Phrenic Nerve paralysis,MRSA, ETC

[Chelle911]

I lived a normal life but I have sick sinus sydrome with neurally mediated sycope. My Cylos pacemaker is a god send! My wires needed changed though. The pacemaker leadwire extraction went very bad. The superior vena cava was severed and underwent open heart to repair it but the phrenic nerve is paralyzed on the right side in Sept. I was told then that I had MRSA colonized in my nasal cavity. I used an ointment for a week and told I would be fine. I have been recovering but find it so hard to breath when I walk, bend or sit down. To a point of getting dizzy and feeling like I will pass out. I rescently was hospitaized because I started having severe chest pain and gasping for air when I moved. My 02 levels are 82-86 without oxygen. They gave me a series of steriods, started me on 2 liters 02, 2.5 mg albuterol nebulized (3X daily) and put me on Xanax. My 02 level is now 94 with oxygen. They say I have pleurisy. My chest pain is better but I still have great difficulty breathing when I move around. I do not want to become dependant on Xanax. I am only 38 years old. I want to live like I am 38!! Please...Is there any other suggestions out there? Will I have to live my life with this oxygen? Should I be concerned about the MRSA?
Thank you for any help!
Michelle

[Sunny602]

I wonder if your shortness of breath is more of a result of your paralyzed diaphragm...Unfortunately with cardiac surgery there is a risk of injury to the phrenic nerve which is responsible for the diaphragm's movement. What makes me think this is that your shortness of breath and dizzy sensations are worse with bending over. I have bilateral paraylisis and know these feelings all too well. I currently live on a vent due to this, but I am a severe case of paralysis as both sides of my diaphragm are affected. It sounds like one side is affected in your case. Some people don't have symptoms with unilateral diaphragmatic paralysis but some do unfortunately. Have the doctors done any lung function tests? That would be a good idea if they havent to see to what degree your values are affected by this.
I too was on O2 but then found that I had to go on BiPAP (bi level positive airway pressure) to rest my chest muscles that were trying to compensate for the paralyzed diaphragm. That did help.
Also there is another option, surgical plication of the affected diaphragm where the doctor tacks down the paralyzed side of the diaphragm to prevent it from moving up into your chest cavity thus allowing you to expand your lungs easier. I am by no means a doctor or specialist, just throwing ideas out there based on my experience with all of this. Some people have good results and lessening shortness of breath after this procedure.
As far as the MRSA, believe it or not, it is becoming more and more common to become colonized with this bug. Colonized meaning that it is there but not causing an infection. I colonized MRSA as well, I believe that I got it from repeated exposure to hospitals and ICU visits. Hopefully the nasal ointment got rid of your MRSA.
I hope that this helps and that you get some answers soon as far as O2 dependency and relief of your shortness of breath. I know how frustrated you are, scared too as I have been there. Sunny