Shortness of breath

[jusvisitin]

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 — such as exercising more and eating less — may be in order. But if this proves too difficult or insufficient, stomach surgery may be an option. The surgery alters your digestive system in order to limit the amount of food you can eat at one sitting.
.........................
By definition you're considered overweight if your body mass index (BMI) is equal to or greater than 25.
To measure your BMI, follow these four steps:

1.Multiply your weight in pounds by 0.45. So, if you weigh 150, then it's 150 x 0.45 = 67.5
2.Multiply your height in inches by 0.0254. If you're 5 feet 6 inches (66 inches), then it's 66 x 0.0254 = 1.68.
3.Square the answer from step 2. In this case, 1.68 x 1.68 = 2.82.
4.Divide the answer from step 1 by the answer from step 3. So, 67.5 /2.82 = 24.

You're considered obese if your BMI is greater than 30. When your BMI is 40 or more, you're considered severely obese.
Individuals who are twice their ideal weight — or more — or who are at least 100 pounds overweight also are considered severely obese. High blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and sleep apnea are among the most common and dangerous weight-related health conditions.

Weight-loss surgery isn't for every obese person, but when appropriate, it can result in dramatic improvements in weight and health. In the first 12 to 24 months, most people lose 50 percent to 60 percent of their excess weight. Generally, those who follow dietary and exercise recommendations keep most of that weight off long term.
The effect on chronic health conditions related to severe obesity also can be significant. For example, people who are severely obese and have type 2 diabetes (formerly called adult-onset or noninsulin-dependent diabetes) nearly always note major improvement or complete resolution after surgery.

In addition, high blood pressure disappears in about two-thirds of those who have weight-reduction surgery, and many with sleep apnea enjoy marked improvement.

But many people underestimate the physical and social adjustments
they'll have to make after surgery. You'll have a stomach about the size of a small egg. In the first 6 months after surgery, eating too much or too fast will result in either vomiting or an intense pain under your breastbone that lasts about 30 minutes. Instead of eating regular-sized meals three times a day, you'll be required to eat four to six very small meals — about 2
ounces each — throughout the day. Most people quickly learn how much they can eat at one sitting. With time the amount you can eat at one sitting will increase. By 1 year after the operation, you will probably be able to eat a half to three-fourths of a sandwich, provided you eat it slowly and over a span of 45 minutes.
The change in your body image may require other adjustments. Your new appearance can affect relationships with friends, family and even a spouse. You might be more adept at handling some social situations, but in other cases the "new you" might produce tension, anxiety and depression. This is one of the reasons you'll be asked to see a psychologist during an evaluation for possible adverse emotional effects stemming from your surgery.
Surgery for weight reduction is not a miracle procedure. Though you can expect to lose weight and keep it off, especially if you have a gastric bypass, the changes needed in your eating and exercise habits are yours to make. "