medical advice go to your GP.

Some of the health insurance companies have helplines that you may be able to call.

If you want to talk about this is affecting yourself, you could post on the Personal Issues forum http://boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=443 but we cannot discuss medical advice on any thread or forum on boards.ie