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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Paralyzed Diaphragm, shrinking lung, shifted lung, - result of ERCP?
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Paralyzed Diaphragm, shrinking lung, shifted lung, - result of ERCP?
by nina99, Mar 11, 2005 12:00AM
In March of 2003 I had an ERCP (scope down throat into gall bladder area) to unblock a plugged bile duct. The surgeon accidentally cut my pancreas and I developed severe pancreatitis and was hospitalized with no food or water and on constant morphine for 7 days. during that time it felt as though a building fell on my chest area and I constantly gasped for air and couldn't breath properly. Upon release the pain in my chest area was unbearable and I kept complaining that it felt as though I had been cut. my family dr. said I had acid reflux and treated me for same for 1 1/2 years - it was discovered that I never did have acid reflux and continuous xrays showed my right lung was shrinking, it had shifted slightly upward and further testing showed that my diaphragm is paralyzed. I have been told that there is no cure, eventually I will be on an oxygen tank, and then probably die shortly thereafter. (I'm middle aged.)
Breathing is incredibly difficult and feels as though I'm sucking through a straw that has a giant pea stuck in it. I constantly gasp for air, lose my voice if I speak more than a few sentences and have had a sore throat for over 2 years. The breathing has not improved and the chest pain does not go away. From being a very active person, my energy level is non-existent and I am very pale and have further developed heart disease and a liver disease. Drs. here say there is nothing more to be done for me. Would appreciate any insight or suggestions.
Thank you.
Breathing is incredibly difficult and feels as though I'm sucking through a straw that has a giant pea stuck in it. I constantly gasp for air, lose my voice if I speak more than a few sentences and have had a sore throat for over 2 years. The breathing has not improved and the chest pain does not go away. From being a very active person, my energy level is non-existent and I am very pale and have further developed heart disease and a liver disease. Drs. here say there is nothing more to be done for me. Would appreciate any insight or suggestions.
Thank you.
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Mar 26, 2005 12:00AM
, Mar 26, 2005 12:00AM
Yours has been a dreadful experience but, as bad as it has been, you must not resign yourself to misery, the need for oxygen and a premature death. Complications with ECRP are not uncommon. See the following from Feldman's textbook of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease.
Complications associated with diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic cholangiography include infection, bleeding, pancreatitis, retroduodenal perforation,[75] and an impacted stone or basket. Complications of varying severity occur in 5% to 10% of endoscopic biliary interventions.
I am not aware of diaphragmatic paralysis being a complication of this procedure but you should discuss this with a University Medical Center GI Specialist, who is an expert in this procedure. Regardless of the cause, such paralysis is surgically treatable with diaphragmatic surgery. With paralysis, there is always a reduction in the size of the lung, but the lung itself remains normal and will re-expand if the diaphragm is surgically treated.
It is worrisome that your throat remains sore and your breathing difficult, after more than two years. I strongly recommend that you see a lung specialist (a pulmonologist). You should be able to find one with a good reputation at a large medical center near you. If you are not helped locally and would like to discuss a possible evaluation here at National Jewish Medical and Research Center please call LUNG LINEŽ at 1 (800) 222-LUNG (5864).
Complications associated with diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic cholangiography include infection, bleeding, pancreatitis, retroduodenal perforation,[75] and an impacted stone or basket. Complications of varying severity occur in 5% to 10% of endoscopic biliary interventions.
I am not aware of diaphragmatic paralysis being a complication of this procedure but you should discuss this with a University Medical Center GI Specialist, who is an expert in this procedure. Regardless of the cause, such paralysis is surgically treatable with diaphragmatic surgery. With paralysis, there is always a reduction in the size of the lung, but the lung itself remains normal and will re-expand if the diaphragm is surgically treated.
It is worrisome that your throat remains sore and your breathing difficult, after more than two years. I strongly recommend that you see a lung specialist (a pulmonologist). You should be able to find one with a good reputation at a large medical center near you. If you are not helped locally and would like to discuss a possible evaluation here at National Jewish Medical and Research Center please call LUNG LINEŽ at 1 (800) 222-LUNG (5864).
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I could spend my remaining time here asking why or wanting a cure. And as a minister and a gospel singer I need my voice! But God has a master plan I don't know what all it may contain but I know that it is good. So I look to the positive and not the negitive. It was an awful thing, the suffering that Jesus went through. But it gave us the oppertunity to escape a fate worse than all the pain I have endured here.
I don't have the ability that Jesus has. But I do have the determination to overcome the sorrows and pain that is in this world and lift my head up high and say. By the grace of God and his love toward me I have a better place to go when this life is done. And I'm going to be happy about that because it's true!
God Bless!!!!
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For a year i was told i had a trapped nerve in my neck because i had severe shoulder pain on the side i was attacked.
January this year i was rushed into hospital with severe breathing difficulties.It was assumed i had plurosy.
The medication i received cleared up my chest infection ,but my breathing problem remained.
I was transfered to the city hospial after a battery of extensive tests and sleep studies ,i was told i had bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis.
I now have a niv ventalator and oxygen to assist me at night.
I can no longer walk very far or do much of anything anymore as i get extremely breathless.When i inhale all the air goes to the pit of my stomache.
I panic and have bad panic attacks simply because i can,t breath i can,t ever lie down on my back and can only nap in an upright position. If i try to lie down on my back all my oxygen gets cut off ,put quite simply i woul,d die.
This is the scariest thing that anyone coul,d imagine.
I have been told by the hospital that my phrenic nerve was destroyed in the assault. What if anything is my future how long do i go on like this , i feel ever so low desperately.
For a year i was told i had a trapped nerve in my neck because i had severe shoulder pain on the side i was attacked.
January this year i was rushed into hospital with severe breathing difficulties.It was assumed i had plurosy.
The medication i received cleared up my chest infection ,but my breathing problem remained.
I was transfered to the city hospial after a battery of extensive tests and sleep studies ,i was told i had bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis.
I now have a niv ventalator and oxygen to assist me at night.
I can no longer walk very far or do much of anything anymore as i get extremely breathless.When i inhale all the air goes to the pit of my stomache.
I panic and have bad panic attacks simply because i can,t breath i can,t ever lie down on my back and can only nap in an upright position. If i try to lie down on my back all my oxygen gets cut off ,put quite simply i woul,d die.
This is the scariest thing that anyone coul,d imagine.
I have been told by the hospital that my phrenic nerve was destroyed in the assault. What if anything is my future how long do i go on like this , i feel ever so low desperately.