- Location
- Retired in Minneapolis
I was going to say, 'Under the knife' but the surgery is more sewing than cutting. More later.
This is sort of a two-level post. First, why surgery? Second, the value of being healthy.
Last summer I went in for a routine check-up. I had a list with me but mostly just a routine set of blood tests etc.I got an xray and the tech mentioned something about my diaphragm that didn't register in my noggin. The check-up lead to a suggestion to see a cardiologist since I had a heart attack in 2010. No tissue damage and I got two stents as well as daily meds to get the usual issues inline. The cardiologist had me get a chest scan. While he was going over the scan he too said something about my diaphragm. It came out of his mouth not as a concern but just in passing. I stopped him and asked what was up. After chatting he got me hooked up with a thoracic surgeon who scheduled a more extensive scan.
Well now...when the thoracic surgeon read the scan he found that my left diaphragm is paralyzed. That means is went limp like a saggy trampoline bed. My breathing efficiency is off by about 20%. Now things are making sense! I had noticed that over time I was getting winded from doing some pretty light work. Carrying two plastic bags of groceries in from the curb to kitchen left me breathing hard. As we worked through the symptoms I began to realize that I had started to feel 'winded' going back 3 years or so. I put it up to being 'out of shape' from being retired and not getting my incidental exercise that I would in a routine day on the job.
My surgeon told me that the paralyzed diaphragm is rare but not really life threatening. He told me that no one I tell will have ever heard of this before. It's not like an ulcer or worn out knees. So, lucky me!
At first I was scheduled for surgery two weeks ago. My surgeon took time, re-looked at the scan and talked with other surgeons. The decision is to go in expecting to use a robotic unit to do most of the work. I asked why the change. He told me that I'm for fit and in shape than most of his patients so they could get in with the robot. He didn't come right out and say it but I asked if it was because i'm not very fat for a 68 year old guy. He agreed. The recovery is expected to be simpler too. I'll be in the hospital for 3-4 days for two reasons. One is to get the pain relief issues working and, more important almost, making sure that what goes in comes out. Pain killer meds lead to constipation, don't ever forget that!
Here's what the surgery entails...as best I can understand. My diaphragm is being pushed up under my ribcage my my stomach, kidneys and the rest of the water-balloons. The bottom of the lung is collapsed like a sponge. The robot will poke in and weave rows of stitches with stopper knots in a fashion that you would see on pleated window treatments. It will tighten the diaphragm allowing my lung to fill and get my organs back in place.
When I come home I'll be ambulatory and can drive as long as I'm not taking pain pills. 4-6 weeks of recovery at home. I'll be limited to lifting less than 10#
As I've gone through this, starting last summer, I'e wondered how this happened. Between talks with my surgeon and lots of reading, in my case anyway, it would be hard to point at The Villen that caused my injury. Its more common if there is chest surgery or major chest trauma. Nothing like that in my case. There was one note in a list that I read that caught my eye. They said that excessive work done with upstretched arms could pull the nerve. Welllll...how much of our work includes working with upstretched arms? Lots! Its not really important but I'd like to understand.
This is the second time I've had a surgeon tell me that my lifestyle has put me in the group of people who are in the upper range of fitness. When I had my exit interview with my cardiologist after my heart attack I asked why I didn't have to do a major life change. Since I'd gotten into a heart healthy diet years before, didn't smoke, had physical work and I was in good overall fitness it all paid off. Now I hear sorta the same thing. I feel blessed.
The only thing that needs to happen is to get the results of the Covid 19 test I had done last Saturday. I expect to get the email tomorrow. If not..panic!!!
If it comes in I'll be packing my bags and getting ready to walk in the hospital at 5:30 AM
This is sort of a two-level post. First, why surgery? Second, the value of being healthy.
Last summer I went in for a routine check-up. I had a list with me but mostly just a routine set of blood tests etc.I got an xray and the tech mentioned something about my diaphragm that didn't register in my noggin. The check-up lead to a suggestion to see a cardiologist since I had a heart attack in 2010. No tissue damage and I got two stents as well as daily meds to get the usual issues inline. The cardiologist had me get a chest scan. While he was going over the scan he too said something about my diaphragm. It came out of his mouth not as a concern but just in passing. I stopped him and asked what was up. After chatting he got me hooked up with a thoracic surgeon who scheduled a more extensive scan.
Well now...when the thoracic surgeon read the scan he found that my left diaphragm is paralyzed. That means is went limp like a saggy trampoline bed. My breathing efficiency is off by about 20%. Now things are making sense! I had noticed that over time I was getting winded from doing some pretty light work. Carrying two plastic bags of groceries in from the curb to kitchen left me breathing hard. As we worked through the symptoms I began to realize that I had started to feel 'winded' going back 3 years or so. I put it up to being 'out of shape' from being retired and not getting my incidental exercise that I would in a routine day on the job.
My surgeon told me that the paralyzed diaphragm is rare but not really life threatening. He told me that no one I tell will have ever heard of this before. It's not like an ulcer or worn out knees. So, lucky me!
At first I was scheduled for surgery two weeks ago. My surgeon took time, re-looked at the scan and talked with other surgeons. The decision is to go in expecting to use a robotic unit to do most of the work. I asked why the change. He told me that I'm for fit and in shape than most of his patients so they could get in with the robot. He didn't come right out and say it but I asked if it was because i'm not very fat for a 68 year old guy. He agreed. The recovery is expected to be simpler too. I'll be in the hospital for 3-4 days for two reasons. One is to get the pain relief issues working and, more important almost, making sure that what goes in comes out. Pain killer meds lead to constipation, don't ever forget that!
Here's what the surgery entails...as best I can understand. My diaphragm is being pushed up under my ribcage my my stomach, kidneys and the rest of the water-balloons. The bottom of the lung is collapsed like a sponge. The robot will poke in and weave rows of stitches with stopper knots in a fashion that you would see on pleated window treatments. It will tighten the diaphragm allowing my lung to fill and get my organs back in place.
When I come home I'll be ambulatory and can drive as long as I'm not taking pain pills. 4-6 weeks of recovery at home. I'll be limited to lifting less than 10#
As I've gone through this, starting last summer, I'e wondered how this happened. Between talks with my surgeon and lots of reading, in my case anyway, it would be hard to point at The Villen that caused my injury. Its more common if there is chest surgery or major chest trauma. Nothing like that in my case. There was one note in a list that I read that caught my eye. They said that excessive work done with upstretched arms could pull the nerve. Welllll...how much of our work includes working with upstretched arms? Lots! Its not really important but I'd like to understand.
This is the second time I've had a surgeon tell me that my lifestyle has put me in the group of people who are in the upper range of fitness. When I had my exit interview with my cardiologist after my heart attack I asked why I didn't have to do a major life change. Since I'd gotten into a heart healthy diet years before, didn't smoke, had physical work and I was in good overall fitness it all paid off. Now I hear sorta the same thing. I feel blessed.
The only thing that needs to happen is to get the results of the Covid 19 test I had done last Saturday. I expect to get the email tomorrow. If not..panic!!!
If it comes in I'll be packing my bags and getting ready to walk in the hospital at 5:30 AM
