The other night I was working a bit later than usual and decided to run for the last train. I learned several things from this experience.
1) My lungs are good when I run (yay!)
2) My legs are not.
3) One should not wear ballet pumps when running
4) ballet pumps with big bows on are even sillier.
5) My diaphragm was not good at all.
Well actually, whilst I was running I was fine, I ran, got my train and collapsed on it in a grinning sweaty heap, however later on, my diaphragm decided to demonstrate its lack of appreciation and get very grumpy and painful. This was quite strange, predominantly because as I understood it, my diaphragm is paralysed, so surely it wouldn't be affected during over exertion...? (any medic types feel free to educate me on this). The other bizarre thing was the type of pain bought old memories flooding back. It was a very similar pain to the stuff I had at the beginning of various lung collapses, and it really freaked me out. I don't quite understand why it freaked me out so much though as I knew this wasn't the same. I am fully aware I have new lungs (even I am not that blonde) and that they are much better behaved than their predecessors, but I couldn't shake the fear, and went to bed a bit of a nervous wreck. Needless to say all is fine, but it's funny how a sensation can bring back such strong memories, physically as well as mentally.
Continuing on the topic of health (ooh haven't discussed health stuff for a while!) Harefield rang. Several times in fact (I'm not v easy to get hold of as I listen to messages then, er, forget to reply) and apparently my kidney function isn't looking as great as it could be. As with all new areas post-transplant it's always a tad nervewracking to hear something isn't quite right, but hopefully it was a dud result or it just needs some medication tweaking or something. Either way, I'm off for more bloods next week to get it checked thoroughly. Come on little kidneys, cheer each other on, get each other hyped up into over-enthusiasm mode.
Other life stuff? Peachy thanks. Yay!
Bents Charity Butterfly Ball
2 years ago
9 comments:
I'm confused as to why your diaphragm would be paralysed. Is this a transplant thing? Surely you need your diaphragm to breath?
Glad to hear that like is pootling along so well that you are too busy to blog.
Also, most of us end up collapsing in a stomach aching sweaty heap when we run for a train...particularly when we do it in impractical shoes!
Fingers tightly crossed for better (I'm trying to think of the proper blood test) u&e's ????
Glad that everything else is peachy - oh, and do that London thing and wear your trainers for train running and your silly shoes for skipping around the office.
Audrey xx
hi Laputain - yes it was a transplant thing. Basically they knocked the nerve which triggers the diaphragm and it is now paralysed (couldn't be helped - my lungs were so hard to get out I'm surprised they managed it at all). Interestingly you can breathe without a diaphragm (she says, breathing deep to check) and I was told it shouldn't affect my day to day (which it doesn't) but I may feel the lack of it during exersion. Off to find something useful and scientific on the good ol' internet instead of me making it up as I go along...
http://ats.ctsnetjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/61/1/170 - a bit about it here (though not much). As I understand it it's a fairly rare complication and usually on difficult cases such as yours truly.
I was also told at the beginning that my diaphragm might "wake up" (how cute) - cue lots of excuses when my mum asked me to do something and I'd say "Shhhh, my diaphragm is sleeping!"
Hope the next kidney results are better hun!
Glad everything else is going well! Really looking 4ward to meeting you and Emma 2moro and signing lots of people up to the ODR!
Take care x
Hey Em
Sorry to read about the blood tests - hope it sorts itself out.
Under normal circumstances, the diaphragm is responsible for 75% of air being drawn in. As you say, a paralysed diaphragm is not a major issue except on exertion, as the body requires more oxygen so asks the lungs to breathe faster and deeper. As you found, this is when things get a little out of hand.
Glad you're ok though.
Hope the blood tests go ok - keep me posted. Yay to everything else being peachy though ;-)
Higs xxx
Hope the blood test go ok/went ok.
sending you some big ((((hugs))))
Gilly xx
Are you on cyclosporin? Too high levels in your blood can make your kidneys a bit jumpy -- and might mean nothing more than a dose reduction.
ring me if you need more reassurance.
Jen xx
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