Julie how is your breathing?

Julie I have been thinking about you. Did you find out what is causing your breathing difficulties?

Also checking in to see if Julie has posted again.  Thinking about ya! 

I'm sorry I haven't written....I've been trying to figure this all out. So far, all the medical tests are negative, except the spirometer which says my lung capacity is low.  That didn't help much. But I did manage to discover, purely by accident, was that by eliminating milk from my diet for about 12 hrs a ton of phlegm loosened up deep in my chest which I was able to clear with a couple of good coughs. Plus my pouch, which had been feeling like I had eaten two turkey dinners ever since I began giving it instant breakfast in the hospital, began to feel much less full. Being able to fully yawn most of the time has resolved, but I still feel like I can't expand my lungs like I want fully, even though I know I am getting enough air. I then realized that if I hadn't had surgery I would be heading to my allergist for an allergy shot......except since I moved to Cape Cod I haven't been getting them. That's because the allergist here tested me and decided I didn't have allergies!!  Soooo.... I am having him fax his report, as well as the report from my former allergist to me today, and I will bring it all to the surgeon on Monday and see what they think. My local doc tells me they are having lots of people with asthma coming in needing med adjustments right now, as allergies are high here right now. I always had trouble in the fall, so this is where I think the problem is. At least I am sticking with that so I won't be scared. Thanks Jo and Jenn for thinking about me. -Julie

Hey, I was thinking about you, too!  Good idea to get the allergies checked out.  Since moving to Colorado, I notice I have days where I feel like I can't get my day started until I cough up a big furball because my lungs feel "stuck."  One of the fellows I talk to at the rec center who uses supplemental O2 says he has days where he has to increase his liter flow because of allergens in the air. As you increase your activity level, I think you will find that your lungs start feeling more like normal. That, and seeing if you need to get back on allergy shots. Your comment about feeling like you ate two turkey dinners is exactly how I felt yesterday.  I bought some organic chicken legs at Whole Foods yesterday and baked one for lunch.  I swear, it made me dump, and it sat in my aorta for ten hours.  I wonder what sort of sugared organic feed they give their chickens?  I usually get Redbird organic chicken from our butcher, but he was closed yesterday and I was jonesing for a chicken leg after my workout.   I hope my sister likes chicken legs, because I'm not eating the other one from Whole Foods! Glad to hear you are starting to feel better, and don't be scared!  We're here. Kix

Julie- glad you are getting some relief by coughing stuff up and staying away from milk.  I hope you get some allergy relief soon.  No milk!    Kix - I went to Whole Foods yesterday for some eggs (which I've been afraid of trying) and some of their Canadian bacon, which is the only brand I like.  I had no problem with either one for breakfast this morning (yum, something different!) but I will remember your chicken leg warning!   I actually got sick last night too, which scared me because its the first time since the second surgery and I am panicked about throwing up after what happened last time.  Anyway, I had about half a protein bar and a glass of milk over about 30 minutes- and then about 10 minutes later felt like I was going to explode, with pain and fullness in my chest.  Then I a bunch of slimy thick mucous.   I'm not sure what I did wrong - maybe drank too much or too fast or both, but I felt better after laying in bed for a half hour or so.  Thankfully, I am feeling good today, so maybe it was just normal post-RNY sicky, not I'm going to be in the hospital tomorrow sicky. 

As someone who eats "organic" meats, I do want to say the problem probably wasn't due to the fact that it was organic--although I'm not sure what you mean by organic.  Not having hormones and anti-biotics is the feed is what I look for but for some people the free range is the issue.  If it was free-range chicken, it could be a bit denser of a meat, since the chicken was actually using it's legs!   I still have days where something "kicks back" even though on most days it's fine.  But chicken is one of those things I generally have trouble with! Good luck, Sally

I have been buying organic as much as possible for the last 6 months or so.  I look for no antibiotics or hormones, preferably an all-vegetarian feed but sometimes its not on the label (at Whole foods, they insist on it for their meat though), and free-range if possible.  I mainly focus on milk and meat and then the veggies that are most heavily sprayed with insecticides, like peppers and apples.  I figure if I am going to eat so little, it should be high quality.  I haven't had problems with chicken yet, but I know a lot of people do.  Organic is so expensive though, around here we call Whole Foods Market "whole paycheck" instead.

I love Whole Foods, too.  Unfortunately, the closest is almost 2 hours away.  We have a great little market that does local meats (I am in Iowa afterall) including game, but like you say, it is the whole paycheck! Sally

Julie, I am glad you were able to figure out about the milk and allergies. Jenn, good grief that must have scared you given what you have gone through so recently. Glad you felt better after a while. Hugs to you both and you to Kix. Jo

Juile - Glad you got it figured out and are feeling better!