Bullous emphysema and exercise

[jakie49]

I am a 54 year old male, non-smoker with chronic asthma and bullous emphysema. I was diagnosed about 10 yrs. ago with the emphysema but never really took it seriously and have not really treated this disease aggressively. I do take theophylline, advair, albuterol & cromolyn in a nebulizer. Had pleurodisis done on my right lung after a pneumothorax in the early '70s. About 6 yrs. ago, had another pneumothorax, again right lung and had major bullae removed and what amounted to a resection on that lung. What an improvement that made in my breathing, it was like being borne again.

I have always exercised, aerobics, hiking and weightlifting, but when I had the last operation expanded my horizons to include softball every summer. During the last operation contracted HEP C and just finished a yr. of interferon and ribavirin. I've been off 2 mons. only to discover a nasty acineobactor infection in my right lung, much pain and after a CT scan, more bullae diffuse in the right and a few in the left.

So now I start the research and to tell you the truth, am scared ++++less! I have consulted a reknown surgeon locally, a critical care pulmonologist and others as what to do. They all say live a normal life, but offer no specifics.

Well heck, I would like to proactively attack this disorder thru. breathing exercises, aerobics and get back to weight lifting and softball. I know one must be careful to avoid the DeSalvo reflex (there's another term that escapes me regarding not bearing down or holding your breath).

Any and all suggestions are appreciated!

jakie

[Winojim]

Hi there, I just found out through my sister that my father has just been diagnosed with emphysema at 65. Nowhere on the net have I been able to find information on life expectancy. I realize that it varies from case to case coupled with proper treatment and exercise but... Is there an average out there? He is bull headed and before I discuss this with him I would like to be armed with as much info as possible so that I can at least get him to treat this seriously and to finally quit smoking! Any info would be greatly appreciated.

                 Thanks,

                           Jim

[National Jewish]

You appear to have a tendency to develop blebs and bullae.  This can occur with or without emphysema.  It often leads to recurrent pneumothoraces.  In general, bullae should be removed if they are giant and occupy a great amount of space.  Infected bullae should be removed when the infection has either never cleared or recurred.  The risk of having a pneumothorax is heightened by exercise that results in abnormally high pressures within the chest, with or without the Valsalva maneuver.

My suggestion would be to follow your doctor's advice for clearing the infection.  Then return to aerobic exercise but skip the weightlifting.  It may be necessary to surgically remove the acinetobacter-infected lung if the infection cannot be cleared with antibiotics.