Shortness of breath

Over the last 3 years, it has become more and more difficult to breath.  As it got harder to breath I became less and less active and gained considerable weight.  My old doctor said it was asthma without even testing me for it.  All the inhalers they gave me did no good but they just kept changing the dose.  When I changed doctors, I found out that my oxygen sat is about normal when I am sitting still but drops to 84% or lower with actvity.  I also was finally tested and found that I do not have asthma.  I have had a CAT scan of the lungs and was told that my lungs are normal.  The cardiologist sad that I have a slightly enlarged heart and an irregular heart beat but not enough to worry about.  He put me on cardizem LA.  The worst thing is that all of the doctors say lose weight and it will go away even though I have told them that I gained the weight because I can no longer do the activities that I used to love.  I get out of breath putting a load of laundry in the washer or walking to the mail box.  My right hand,wrist and fingers hurt and go numb all the time and they even expect me to believe that will go away if I loose weight.  My family doctor wants me to have bariatric surgery and I am ready to go thru with it if that's what it takes.  If I lose the weight and the problems are still there then they will have to look for some other reason for them.  It is too easy for them to blame everything on the weight.  If they were to help me feel better so I good exersize and stay busy like I used to they weight would come off without resorting to surgery.

[National Jewish]

Weight gain and decreased exercise certainly go hand in hand.  The more you gain, the less you exercise -- the less you exercise, the more likely you are to gain.  Your shortness of breath is of concern, especially since it started before you gained the weight.  The fall in your oxygen saturation to 84% with activity would not be due to your weight gain.  It is most likely due to a lung or a heart problem, despite what you have been told.

The normal CT scan is reassuring but does not explain why your oxygen saturation is falling when you are active.  A complete pulmonary function test before and after inhaling a bronchodilator will identify if a problem with your lungs is the cause.  An exercise study done by the cardiologist with oximetry to check your oxygen saturation will identify if a problem with your heart is the cause.

Good luck.

[Ellis7]

For info on 'weight loss surgery', see:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=HQ01465
Surgery for obesity: What is it and when is it appropriate?
Excerpts:
"To lose weight successfully, lifestyle changes