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Paralyzed Diaphragm, shrinking lung, shifted lung, - result of ERCP?

In March of 2003 I had an ERCP (scope down throat into gall bladder area) to unblock a plugged bile duct.  The surgeon accidentally cut my pancreas and I developed severe pancreatitis and was hospitalized with no food or water and on constant morphine for 7 days.  during that time it felt as though a building fell on my chest area and I constantly gasped for air and couldn't breath properly.  Upon release the pain in my chest area was unbearable and I kept complaining that it felt as though I had been cut.  my family dr. said I had acid reflux and treated me for same for 1 1/2 years - it was discovered that I never did have acid reflux and continuous xrays showed my right lung was shrinking, it had shifted slightly upward and further testing showed that my diaphragm is paralyzed.  I have been told that there is no cure, eventually I will be on an oxygen tank, and then probably die shortly thereafter. (I'm middle aged.)
Breathing is incredibly difficult and feels as though I'm sucking through a straw that has a giant pea stuck in it.  I constantly gasp for air, lose my voice if I speak more than a few sentences and have had a sore throat for over 2 years.  The breathing has not improved and the chest pain does not go away.  From being a very active person, my energy level is non-existent and I am very pale and have further developed heart disease and a liver disease.  Drs. here say there is nothing more to be done for me.  Would appreciate any insight or suggestions.
Thank you.
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Avatar universal
A related discussion, Paralized Lung was started.
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A related discussion, right hemidiaphragm paralysys was started.
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Avatar universal
I am a 49 year old male.I am 6 foot weigh 21 stone and have,high blood pressure,high colesterol,type 2 diabetes tablet controlled,and now i also have bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis . last year through no fault of my own i was assaulted by a hood punched twice on the left side of my neck.
For a year i was told i had a trapped nerve in my neck because i had severe shoulder pain on the side i was attacked.
January this year i was rushed into hospital with severe breathing difficulties.It was assumed i had plurosy.
The medication i received cleared up my chest infection ,but my breathing problem remained.
I was transfered to the city hospial after a battery of extensive tests and sleep studies ,i was told i had bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis.
I now have a niv ventalator and oxygen to assist me at night.
I can no longer walk very far or do much of anything anymore as i get extremely breathless.When i inhale all the air goes to the pit of my stomache.
I panic and have bad panic attacks simply because i can,t breath i can,t ever lie down on my back and can only nap in an upright position. If i try to lie down on my back all my oxygen gets cut off ,put quite simply i woul,d die.
This is the scariest thing that anyone coul,d imagine.
I have been told by the hospital that my phrenic nerve was destroyed in the assault. What if anything is my future how long do i go on like this , i feel ever so low desperately.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am a 49 year old male.I am 6 foot weigh 21 stone and have,high blood pressure,high colesterol,type 2 diabetes tablet controlled,and now i also have bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis . last year through no fault of my own i was assaulted by a hood punched twice on the left side of my neck.
For a year i was told i had a trapped nerve in my neck because i had severe shoulder pain on the side i was attacked.
January this year i was rushed into hospital with severe breathing difficulties.It was assumed i had plurosy.
The medication i received cleared up my chest infection ,but my breathing problem remained.
I was transfered to the city hospial after a battery of extensive tests and sleep studies ,i was told i had bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis.
I now have a niv ventalator and oxygen to assist me at night.
I can no longer walk very far or do much of anything anymore as i get extremely breathless.When i inhale all the air goes to the pit of my stomache.
I panic and have bad panic attacks simply because i can,t breath i can,t ever lie down on my back and can only nap in an upright position. If i try to lie down on my back all my oxygen gets cut off ,put quite simply i woul,d die.
This is the scariest thing that anyone coul,d imagine.
I have been told by the hospital that my phrenic nerve was destroyed in the assault. What if anything is my future how long do i go on like this , i feel ever so low desperately.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Dyspnea (SOBE)with extreme weakness.  Cardiologist nurse heard a "crackle" in upper rt. lung...sent in for A&P X-ray which showed upper lung not completely inflated and sent for a CT scan with a remarks from Radiologist impression of a partial paralysis of the right diaphragm. No masses seen.
Has had two by-pass surgeries (last in 1997) plus multiple corn. angiograms with resultant dx. only two patent arteries (grafts) feeding heart muscle. Had stents put into these because they were narrowing. Dx'd with Atherosclerosis in 1981 after a "massive" M.I.  Presented two yrs. ago with a fairly stable abd. aneurism. Health and activities have slowly degenerated to almost critical stages.
Last surgical proceedure done 6/17/03; rt. shoulder arthroscopy. I have been out of school (UCLA) for 48yrs. & disabled for 20 so am not up to date on the latest........BS in nursing.
My husband smoked from age 13 to 59; he quit outside the hospital before going in for his by-pass. My text books are all out dated. Please send any information related to this dx.  I am his primary care giver (his Dr. worked with me & knows I am an R.N. & asked ME the ??'s) That may be more than you need.
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Avatar universal
I am a fifty one year old male that has  been diagnosed with cerebral vasculities some eight years ago. Recently during an attack my right lung collasped. Now the lung doctor is telling me that with my right side weakness my diaphragm is also weak or paralyzed.
    I say to those that are discouraged use the day's you have here to be happy. With all that we can do we cannot change the situation. There's no use being miserable on top of being sick.
I could spend my remaining time here asking why or wanting a cure. And as a minister and a gospel singer I need my voice! But God has a master plan I don't know what all it may contain but I know that it is good. So I look to the positive and not the negitive. It was an awful thing, the suffering that Jesus went through. But it gave us the oppertunity to escape a fate worse than all the pain I have endured here.
     I don't have the ability that Jesus has. But I do have the determination to overcome the sorrows and pain that is in this world and lift my head up high and say. By the grace of God and his love toward me I have a better place to go when this life is done. And I'm going to be happy about that because it's true!
God Bless!!!!
Helpful - 0
251132 tn?1198078822
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yours has been a dreadful experience but, as bad as it has been, you must not resign yourself to misery, the need for oxygen and a premature death.  Complications with ECRP are not uncommon.  See the following from Feldman's textbook of Gastroenterology and Liver Disease.
Complications associated with diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopic cholangiography include infection, bleeding, pancreatitis, retroduodenal perforation,[75] and an impacted stone or basket. Complications of varying severity occur in 5% to 10% of endoscopic biliary interventions.
I am not aware of diaphragmatic paralysis being a complication of this procedure but you should discuss this with a University Medical Center GI Specialist, who is an expert in this procedure.  Regardless of the cause, such paralysis is surgically treatable with diaphragmatic surgery.  With paralysis, there is always a reduction in the size of the lung, but the lung itself remains normal and will re-expand if the diaphragm is surgically treated.
It is worrisome that your throat remains sore and your breathing difficult, after more than two years.  I strongly recommend that you see a lung specialist (a pulmonologist).  You should be able to find one with a good reputation at a large medical center near you.  If you are not helped locally and would like to discuss a possible evaluation here at National Jewish Medical and Research Center please call LUNG LINE
Helpful - 0

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