Trouble breathing.......

Woke up last night having difficulty taking a full breathe. This was odd since I had used my asthma inhaler before going to bed. It is rare for me to use my inhaler once a day, but I have used it three times, and it hasn't helped. So today I saw the doctor, and my chest is clear, my ekg is normal, my spirometer was low, so I was sent for a CAT scan tonight which ruled out a blood clot in my lungs (thank you, god/dess). So here I am still only rarely able to get a nice deep breathe, yet able to walk from the car through the hospital without gasping, but still feeling like I am suffocating because I can't expand my lower chest. I am trying not to panic. I guess tomorrow we call the surgeon, to see if it is related to the surgery. I feel no pain, am able to swallow, feel full all the time like normal, and weight loss continues. Mostly it just feels like my diapraghm can't always expand like I want it to, like I can't finish a yawn. Anyone else have this???? -Julie

Oh my!  I'm so glad they already ruled out clots.  I hope you feel better fast, and please keep us posted after you talk to the surgeon!  *hugs*

Thank goodness they ruled out it being from a bloodclot. Maybe you diapharm just got irritated during surgery. I am glad you are calling your surgeon. Hugs. Jo

Julie, By any chance did you have a Vena Cava Filter put in pre-surgery? Jeanne

Oh, now I have to ask why you are wondering about a vena cava filter?  (I have one, is there some horrible thing I should know about them?)

Absolutely not.  If there were a blood clot that would buy her time or actually catch the clot before it could shoot off.  I have been told that by my having the lymphedma and getting frequent bouts of celulitus the first thing they want to rule out is phelbitis (sp?).  I don't know how long the filter stays effective, but I am comforted in knowing I have one and just wanted to see if maybe Julie had one placed before her surgery. Jeanne

Hi Julie, I read that you are feeling better.  I am so glad.  I love soft pretzels we have them all around.  They don't sell them on the street corners any more they have pretzel bakeries.  I indulge in the ones that used to be sold at the Pennsauken Mart.  They are not as big but they are really good.  Anyway, let me describe what my understanding (very limited) about the filter.  It is like a fan in your groin area.  It spins around and if any blood clots shoot off it usually catches them and dissolves them before they can cause any damage.  I had mine put in the day before my GBS.  You would know if you had it done as it is a seperate proceedure.  I opted (actually the surgeon did) to have it stay.  My thoughts were that if you had this the rush to get a  dopler to find out if you had a bloodclot is allieviated somewhat as the filter does protect you.  I know many people with BMI over 50 who have it done.  Like everything else each surgeon is different. I really hope you are feeling better and if you ever venture to Phillie I will buy you a cheesesteak, sans the roll and not from Pat's or Gino's. Jeanne

hey julie, i know we'll be talking again but i got to thinking after we talked yesterday. i wonder if you've got a partially collapsed lung?  when i had my gallbladder out in 2005 about a week  or so,after my surgery  i got some horriblke pain every time i took a breath. When I went to my PCP he told me my lung was partially collapsed. (OMG!)  I wasnt told to bring home and use the breathing thing (spirometer?) that I got in the hospital (not sure why they didnt give you one!!!) . I didnt know any better (boy i do now) and I believe thats why I ended up with the collapse. It took over a week I think to go away and everything was fine, but boy oh boy it was painful. every time I went to take a deep breath I wanted to cry.  Let me know how things are going, ok?