Husband is obsessed with breathing after pneumonia

[tracyabs]

Hi there

Please can someone help or advise?

My husband has been ill with severe/fulminant micoplasma pneumonia for over 3 months now. He also suffered the complication of a pneumothorax which resulted in 2 aspirations and finally a CT guided drain was inserted. He had numerous courses of antibiotics but it took such a long time to clear. Although he has been very poorly I now feel he is delaying his recovery through obsessive deep breathing, negativity and anxiety. He is completely consumed by illness and spends every waking moment thinking, researching, talking and worrying about his health.

The Respiratory Consultant has said he will make a full recovery but it will take 6 months. However, my husband does not think he is getting better.

I can see big improvements in that he can now walk for 6 miles, he can concentrate on a movie and even cook a basic meal but he is convinced he is going to die and that he has some form of cancer. He seems to be 'disabling' himself saying he cannot do things which he can.

He accepts that he is anxious and depressed and was prescribed antidepressants yesterday, which have made him feel really unwell - unable to sleep, headaches, tummy pains, weakness etc. Therefore, I don't think he will continue with them.

The main symptoms my husband still has are:

1) Shortness of breath (Dr says his lungs sound fine)
2) Feeling of tubes closing/being blocked in throat and lungs
3) Ticking/yelping sound in throat after exhaling (it sounds similar to a heart beat rhythm)
4) Fatigue
5) Chest pain in both lungs
6) Still coughing up the occasional coloured sputum which has been green/yellow and speckled dark brown/black
7) Intermittent sinus tachycardia (yesterday the ECG showed a slight depression too but cardiologist didn't seem concerned)

My husband is constantly breathing deeply and forcing his exhaled breath out as he says his airways will block if he doesn't. His oxygen levels are good (they were even good when his lung collapsed though), Peak flow is good and he doesn't seem too out of breath when walking.

The Dr puts his throat issues down to a vocal cord dysfunction/emotional response but he is not convinced by this explanation.

Please can anyone give me some advice about whether my husbands symptoms are to be expected? Or some tips on recovery?

I sound as though I am uncaring but I have tried the soft approach, compassion and positivity but it doesn't seem to be helping. I really want to get my husband back as he has transformed from a fit, healthy and intelligent man to an anxious and physically/mentally broken man.

Many Thanks

T

[tracyabs]

My hubby is back in hospital with a collapsed lung (upper left lobe). He had an xray showing increased shadowing then a CT scan showed the collapsed lung. Broncoscopy today removed a mucus plug so we are hoping the lung will re-inflate. They have taken some tissue samples so we have to wait a few days.

Problem is, my hubby's oxygen levels seem to remain pretty good (even when he had the first complete lung collapse) so doctors are saying his breathing is ok but he feels that his chest muscles are tired and that he is having to do deep breaths to get enough air. After shallow breathing he feels as though his lungs are empty so he has to force several deep breaths to get back to a comfortable level. He is so tired but too scared to sleep due to fear of his body shutting down due to shallow breathing.

Doctors think it is because he is overbreathing that his muscles are weak/tight. Also, that he is focusing on the breathing too much so it is no longer a natural thing.

My husband thinks he has some kind of respiratory muscle weakness so I am wondering whether this can be tested in a way that it is 'natural' rather than influenced by overthinking things.

I am rambling, I know but I am desperate as my poor hubby is becoming a nervous wreck - which he has not been before this illness.

Has anyone experienced similar symptoms/concerns?

Thanks so much

Tracy

[bsmsl]

Yes, she did go to counseling.  It has helped her quite a bit.  She is a very severe asthmatic.  She started counseling after she had H1N1 and was in ICU for a very long time, intubated, and then in and out of the hospital for months trying to recover.  She does take one anti-depressant for pain management, but I don't know if she also takes it for depression.  

I hope that helps.
Take care.

[hava]

He will recover gradually. He can do the following yog pranayam with the limits specified and will start to feel the effect on his symptoms in weeks. Please print and give this to him and you may do the pranayam as well, as it is good for anyone.
Build up your timing gradually.If you feel tired or dizzy, stop and resume after one minute.
Kapalbhati pranayam -(Do it before eating) Push air forcefully out through the nose about once per second. Stomach will itself go in(contract in). The breathing in(through the nose) will happen automatically. Establish a rhythm and do for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day. Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
Not for pregnant women. Seriously ill people do it gently.
Anulom Vilom pranayam –
Close your right nostril with thumb and deep breath-in through left nostril  
then – close left nostril with two fingers and breath-out through right nostril  
then -keeping the left nostril closed  deep breath-in through right nostril
then - close your right nostril with thumb and breath-out through left nostril.
This is one cycle of anulom vilom.
Repeat this cycle for 15 to 30  minutes twice a day.
Children under 15 years – do 5 to 10 minutes twice a day.
You can do this before breakfast/lunch/dinner or before bedtime or in bed.Remember to take deep long breaths into the lungs.You can do this while sitting on floor or chair or lying in bed.

Bhramri Pranayam -Close eyes. Close ears with thumb, index finger on forehead, and rest three fingers on base of nose touching eyes. Breathe in through nose. And now breathe out through nose while humming like a bee.
Duration : 5 to 21  times.
January 30, 2011

[rjbeck]

I really understand what he is going thru,I am a 44y/o male And I know this is a psychological problem  I've had both of my lungs collapse at different times and have become so short of breath that I thought I was going to die. I don't know who told him that exhaling forcefully is good if anything it would be a negative thing because as he exhales forcefully the air passing thru his airways will irritate them causing the wheezing and tightening his chest.The best thing is taking deep breath's to expand his lungs and oxygenate his blood.Usually a pulmonary doctor will prescribe a device called a incentive spirometer  to help measure  lung volumes when he takes deep breaths.I know this from first hand experience I was a respiratory therapist for 15plus yrs. Good luck and give him some time to deal with what has happened to him.

[tracyabs]

Thanks for replying.

Post traumatic stress has crossed my mind. Also, he did say the forces exhalation is good for pneumonia but he seems consumed by this - it is all day and it seems to be putting a strain on his throat as he really pushes every last bit of air out to the point of a wheezy sound.

He asked the GP for counselling in November and his appointment has finally arrived for end of March!!!!! We have thought about paying for private therapy but money is tight as my husband is being made redundant (no wonder he is depressed).

Did you friend go for counselling and/or anti depressants?

Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

Best Wishes

Tracy

[bsmsl]

Hi Tracy,

Have you considered counseling?  This sounds like a case of post traumatic stress syndrome, and yes that can be triggered by severe illness.  It has happened to a friend of mine.  

The deep breathing and forced exhalation could be a good thing.  It does force air more deeply into the lungs and is an exercise that is frequently prescribed for pneumonia patients.

I hope that helps you some.  Stick with it, he should come out of it at some point.
God bless.