Asthma Worsened After Colonoscopy

I had a emergency right hemi-colectomy after my colon was punctured during a colonoscopy.  I was in surgery for 3 hours.  Before my surgery, my asthma was under control and I could run for 25-30 minutes.  Now, 2 months later, breathing is awful. My chest feels tight. I am not wheezing and do not feel I need my inhaler but I can not run for more than 2 minutes without being short of breath. If I do use the inhaler, it does not seem to change anything.  I had my pft and my numbers were mainly in the 60's and 70's.  Treatment with albuteral did not effect my numbers at all.  A family member mentioned it might be the effect of anesthesia as well as a weak diaphram after surgery.  I have googled anesthesia effecting asthma long-term and I cannot seem to find anything on that topic.  Do you think this is the cause of my shortness of breath?  If not, what could it be and what tests or treatments should I be looking into?

[David S. Wilson, MD, FCCP]

Based on the information you provided, it does not sound as if your asthma is worse, but rather that you have a new issue with some form of restrictive lung disease.  This could be due to diaphragmatic dysfunction, but other disorders include prolonged deconditioning from your recovery, airway abnormalities such as tracheal stenosis from having a tube present at surgery are just some of the potential explanations for your persistent symptoms.  You should ask your physician if the flow volume loop on your pulmonary function tests revealed any tracheal narrowing.  Good luck, but your situation deserves a more complete evaluation to determine the exact cause.