United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I just had to jump in on this one... as most know I am 63 and OBPI...

I had constant florascope (spelling) and my family doctors always told me my lungs would always be weak.. he treated my brother for asthma but never treated me for it... I always had croup and sill get the same symptoms when my airway are restricted...sound like a baby with croup... also they thought I had a heart attack a few years back but the doctor said it was just my asthma... told him I had some allergies but not asthma... he said it was asthma after a few days in the hospital... but was puzzled because I did not have a cold or cough or wheeze... I have an inhaler that they say I must carry but I have used it once in the past year...

I was told as a teenager I had a spastic diaphram and treated with some pain killer (during growth spurt) -- I have always run out of breath - I had major problems eating as a child and drove the family crazy they were worried I would starve to death and was a major issue in my family... I drove them all crazy...
the doctors refused to let my mother nurse...
T1 injury I thought may have caused the eating disorder... I was a gager... did not gain weight hated to chew any meat and now realize that side of my face and jaw are weaker.......

sounds familiar as we all compare notes...
Kath

Spastic diaphragm? Sounds exactly like a phrenic nerve injury to me...it also goes along with the breathlessness, gagging and croup-like cough.

One of the problems associated with phrenic nerve damage is not being able to completely clear the lungs naturally by 'coughing up' Sounds disgusting, but everyone does it without even realising (clearing the throat, that kind of thing)If you have p. nerve damage, it is highly likely that you have an almost permanent low grade lung infection because of this inability to clear the mucus from the lungs properly. It will be made worse (a lot worse!) by smoking or being in a smoky atmosphere; having a cold and/or a chest infection...can you see a pattern here?

P. nerve damage is relatively rare...asthma unfortunately is not. In my experience, the Drs. will reach for the inhalers far too quickly without investigating these problems further and there is (in my opinion and experience) a real danger of mis-diagnosis in many cases.