Re: Fact sheet / phrenic nerve

[Guest guest]

>

ON THE FACT SHEET ABOUT PRHENIC NERVE THATS WHATS HAPPENING TO MY

MOM. SHE HAS PAIN UNDER HER RIBS AND IS ON A I THINK IT'A CALLED A BI-

FIB MACHINE AND 5LITERS OF OXYGEN WHEN NOT ON MACHINE.I DON'T THINK

IT'S GOING TO BE MUCH LONGER.

>

Debbie,

My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your Mother. I hope that

she gets into a place that gives lots of TLC and that she can be kept

comfortable.

Debbie, you say your mother has pain under her ribs and is on a Bi-

fib machine. What is the function of that machine? Can you tell me

what her prior symptoms were in relation to the phrenic nerve

involvement? The reason I am asking is because I think that I may

possibly have phrenic nerve involvement. I only say this because I

know that the phrenic nerve has a direct relation to the resiratory

system. I do not have pain, but shortness of breath is becoming more

and more of a problem with only minor exertion. Maybe it is only a

weak diaphragm muscle, but the diaphragm has been progressively

pushed upward by the small intestines to the point where my lung

capacity has been reduced by 50%. Does the phrenic nerve have

anything to do with a weak diaphragm muscle? I have an appointment

with the MDA neurologist this week in hopes to get some answers.

Maybe some of you can help me out, too. I have checked the archives

to see what has already been posted. I do not have trouble sleeping,

but can be short of breath getting myself 'arranged' in bed.

Thanks for any help or ideas,

Ruth

[Guest guest]

dear ruth,

my mom has had trouble with breathing

since i can remember. the bi-fib machi

ine does yor breathing for you.my mom

has less than 20% for air in her lungs.

now the pain no one seems to know

where it comes from,not even the best

of lung doctors in my area. i do know

it never goes away.they even started

giving her morphine to help ease it.

deb

[Guest guest]

> dear ruth,

> my mom has had trouble with breathing

> since i can remember. the bi-fib machi

> ine does yor breathing for you.my mom

> has less than 20% for air in her lungs.

> now the pain no one seems to know

> where it comes from,not even the best

> of lung doctors in my area. i do know

> it never goes away.they even started

> giving her morphine to help ease it.

>

> deb

Thanks, Deb,

I have about 50% lung capacity according to the pulmonary tests. I

went to the MDA neurologist last Friday. He says he highly doubts

that that I have phrenic nerve involvement, but it is not

impossible. He says there are specialized x-rays to determine it for

certain, but he thinks it more likely that the wall between the

intestines and the diaphraghm has collapsed, and he suggested that I

go to an internist and check out that angle first. So that is next

on my agenda. I hope your mom is doing bettter and the pain has

eased. How long has she been on the bi-fib machine? Is she

wheelchair mobile or ambulatory? How old is she? What are her other

CMT symptoms? Is she a type 2? I think am a type 1. I think I read

somewhere that phrenic nerve involvement is usually in found in type

2. Neurologist said because that nerve is so short that it would

likely be one of the last to become involved and that most people

don't live long enough for it to happen. I am very lucky that I have

no pain.

Thanks again, Ruth