Fluid in the pleural cavity

[Foggybottom]

Anyone had this?  My abdomen gets swollen, but not near as much as some of you are talking about, but I'm having trouble with my lungs.  Weird feeling, pain in the lower chest and coughing (although nothing comes up).  It's better at night when I lay down, but comes back as soon as I stand up in the morning in the shower.  Seems to get worse over the day and has gotten a little worse over the last month.  Never a fever or goopy lungs.  Just shortness of breath, and mild sternal pain with coughing.   Could this be from fluid in the pleural cavity?

[LindaF]

I had that last month! Was a sinus infection - go figure! If anyone had told me that, I would've thought them crazy but 10 days on Amoxillin and the feeling's gone. I described it being able to 'feel my lungs'. I was told that the post nasal drip can cause a reactive airway which feels exactly as you described. When I went in, they listened to my back and took a pulse ox to be sure I wasn't decreased. That eliminated many things including fluid in the pleural cavity. This is the second time this has happened to me. Ya think I would've figured it out the second time?? :)

[LindaF]

Oops, forgot to say if you've been diagnosed with OVCA, DEFINITELY get it checked out but it could be a more benign thing

[Anna-maria74]

I had this really weird feeling in my lungs. It was like a sudden intake of breath involountarily, like catching my breath. I found out just recently that it was probably caused by my cyst pressing on my diaphram. Ill tell you what the symptoms of OVCA are so similar to benign cysts no wonder we are all paranoid.

Anna x

[Aria 21]

When I had a cyst, it constricted ALL of my internal organs, including my lungs, and if you have a history of ovca, I would get it checked out.  Because of the stomach distention, it reminds me of my case which was pretty severe and included loss of apitite and constipation(my intestines were found near my left lung during surgery) frequent urination, shortness of breath, and very distended stomach(looked like a 4-5 month pregnancy on my petite frame)...all because a 20cm cyst was in the way.

[Foggybottom]

Thanks all,

It's nice to have a place to go and post about your fears, however irrational they might be.  Who knows what's going on, but I'll have the answers eventually......  As you all know waiting for the surgery is probably the hardest part!!!!

Out of curiosity, what is the range of waiting times out there, It will be a month or so for me from the time I knew I needed surgery until it was scheduled.....  too long if you ask me!

[Aria 21]

I had to wait a week, and mine was considered an emergency because the cyst/tumor was pressing on my iliac vein, which could have resulted in thrombus.  once my clot-scare was determined negative, I was put on blood thinners and had to wait a week...I thought that was too long too

[3rd Stage Son]

Hi there, I'm new to forum.  Sorry to hear about diagnosis w/ ovarian...its scary how such a rough disease isn't talked about more.  My mom was diagnosed w/ 3c ovarian cancer 23 months ago.  I have a science background and she once had the symptoms you are describing.  Definitely have it checked out as swelling could be tumor-related, but I think you may have ascites.  This is buildup of fluid in the cavity of the abdomen.  It can get so bad that you are visibly distended and breathing may be difficult since fluid doesn't compress, but your organs do...this will limit the amount your lungs can expand as you inhale.  Treatment is draining of the fluid in your cavity which only looks bad, but is painless when done well (look away if this needs to be done).  Additionally low-salt diet and diuretics may be employed to reduce the fluid production.  

Please have it looked at by your oncologist and good luck!