Re: asthma, diaphragm

[Guest guest]

I've got the asthma symptoms too, coupled with half my diaphragm not working. My

blood oxygen goes low upon exertion, that and the asthma feed one another. If

I'd lose about 40 lbs things would get better but that is far easier said than

done once you hit 40. I've also got chronic sinusitis and get resulting sinus

infections which if untreated spread to my lungs.

NOW- what I've found that works for me is a low carb diet which is light on red

meats and heavy on avocados and flax meal. That seems to starve the bacteria

which may also be a mold or yeast infection (it's swampy as hell here), which

inturn lowers my level of stress, which in turn lessens the effects of my

asthma, which in turn makes me feel better and less inclinded to forgo my

beloved bread and donuts and ice cream.

Many courses of antibiotics had pretty much destroyed my immune system, not to

mention my hearing, I've quit doctors pretty much cold turkey and started

abusing herbs instead. At the slightest sign of a respiratory infection (which

usually come about when I cheat at dunkin donuts)

I now start taking a shotgun remedy of 1000mg Echinacea, 1000mg Golden Seal

Root, and 1250mg garlic oil 5 times a day for 5 days or so. I haven't had a

serious sinus infection in 4 years, my hearing has not degraded any further. I

still need to lose 40 lbs but now that I can move around better that should be

an attainable goal.

Start reading about alternative remedies, when confronted by something that they

don't understand, medical science treats symptoms not causes, or they make it

your fault. You've got to learn to live with yourself.

For the most part, no doctor can adequately judge effects of treatment on you,

and will tend to think that by suppressing symptoms in the short run your

quality of life is better regardless of the effect of that treatment in other

aspects of your existence. Nobody knows, this condition varies so greatly from

one case to the next they simply can't predict how treating one aspect of your

case will stack up ultimately. You really have to come to know yourself.

Ed

[Guest guest]

Ed,

How did you know that your diaphram wasn't working? I

can honestly say that the " asthma " meds they have me

on don't seem to help. I am still waiting on tests to

be done at the Cleveland Clinic but it's difficult to

find doctors when you move around so much. I have been

hospitalized 4x this year and they treat me with mega

doses of Solumedrol and send me home when they feel I

am doing " better " usually that means that I am

wheezing and able to take a breath! I have tried doing

everything they say but so far their treatment plans

haven't helped prevent anything. Thanks for the info

about the herbs.

Lenore

[Guest guest]

Hi Lenore,

When you have a chest xray, the xray will show the side of your diaphram that is

not working as being elevated. They usually ask you to take a deep breath and

hold which should cause both sides of your diaphram to lower.

Have you tried changing your diet? By that I mean eliminating classes of food

for a few weeks at to see if you notice any change.

For instance, gluten intolerance can manifest itself many ways that are not

immediately noticeable. I've found that I can't eat carbs, when I do I get lung

and sinus infections- still after feeling good for awhile I cheat and pay the

price. My best wishes to you, don't give up the fight.

Ed

[Guest guest]

I think a pulmonary function test should be done on any breathing

problems a CMT patient has. The first tests are performed to measure

lung performance and tidal volume. These tests give a baseline on much

air is moving through your lungs and the oxygen saturation that passes

into the blood. After the baseline is calculated, a bronchodilator (an

" asthma " medicine) is administered and the tests taken again. If the

numbers remain the same, any problems are muscular, probably

diaphragmatic, but the actual lung tissues are fine. If the numbers

improve with the medicine, there may be an asthmatic component involved.

The tests may cause some lightheadedness, especially after the

medicine is administered.

I need to stay seated for a few minutes until my head clears and

balance returns.

--Larry

[Guest guest]

I am trying (struggling)to get my HMO to get its act together on my

breathing problem.

The sleep study results are due any day now. Why in God's name I let

them go so long without addressing the chest wall muscles and what not

- not just focus on the OSA - I'll never know.

[Guest guest]

So far as I can tell, nothing was was discovered during the chest xray. The

pulmo study did show obstruction but they cant really say WHAT is causing the

obstruction so it tends to be classified as

" asthma " and then move on,should be interesting the next time I am hospitalized

because they will probably rip the fentanyl off of me. I thought they were going

to do a " sniff " test? but I don't recall them doing such a test. I am trying to

do what I can to help

myself but I feel like I am running in circles!!!!

Lenore