Question:
has anyone with severe asthma had this surgery?
im having rny on 10/30/00 and am getting nervous because i have severe asthma. i couldnt even get thru the stress test because of it. i couldnt get my heart rate up enough for them to see anthing, so i have to go for a 2 part test, where i will have an iv , and they will manually get my rate up so they can test my heart. i guess im just afraid i will be on respirator after surgery, and i am relly afraid of that. my surgeon said i probably will have to be in icu for a few days after the surgery so they can watch me. anyone gone through anything similar? please help? thanks, joyce — joyce B. (posted on August 10, 2000)
August 10, 2000
I had asthma, but pretty mild, I think. I had severe sleep apnea, though,
which is considered a breathing disorder, not a sleeping disorder. It
became one of the comorbidities to justify surgery. AND because they were
aware of it, they were able to take precautions to take care of me. I was
in ICU for 2 nights, because my sleep apnea made my surgeon overly
cautious. GOOD! Better safe than sorry, as far as I'm concerned. Don't
know what happened to my asthma as they never found it again after surgery.
The apnea faded away gradually, too. I have full use of my lungs now and
absolutely no hint of any lung problems EVER in exams today (6 yrs out. In
fact, I think they think I make those stories up! My doc is very thorough
in testing and we know that we must be be "sick enough to need
surgery, but well enough to survive it", but his bias is very much
that the sicker you are, the more likely that surgery will pull you out of
it. He tells me now that 10 years ago, he wouldn't have done me. Too high
risk. Thank goodness he accumulated the learning and the team to help him
pull the sickest of us through the surgery. Hopefully, you will be as
blessed as I was in finding a fine surgeon who can work with your
limitations.
— vitalady
August 11, 2000
I have asthma. When I was in the hospital I had an oxygen tube in my nose
the entire time.
— [Deactivated Member]
August 11, 2000
Dear Joyce,
I have severe asthma, as well as a history of pneumonia and
bronchitis.When I went to my surgeon, I took along a printed list of all my
many medications. I included in writting, that I'd had pnemonia 13 times in
my life & my respiratoy system was very likely to get an infection from
the intubation. Dr. Shina arranged for me to see the respiratory team that
would be attending me post surgery. They tested me & then put me on
some new medications. Servent Diskus, Pulmicort Turbuhaler, &
Singulair, two weeks prior to surgery. After the surgery, I was in icu for
36 hours, which I now understand is a very long time, but for some reason
they couldn't wean me off the respirator until then. However, I had no
infection what so ever which is extraodinary! The minute I awoke I started
pumping my feet back & forth to get the circulation going. Very
shortly after that I got on my feet and walked around the nurses station
with help of course. This is so important to do for those of us with weak
lungs. I was given an air flow meter and I started right off trying to
raise the little indicator button with deep breaths in & out. Mind you
this causes coughing which is very uncomfortable on the old bellie, but it
helped me to clear out mucus deep in my lungs. I used it every hour the
first day. Thank God one of the nurses showed me how to use a pillow across
my abdomen to brace myself during coughing spells. The first few times the
matter coming up, which I spit out, was dark green ( a sign of infection)
Eventually the phlem began to get clearer and clearer. I was able to
breathe more comfortably in 2 days. I increased my walking to 3-4 times a
day. It is absolutly essencial to walk, walk, walk for those of us who are
asthmatic!Also, I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea 6 months prior to
my surgery ( which I used as one of my comorbidities in getting my surgery
OK'd through my insurance)and I was put on a CPAP machine, which I use
whenever I sleep! What a God send!I'm not worn out any more! I took it to
the hospital with me & started on it immediatly after awakening from
ICU. Please note that I cleaned all of the filters, applying new ones
where possible & throughly washed all the hoses & face mask with
antibacterial soap prior to going to the hospital. I wanted to be sure that
I didn't contaminate my sinuses or lungs with dust or pollen from a dirty
machine.I was intubated with the gastric tubes through my nose. My nostrils
were very sore and had huge scabbs where the tube had scrapped them after
surgery. When I got home I started using a triple antibiotic cream
(Neosporine)in my nose. I would apply it with a sterile Q-tip several times
a day after blowing my nose. The petroleium jelly it is based in helped to
soften the scabs so I could blow them out. Little by little my nose healed.
It took a month though. My advise to you would be to share your fears about
your asthma with your surgeon. He needs to know all about your medical
history & who knows that better than you? If he/she is a good surgeon,
he will arrange a consutation with his respiratory group. The day of
surgery, my anesthesiologist spoke to me about what to expect once we
entered the surgical room. At that time I reiterated my concerns about my
lungs and suceptibility to infection. He assured me that precautions were
being taken & that my job in the matter was to start to pump my feet
back and forth as soon as I was concious, use my air flow meter & WALK
as much as possible. I did all that & all is well with me. My lungs are
clear as a bell now. I hope this lengthy letter has been of help to you
& that your surgery will go smoothly!! Sharon Coomer, [email protected]
— Sharon C.
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