Guest guest Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 One more input here. This is a link to a rather simplistic animation of the lungs in action. http://www.smm.org/heart/lungs/breathing.htm As you can see they don't open/close as in door or valve; but they do expand and contract. Add scar tissue to the expanding and contracting lung and you have lungs that spring back quickly, as has been suggested, to their original shape. In normal lungs possibly the slower deflation allows for more O2 uptake? When my pulmo explained " traction bronchiectisis " he said the scar tissue creates traction on the bronchi, therefore forcing it into shapes that are unable to expel mucous normally. This leads to congestion and infection. Good conversation here. Hope it continues for a bit longer. ann > > > > > >>From: Donna <dmkemper (AT) comcast (DOT) net> > >>Subject: now on prednisone > >>To: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. com > >>Date: Saturday, January 9, 2010, 11:28 AM > >> > >> > >>Â > >>I went back to the doc this week due to worsening shortness of breath. They gave me the walk test and determined that I do not need 02 yet. That is good news. I have a nasty rash on my legs and upper arms also. They think something new is going on. The pulmonologist decided to go ahead and treat with prednisone. I started with 60 mg on Tuesday. The rash is some better. Does it take awhile to start working? > >> > >>I do not understand why I have shortness of breath yet still have oxygen in the 90% range. I thought shortness of breath meant low )2. Guess I do not know much about this yet. Can someone explain? > >> > >> > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 10, 2010 Report Share Posted January 10, 2010 Beth, OK, but this begs the question that when the scar tissue inhibits the alveoli but there is enough good tissue to keep one's sats in a normal range, why should we " feel " SOB? Is it bronchial spasms, vasoconstriction or what? I always felt that my irritated bronchi responded by shutting down in some way and not allowing me to get air in. I just got my oxygen meter this week so will be checking it now. Maybe I'm confusing bronchiectisis with PF. They are opposites in air flow. Do others have both problems? Slapping shut does not speak to the issue of SOB. That should be attributable to a physiological change in those instances. Lungs have nothing in them to close except alveoli or vessels. Durned old inquiring minds want to know! ann > > > > > > > > >>From: Donna <dmkemper (AT) comcast (DOT) net> > > >>Subject: now on prednisone > > >>To: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. com > > >>Date: Saturday, January 9, 2010, 11:28 AM > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >>I went back to the doc this week due to worsening shortness of breath. They gave me the walk test and determined that I do not need 02 yet. That is good news. I have a nasty rash on my legs and upper arms also. They think something new is going on. The pulmonologist decided to go ahead and treat with prednisone. I started with 60 mg on Tuesday. The rash is some better. Does it take awhile to start working? > > >> > > >>I do not understand why I have shortness of breath yet still have oxygen in the 90% range. I thought shortness of breath meant low )2. Guess I do not know much about this yet. Can someone explain? > > >> > > >> > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2010 Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 lisa i think it is just another way of explaining what is happening by comparing it to clapping ones hands many years ago, when my uncle had a heart attack, at least 40 years ago, the doc explained the situation to my aunt by comparing the circulatory system to the water pipes in the house docs need to put the scientific stuff in language that the patients will understand i sort of think of it as a sponge-- healthy lungs are like a wet sponge, very flexible fibrosis lungs are like a dry sponge, very stiff Pink Joyce R (IPF 3/06) IFA 5/09 Pennsylvania Donate Life Listed 1/09 Inactive 4/09 www.transplantfund.org--- Subject: Re: now on prednisoneTo: Breathe-Support Date: Sunday, January 10, 2010, 2:58 PM ok, I'd never heard of our lungs clapping closed. I understand inflate and deflate of the lungs, and inhale and exhale....but never knew they actually open and closed. Maybe I'm still confused? C_53_Familial IPF_5/09, Washington HOPE doesn't disappoint! From: Beth <mbmurtha (AT) yahoo (DOT) com>To: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. comSent: Sat, January 9, 2010 5:16:39 PMSubject: Re: now on prednisone , I took it to mean that after inhaling and expanding her lungs, once she starts to exhale her lungs 'clap closed quickly' because of the hardeining and lack of flexibility. I've never heard that before but it sort of makes sense if you think about it. Something that's stiff and scarred is going to resist changing shape and when the pressure to expand or change it's shape is removed it's going to revert quickly to its original state. Donna will correct me if I misinterpreted what she meant but that's how I understood what she wrote. Beth Moderator Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08 From: worth <hope2thend (AT) yahoo (DOT) com>To: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. comSent: Sat, January 9, 2010 7:46:32 PMSubject: Re: now on prednisone "lungs clap closed quickly" what does this mean? C_53_Familial IPF_5/09, Washington HOPE doesn't disappoint! From: Donna & Monte <dmkemper (AT) comcast (DOT) net>To: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. comSent: Sat, January 9, 2010 2:51:22 PMSubject: Re: now on prednisone  One of my docs said my lungs clap closed quickly due to hardening. Would this cause sob? now on prednisoneTo: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. comDate: Saturday, January 9, 2010, 11:28 AM I went back to the doc this week due to worsening shortness of breath. They gave me the walk test and determined that I do not need 02 yet. That is good news. I have a nasty rash on my legs and upper arms also. They think something new is going on. The pulmonologist decided to go ahead and treat with prednisone. I started with 60 mg on Tuesday. The rash is some better. Does it take awhile to start working?I do not understand why I have shortness of breath yet still have oxygen in the 90% range. I thought shortness of breath meant low )2. Guess I do not know much about this yet. Can someone explain? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2010 Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 lisa i think it is just another way of explaining what is happening by comparing it to clapping ones hands many years ago, when my uncle had a heart attack, at least 40 years ago, the doc explained the situation to my aunt by comparing the circulatory system to the water pipes in the house docs need to put the scientific stuff in language that the patients will understand i sort of think of it as a sponge-- healthy lungs are like a wet sponge, very flexible fibrosis lungs are like a dry sponge, very stiff Pink Joyce R (IPF 3/06) IFA 5/09 Pennsylvania Donate Life Listed 1/09 Inactive 4/09 www.transplantfund.org--- Subject: Re: now on prednisoneTo: Breathe-Support Date: Sunday, January 10, 2010, 2:58 PM ok, I'd never heard of our lungs clapping closed. I understand inflate and deflate of the lungs, and inhale and exhale....but never knew they actually open and closed. Maybe I'm still confused? C_53_Familial IPF_5/09, Washington HOPE doesn't disappoint! From: Beth <mbmurtha (AT) yahoo (DOT) com>To: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. comSent: Sat, January 9, 2010 5:16:39 PMSubject: Re: now on prednisone , I took it to mean that after inhaling and expanding her lungs, once she starts to exhale her lungs 'clap closed quickly' because of the hardeining and lack of flexibility. I've never heard that before but it sort of makes sense if you think about it. Something that's stiff and scarred is going to resist changing shape and when the pressure to expand or change it's shape is removed it's going to revert quickly to its original state. Donna will correct me if I misinterpreted what she meant but that's how I understood what she wrote. Beth Moderator Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08 From: worth <hope2thend (AT) yahoo (DOT) com>To: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. comSent: Sat, January 9, 2010 7:46:32 PMSubject: Re: now on prednisone "lungs clap closed quickly" what does this mean? C_53_Familial IPF_5/09, Washington HOPE doesn't disappoint! From: Donna & Monte <dmkemper (AT) comcast (DOT) net>To: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. comSent: Sat, January 9, 2010 2:51:22 PMSubject: Re: now on prednisone  One of my docs said my lungs clap closed quickly due to hardening. Would this cause sob? now on prednisoneTo: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. comDate: Saturday, January 9, 2010, 11:28 AM I went back to the doc this week due to worsening shortness of breath. They gave me the walk test and determined that I do not need 02 yet. That is good news. I have a nasty rash on my legs and upper arms also. They think something new is going on. The pulmonologist decided to go ahead and treat with prednisone. I started with 60 mg on Tuesday. The rash is some better. Does it take awhile to start working?I do not understand why I have shortness of breath yet still have oxygen in the 90% range. I thought shortness of breath meant low )2. Guess I do not know much about this yet. Can someone explain? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 11, 2010 Report Share Posted January 11, 2010 ok, I get it...I just got caught up in the terminology "clapping closed" LOL! C_53_Familial IPF_5/09, Washington HOPE doesn't disappoint! To: Breathe-Support Sent: Sun, January 10, 2010 12:52:50 PMSubject: Re: now on prednisone , I think we're talking semantics here. The lungs don't really "open" and "close" in the way that we're talking about here. They aren't like baloons so much as they are like sponges that fill with air. When we inhale our lungs expand, or try to as they fill with air. When one has scarring as we do our lungs are stiff and resist expansion. Donna's doctor was trying to make the point that her lungs resist expanding or changing shape (or "opening") and when they are allowed to they resume their "deflated" or "closed" shape quickly. Don't worry over much about the specific terminology. Doctors will use different explanations and analogies to help us understand what's happening with our lungs. None of it is exact but it can serve to help us gain a greater understanding. Beth Moderator Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08 From: worth <hope2thend (AT) yahoo (DOT) com>To: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. comSent: Sun, January 10, 2010 2:58:47 PMSubject: Re: now on prednisone ok, I'd never heard of our lungs clapping closed. I understand inflate and deflate of the lungs, and inhale and exhale....but never knew they actually open and closed. Maybe I'm still confused? C_53_Familial IPF_5/09, Washington HOPE doesn't disappoint! From: Beth <mbmurtha (AT) yahoo (DOT) com>To: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. comSent: Sat, January 9, 2010 5:16:39 PMSubject: Re: now on prednisone , I took it to mean that after inhaling and expanding her lungs, once she starts to exhale her lungs 'clap closed quickly' because of the hardeining and lack of flexibility. I've never heard that before but it sort of makes sense if you think about it. Something that's stiff and scarred is going to resist changing shape and when the pressure to expand or change it's shape is removed it's going to revert quickly to its original state. Donna will correct me if I misinterpreted what she meant but that's how I understood what she wrote. Beth Moderator Fibrotic NSIP 06/06 Dermatomyositis 11/08 From: worth <hope2thend (AT) yahoo (DOT) com>To: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. comSent: Sat, January 9, 2010 7:46:32 PMSubject: Re: now on prednisone "lungs clap closed quickly" what does this mean? C_53_Familial IPF_5/09, Washington HOPE doesn't disappoint! From: Donna & Monte <dmkemper (AT) comcast (DOT) net>To: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. comSent: Sat, January 9, 2010 2:51:22 PMSubject: Re: now on prednisone  One of my docs said my lungs clap closed quickly due to hardening. Would this cause sob? now on prednisoneTo: Breathe-Support@ yahoogroups. comDate: Saturday, January 9, 2010, 11:28 AM I went back to the doc this week due to worsening shortness of breath. They gave me the walk test and determined that I do not need 02 yet. That is good news. I have a nasty rash on my legs and upper arms also. They think something new is going on. The pulmonologist decided to go ahead and treat with prednisone. I started with 60 mg on Tuesday. The rash is some better. Does it take awhile to start working?I do not understand why I have shortness of breath yet still have oxygen in the 90% range. I thought shortness of breath meant low )2. Guess I do not know much about this yet. Can someone explain? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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