Breathing

[Guest guest]

Hi Rick,

Welcome, happy to see you posting. I, too, read a lot more than I

post, but maybe I can make some suggestions since I have just

undergone a myriad of tests in regards to shortness of breath. I

did not have a stress test; how was your breathing during that? I

had an eccocardiogram which showed a thickening of the ventrical

wall, an EKC ??(heart), pulmonary tests which were about 50% of

" normal " , spirometry test sitting indicated 40% lung capacity -

lying down only 20% lung capacity, chest x-rays where lung and

diaphragm action is viewed on a monitor, - that showed elevated

diaphragms with very little movement and majority of breathing being

done with chest wall muscles - and phrenic nerve study which

consisted of a topical EMG of the nerve - my nerve had no response,

in other words, dead - and an insertion of electrode needles into the

diaphragm muscles, which indicated they were functioning at about 20%

of " normal " . The docs now have me scheduled for a sleep study to

evaluate me for the use of a BiPap ventilator for bedtime.

My shortness of breath occurs when bending over to tie shoes, when

walking after a big meal, when trying to hurry, when exerting myself

and when fighting a respiratory infection. I am okay when passive.

When do you have the most problems? Have you only had symptoms for

the last month? I first had symptoms approximately 7 years ago but

am just now pursuing the cause.

Rick, I am curious about your age. It seems that most others that I

have encountered with similar symptoms are in the 55 and over age

group.

Of course, this could have something to do with your heart, but I

would suggest that you ask your doctor for spirometry tests and to

order a phrenic nerve study. The nerve study was the definite test

for me. If your phrenic nerve is weak but still firing, you might

0ask him to look into phrenic nerve pacemaker. I understand a lot

of quads use these very successfully to aid breathing. My nerve is

dead, so this was not an option. Good luck to you, Rick, I hope this

is of some help. Let us know how things are going for you.

Ruth from California