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The original was posted on /r/tifu by /u/Ofeiven on 2024-11-11 19:50:00+00:00.

In February, my wife was suddenly hospitalized with a critical combination of pneumonia, sepsis, influenza, and a strep infection, which severely impacted her health. Her condition declined rapidly, and the medical team made the difficult decision to place her in a coma and on life support for two weeks. During this time, we clung to hope, waiting anxiously for any sign of improvement.

Miraculously, my wife began to respond to treatment. Within two weeks, her doctors felt confident enough to discharge her, and the relief we felt was indescribable. But our relief was short-lived. That very night, she experienced an intense, stabbing pain in her right lung, which made it clear she needed to return to the hospital.

Back in the hospital, the doctors ran tests to determine the cause of her pain. After several assessments, a consultant explained that her right lung was under pressure from fluid buildup in the pleural sac, the membrane around her lungs. The fluid was pressing on her lung, causing immense pain and requiring a drainage procedure.

Now, this doctor had braces and a lisp, so as he explained the buildup, I heard him say, “emphysema” instead of “empyema.” While empyema is a treatable buildup of fluid, emphysema is a chronic, potentially fatal lung disease. The mix-up left me deeply rattled, and I spent the night awake worrying that my wife might face a lifelong condition. My concern extended to family, who also began to worry about her long-term prognosis.

The next morning, another doctor clarified that my wife had empyema, NOT emphysema, and that a simple drainage procedure would relieve her discomfort. This news was a huge relief, allowing us to focus on her recovery.

The procedure went smoothly, and her pain lessened. She remained in the hospital for observation for a few days, but now we feel grateful every day for her progress and the support of the medical team.

TL;DR

In February, my wife was hospitalized with severe pneumonia, sepsis, influenza, and strep. She was placed in a coma on life support for two weeks before showing an incredible recovery. Discharged, she was readmitted the same night with pain due to fluid in her lung’s pleural sac, requiring a drain (an empyema). Due to a misunderstanding, I initially believed the condition was emphysema (a chronic lung disease), which caused a night of considerable worry until a consultant clarified the treatment.