Oh joy, different sx to add to the list!

I've always been a side sleeper. Used to be my rt side til injury made that impossible. Now with the SCS I can lay on that side a while at least, but it's the left side for sleeping, with my bad rt arm resting on my side, my elbow bent just slightly.

The last few weeks I've had several episodes where I've placed my top leg further forward and rolled my chest/shoulder over so I'm turned more towards the pillow, and almost immediately had pain in my chest. It was accompanied by difficulty getting my breath. The pain felt like something pressing up aginst my breastbone from the inside. When I roll over on my back the pain goes away immediately and I can catch my breath again (it takes a minute to get calm again).

And when I'm lying on my back, if I have my legs out straight, and bend my knee and tuck one leg up, I start to have the same pain, the same problem breathing. I'm not sure if it is related more to the side the leg is located on, haven't paid attention, just straighten my leg out real quick!

What do you think is going on? I have wondered if it's related to my ribcage, or if something is subluxing. It's definitely startling!

Also, I've had some swallowing issues, but not major problems before now, just a little slow getting things down at times. Twice lately I've had REAL problems, once choking on a bite of hamburger, before coughing it up, and secondly getting a french fry stuck in my throat - despite repeated drinks.
It almost seems like there's a "dead spot" in a certain area in my throat where there's almost no motility - nothing to help move things along, so they just sit there. Is that possible, or is it the missing scalenes that used to help with this, or what?

Or are these two problems possibly connected?

I have TMJ but it's no worse than usual, actually better than it has been at it's worst. I'm not overly stressed, even though my stupid case is still crawling along on snail's feet - still no offer on the table, folks. I've gotten very good at waiting though. So it's not that.

Any thoughts??

Baffled, bemused and bothered (also broke)

I forget but you could be cause compression near your trachea or the nerves or muscles near that which if I'm not mistaken can be one of the sx of TOS. The BP is certainly in that vicinity and its offshoots can cause this, I just forget where I read this. Perhaps a google search of TOS and Trachea. or TOS and breathing.

What I suspect is that by practically lying on your front gravity is compressing something to prevent you from breathing. Turn the other way, i.e. on your back, the compression is relieved.

one of the deep neck muscles is responsible for swallowing. I know hope and maybe Tam? have posted about having that problem...

I always got the impression it was more of an RSD related thing. I can't remember why, though.

i'll look for the post i am thinking of.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...hoke#post71367

another post with some links

and i pulled up some of the old threads...

Beth, just a quick thought, but it may be something with the pherenic nerve
I think the swallowing maybe something else...meaning that nerves to the gag reflex seem to be messed up with TOSers. We chick a=on a swallow of just silivia, wrong way liquids go down, and food gets stick and chock...I am not sure the relationship, if it is fibrous bands, or adhisions, lazy nerve stimulation forgetting to do its job right or what... But it is grustrating to just be sitting and start to chock on just silivia even.

do you get hiccups too?
Hope it resloves or you figure it out. Why not call Dr T and ask the physiology that may be causing it.
di

OK, last night I paid close attention, and it was not too hard to figure out. I've got fluid in my lungs. I have been coughing a bit at night, just to clear my throat, but no cold, no sniffles, no fever. This makes sense as to why it even hurt if I laid on my back and just drew one leg up a bit - it made all the fluid rush to one side, and I'd start having trouble getting a good breath.

Are we always more vulnerable to respiratory-type problems once the lung has been deflated in TOS surgery? I know my stupid smoking DOESN'T help matters, believe me! I do plan to quit, but won't even try till my case is totally settled and I have the cash in hand. Just need that whole thing overwith and out of my life first before I go through withdrawal.

So guess I should get this chest thing checked out, huh?

1. Is is a fluid cough or a dry cough? You say you have fluid in your lungs but the later description sounds more like a dry cough. Are you coughing up phelgm?
2. I would say that having respiratory issues will make you vulnerable to TOS issues. Again, the lungs or ribs compressing the nerve or vascular structures. Reduce the coughing and you may reduce certain TOS issues. Sounds like you know this. Obviously smoking needs to stop and you will when you are ready. Obviously the sooner the better. Stupid question...why not quit now? What has settlement of your case to do with quitting an obvious irritant? To stressed to quit?
3. I don't understand. You had your lung deflated in surgery? You had a portion of your lung taken out? What exactly happened? Lung is different than ribcage. If you had a rib removed that isn't a lung deflation...at least not in my understanding. Help?

Beth- i'd say an IMMEDIATE chest xray is in order-follow your gut on this one.

Good luck.

Johanna

Quote:

Originally Posted by noname 1. 3. I don't understand. You had your lung deflated in surgery? You had a portion of your lung taken out? What exactly happened? Lung is different than ribcage. If you had a rib removed that isn't a lung deflation...at least not in my understanding. Help?

Noname, during TOS surgery. rib resection the lung is deflated to avoid a potential of injury to it. Then after surgery it reinflates. They take an xray just after surgery to make sure it inflates. Everyone has the apperatis to do their breathing exersizes in post op.

BETH,
I has some of my most bothersome pnuemonias during the summer. I would go to Florida later spring, the humidity flared asthma, and then into pnumonia.
Even being in air conditioning too cold too long,

If soemone hits your back does it break up.

I agree to have the xray, Mom had a bleed just after her surgery that left blood settle in the lung, but I know it is a long time since surgery, but still could have fluid pool.

Take care of yourself,
di

Hey all,

Just a bit of phlegm when I cough, but it has been pretty much a dry cough til now, and just at night, just feeling like I need to clear my throat. I think this has my throat irritated JUST enough to make the usual swallowing problem more severe, which is why the choking has occurred.

Definitely a heavy chest today. And the humidity - ugh, Illinois, late July, we're talking 80-90%. Feels less sticky when it actually RAINS.

Will call Dr in the morning, had crazy busy weekend with both daughters in a youth production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at our church. Great job by all the kids, awesome music! But with striking the set and the cast party after, it was quite late when we got home last night. Then up and back to church this morning, after which my younger daughter had invited 5 friends over to eat burgers and dogs and watch movies. Six 12 year-olds do NOT make for a quiet afternoon!

if you haven't HAD a surgery, you're obviously not qualified to answer questions relating to said surgery.