
Had Lungectomy. Have COPD. Swollen Feet And Ankles. Taking Lasix And Losarten. Suffer Breathlessness. Help?

by the way, i have absolutely no energy, and even getting dressed is exhausting and causes breathlessness. thank you for your advice.
Thanks for posting the query on XXXXXXX After going through your query, I would like to comment the following:
1. You seem to have undergone pneumonectomy for emphysematous lung disease. Now you seem to be symptomatic with symptoms consistent with COPD with cor pulmonale.
2. Considering your age, our target of treatment should be to get an acceptable qulity of life.
3. You need to take inhalers / nebulisation regularly along with oral medications. Pulmonary rehabilitation programme can be worked out for you in consultation with your pulmonologist.
4. Long term oxygen therapy will really help relieve your symptoms. Also pneumococcal and flu vaccines need to be taken for prevention of infections.
I hope I have answered your query. I will be glad to answer follow up queries if any.
Please accept my answer if you have no follow up queries.
Regards
Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra
MBBS MD DNB
Consultant Pulmonologist


is the stiff heart complicating my breathing as well, and what ought to be considered to improve matters in that area.......meanwhile, thank you again for your interest and concern.
sincerely,
XXXXXX
Thanks for the follow up info.
1. As I have said in my previous post , your current symptoms are consistent with COPD with cor pulmonale (right heart failure). Since pneumonectomy places an additional workload on the remaining lung, it is natural for it to undergo hyperinflation or post pneumonectomy COPD.
2. If pneumonectomy was done for lung cancer , then a strict follow up is very important to rule out any recurrence. You had cancer involvement of 3 organs hence the possibility of metastasis cannot be ruled out at that time.
3. Yes, the stiff heart does add to the breathing work. A tailor made pulmonary rehabilitation programme can be of utility to you. Long term oxygen therapy will definitely help you. Also do get your arterial blood gas analysis to rule out any evidence of chronic respiratory failure.
I hope I have answered your query. I will be glad to answer follow up queries if any.
Please accept my answer if you have no follow up queries.
Regards
Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra
MBBS MD DNB
Consultant Pulmonologist


Thanks for the appreciation.
Feel free to post any further queries.
I hope I have answered your query. I will be glad to answer follow up queries if any.
Please accept my answer if you have no follow up queries.
Regards
Dr. Gyanshankar Mishra
MBBS MD DNB
Consultant Pulmonologist

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