Ron's stomach and back pain were resolved last night and this morning. He has had only a headache today, and that's from all the coughing he's been doing.  He has gotten LOTS of phlegm out of his lungs today.  They did come do an abdominal x-ray this afternoon.
 
I talked to Dr. Jamal and Dr. Tita today.  They are both critical care medical doctors and pulmonologists.  They conferred and compared notes, and both want to get the opinion of a cardio-thoracic surgeon.  They are concerned about the very poor condition of his right lung.  It has air cysts called pneumatocoeles that are in danger of bursting.  They think one of them did burst to cause the lung collapse last week, and he has many more of them.  The top part of his right lung may need to be removed to get rid of that risk.  I haven't seen the surgeon, so I don't know if he will be here still today to evaluate Ron, or if it might be tomorrow.  They said there are a lot of scar tissue and infiltrates showing in the scans and x-rays.  The CT done Monday, 3/23 is not any different than the one done Saturday, 3/7.
 
The cardiologist, Dr. Maaieh, said Ron's heart is doing fine, and he has switched the Lopressor from IV to stomach form.  He said Ron my need to be put on Coumadin blood thinner.
 
I will write more when I have talked to the surgeon.
 
Love,
EJ