Guest guest Posted January 7, 2008 Report Share Posted January 7, 2008 abijann. Thank you very much for your reply. You have been quiet helpful. Yes! it is my wife with the fluid & I'm the caregiver, it is in her left lung. We are due for another check up this Saturday. That was the first thing he asked was shortness of breath. > > The doctor should of said, right there, what was the cause of fluid > in the lungs. Many patients who are in bed or just sitting around > can develop some fluid in the lung. But, there are those few that > find out they have pneumonia also. People should use those flutter > balls or those plastic machines that have the plastic > balls in different compartments you have to hold up with your breath, > that you get at the hospital, as much as possible to keep their lungs > working well and to help get rid of any mucous they may have acquired. > > People who are thinking of having a transplant should be quite > serious about exercising their lungs before surgery takes place. > The reason for this is that they are having a longer surgery than > normal...it can take anywhere from 6 to 14 hours. The better > shape your lungs are in then the more chance of not only recovering > quicker...it helps your other organs receive more oxygen during this > time period also. Going out in the fresh air and breathing in as > deeply as they can slowly and out slowly by counting to up to 10 > is a good way to inflate your lungs. Sometimes, putting your > lips together like you are going to kiss someone and then blowing > out the small hole formed there will also help inflate the > lungs. Most patients who are in any pain will breath swallowly and > this is not good. IT has been shown that just by doing this exercise, > it helps to relax the muscles and relieve some of the pain. > By relaxing the muscles that are so tight in a given area because > of stress, illness, or other reasons...can make a person feel > a whole lot better. Getting your mind off all the things bothering > you can also do this...meditation is good. > > The reason for the fluid could be any number of things depending > on whether the fluid is developing between the outside layers > of the lung, around the lung, or inside the lung. > Some of the things that can occur are the Ascites passing the > diaphragm and going around the lungs. Another thing is that > since the blood isn't going through the liver and taking a > different route...the heart may not be getting enough blood and > this will cause fluid to develop in the lung. Another thing > is what I stated above and also, if the person is having difficult > breathing, it could be an infection or the starting of pneumonia. > There are two membranes that surround the lungs and fluid or mucous > can develop between those two membranes and have to be removed. > Heart failure can also cause it. > > If the patient has any pain in their lung area, or if the > doctor hears qrackles, or wheezes, etc....or if the patient > has difficulty breathing.... They usually take some sputum and > check for pneumonia or bronkitis, etc. The may even take > some cultures also. > > No one can really tell you for sure what is going on because > we don't have the test or see the films or know the patient's > background...but this gives you some idea of what may be going > on. > > This isn't much information...but I hope it helps. > > Watch to see what color any sputum that is coughed up is. > Whether it is clear, cloudy, yellow, green or brownish color. > IF you can, have them cough it into a container and take it > to the doctors. However, if it looks anything from a light > pink to brownish color...get in touch with the doctor office > right away...this signifies blood in it and it " may not " be > coming from the lung...it may be coming from bleeding > internally, if they have varies from having cirrhosis. > > > > > > > > > > I wasn't sure if it was you or your wife that has fluid in the > lungs. There are so many different reasons this can occur and > where the fluid is located makes a big difference also. > > Sometimes the Ascites fluid can pass the diaphragm and go up > into the area of the lung. Sometimes if the blood isn't > flowing well to the heart, it can cause this also...since it > is going a different route now instead of through the liver. > It could also be an infection or the starting of pneumonia. > > They will usually take a sample of your sputum and test and > see what the cause is if the patient is having any difficulty > breathing. It would be good for her to use a flutter ball or > one of those plastic things from the hospital that you have, > to hold the different balls up inside it with your breath. > It would help to clear out any mucous, etc from the lungs and > make it easier for her to cough up. Sometimes they may place > a patient on a anti histamine...but I don't know if they > would someone who has liver problems or not. > Any patients that is lying or sitting most of the time should use > something to help keep their lungs inflated to the fullest they > can. I usually tell people who are thinking of going for > transplantation, to go outside and do breathing exercises like > breathing in slowly as much as you can and also out slowly. > The reason for this, is the transplant surgery is longer than > most other types of surgery and they will need their lungs to > work as well as possible during this time. The extra oxygen > also helps the body to heal. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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