Cathie,
I have searched for the word ateleclasis. I can't find much on it. Did the pulmonary doc explain what it actually is? And what is he going to do about it?

Billye

Cathie
This advice is from the Healthscout site. It sounds good advice to me.


Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Atelectasis

Is there a collapse of lung tissue?

Have you found airway obstruction?

What is the probable cause?

Is there any problem outside of the lungs that may be a contributing factor?

What are the treatment options?


Take care and good luck
Tony

I think you may have mispelled this, Billye. It is Atelectasis.

Lungs are like upside down trees. The trachea (trunk) travels down the front of the neck, becoming primary bronchus, which branches out left and right into secondary bronchi, and in turn branches into smaller bronchi, terminating in tiny alveoli. This is where gas exchange takes place in the lungs. (Oxygen goes in here & CO2 goes out.) Fluid from pneumonia or other causes can fill these alveoli, causing mucus plugging and collapsing the little alveoli containing the mucus within. Infection can become a real problem.

I am not sure of the cause, other than he mentioned inflammation, I would guess chronic bronchitis. The treatment? Why am I not surprised? More steroids... Because the inhaler and nebulizer cannot reach the involved areas as they are closed off. He seemed pretty upbeat about it clearing up and did not feel it was Sarcoidosis. He has always been a very good pulmonary doc, so am hopeful he can clear this up for me.

I should have asked my husband to go, since I did not ask nearly enough questions and he is good at remembering what is said. I was really bummed out today though. The eye thing is scaring me... Driving into oncoming headlights tonight produced the flashing lights in the right eye. The doctor said if it gets worse to call immediately, as this can affect the retina...

I was hoping that MrsD might come along and comment on the antibiotic issue being related to this. Meanwhile, thanks to the rest of you who posted.
Cathie

may be the culprit:

http://www.fluoroquinolones.org/PART%20XI.htm

Levaquin penetrates the eye vitreous...it is used for trauma with infection to the eye.

Two days however, seems like a short time, unless you had this drug recently (within the year) before.

Levaquin has been prescribed for me at least twice that I know of since the first of the year. I don't know about last year...

The doctor said this is also going to happen in my other eye. I am so distraught over this. I have enough health problems without having to worry about my vision being seriously affected.

It seems there is nothing I can do to help it...

Cathie

It may not happen in the other eye. I've had doctors "predict" dire things for me... like my left knee will blow out in 5 yrs (that would have been 2004) and it hasn't yet. And that my right knee needs a replacement (but it doesn't after all the SAMe I ate, and repaired my cartilage).

That I had 50:50 chance of dying with my C-Section. That my son would never drive a car... etc. none came true for me. They are not gods you know!

So hang in there!

Hi Yorkiemom,

I've just read this thread, and have only one thought to add---if it's atelectasis, it means you aren't breathing deeply enough to get lots of air into the entire lung. So buy some balloons and blow them up, or get a thingamajig from teh pharmacy that people with asmtha blow into (though I think balloons are cheaper) and breath DEEPLY.

In terms of your eyes---we are liable for coincidental things, and people get vitreous detachments all the time. I don't think it has to happen again. I had one about 25 years ago, and never again. The doc thought I bounded down the steps too hard and knocked it off. Imagine bounding like that now? Nah.

But it never happened again. I wish you the same.