Question:
has anyone with severe asthma had this surgery?

im having rny on 10/30/00 and am getting nervous because i have severe asthma. i couldnt even get thru the stress test because of it. i couldnt get my heart rate up enough for them to see anthing, so i have to go for a 2 part test, where i will have an iv , and they will manually get my rate up so they can test my heart. i guess im just afraid i will be on respirator after surgery, and i am relly afraid of that. my surgeon said i probably will have to be in icu for a few days after the surgery so they can watch me. anyone gone through anything similar? please help? thanks, joyce    — joyce B. (posted on August 10, 2000)

August 10, 2000
I had asthma, but pretty mild, I think. I had severe sleep apnea, though, which is considered a breathing disorder, not a sleeping disorder. It became one of the comorbidities to justify surgery. AND because they were aware of it, they were able to take precautions to take care of me. I was in ICU for 2 nights, because my sleep apnea made my surgeon overly cautious. GOOD! Better safe than sorry, as far as I'm concerned. Don't know what happened to my asthma as they never found it again after surgery. The apnea faded away gradually, too. I have full use of my lungs now and absolutely no hint of any lung problems EVER in exams today (6 yrs out. In fact, I think they think I make those stories up! My doc is very thorough in testing and we know that we must be be "sick enough to need surgery, but well enough to survive it", but his bias is very much that the sicker you are, the more likely that surgery will pull you out of it. He tells me now that 10 years ago, he wouldn't have done me. Too high risk. Thank goodness he accumulated the learning and the team to help him pull the sickest of us through the surgery. Hopefully, you will be as blessed as I was in finding a fine surgeon who can work with your limitations.
   — vitalady

August 11, 2000
I have asthma. When I was in the hospital I had an oxygen tube in my nose the entire time.
   — [Deactivated Member]

August 11, 2000
Dear Joyce, I have severe asthma, as well as a history of pneumonia and bronchitis.When I went to my surgeon, I took along a printed list of all my many medications. I included in writting, that I'd had pnemonia 13 times in my life & my respiratoy system was very likely to get an infection from the intubation. Dr. Shina arranged for me to see the respiratory team that would be attending me post surgery. They tested me & then put me on some new medications. Servent Diskus, Pulmicort Turbuhaler, & Singulair, two weeks prior to surgery. After the surgery, I was in icu for 36 hours, which I now understand is a very long time, but for some reason they couldn't wean me off the respirator until then. However, I had no infection what so ever which is extraodinary! The minute I awoke I started pumping my feet back & forth to get the circulation going. Very shortly after that I got on my feet and walked around the nurses station with help of course. This is so important to do for those of us with weak lungs. I was given an air flow meter and I started right off trying to raise the little indicator button with deep breaths in & out. Mind you this causes coughing which is very uncomfortable on the old bellie, but it helped me to clear out mucus deep in my lungs. I used it every hour the first day. Thank God one of the nurses showed me how to use a pillow across my abdomen to brace myself during coughing spells. The first few times the matter coming up, which I spit out, was dark green ( a sign of infection) Eventually the phlem began to get clearer and clearer. I was able to breathe more comfortably in 2 days. I increased my walking to 3-4 times a day. It is absolutly essencial to walk, walk, walk for those of us who are asthmatic!Also, I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea 6 months prior to my surgery ( which I used as one of my comorbidities in getting my surgery OK'd through my insurance)and I was put on a CPAP machine, which I use whenever I sleep! What a God send!I'm not worn out any more! I took it to the hospital with me & started on it immediatly after awakening from ICU. Please note that I cleaned all of the filters, applying new ones where possible & throughly washed all the hoses & face mask with antibacterial soap prior to going to the hospital. I wanted to be sure that I didn't contaminate my sinuses or lungs with dust or pollen from a dirty machine.I was intubated with the gastric tubes through my nose. My nostrils were very sore and had huge scabbs where the tube had scrapped them after surgery. When I got home I started using a triple antibiotic cream (Neosporine)in my nose. I would apply it with a sterile Q-tip several times a day after blowing my nose. The petroleium jelly it is based in helped to soften the scabs so I could blow them out. Little by little my nose healed. It took a month though. My advise to you would be to share your fears about your asthma with your surgeon. He needs to know all about your medical history & who knows that better than you? If he/she is a good surgeon, he will arrange a consutation with his respiratory group. The day of surgery, my anesthesiologist spoke to me about what to expect once we entered the surgical room. At that time I reiterated my concerns about my lungs and suceptibility to infection. He assured me that precautions were being taken & that my job in the matter was to start to pump my feet back and forth as soon as I was concious, use my air flow meter & WALK as much as possible. I did all that & all is well with me. My lungs are clear as a bell now. I hope this lengthy letter has been of help to you & that your surgery will go smoothly!! Sharon Coomer, [email protected]
   — Sharon C.