Is shortness of breath normal after intubation?!
Question: Is shortness of breath normal after intubation!?
In November 2007 I was in a car accident!. I was hit head by a semi when the driver fell asleep at the wheel and drifted into my lane!. Upon medical arrival, i was immediately intubated and a machine was actually breathing for me, because my left lung had collapsed and my chest had been crushed!. i spent 22 days in a coma!. It's been almost 8 months, and of course i had to spend months to build up stamina to breathe properly as my lungs/chest healed!. I seem to have reached a plateau though and i've stopped improving!. I often find that i still can't seem to get enough air and sometimes feel like i am suffocating or trying very hard to suck air though a very thin straw, if anyone has been in a similar situation is this normal/will it get any better/is there anything else i can do!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
I suspect that you have some degree of scarring within your left lung if it collapsed!. The degree of collapse and whether it was a pneumothorax or a haemothorax can play a part in the amount of scarring that has occurred!.
If your chest was crushed, it also takes time for ribs and muscles to heal!. 8 months is not really a lot of time when you consider the degree of injury you sustained!.
If possible it wold be beneficial if you can see a respiratory specialist, especially one who has been involved with your care since the accident!. They would be aware of the seriousness of your injury and be able to reassure you!. If necessary, they can order pulmonary function tests to check your lung capacity and general breathing pattern, and further scans if necessary!.
You have done well to have recovered so well from such a serious injury in a relatively short time!. Good luck!Www@Answer-Health@Com
If your chest was crushed, it also takes time for ribs and muscles to heal!. 8 months is not really a lot of time when you consider the degree of injury you sustained!.
If possible it wold be beneficial if you can see a respiratory specialist, especially one who has been involved with your care since the accident!. They would be aware of the seriousness of your injury and be able to reassure you!. If necessary, they can order pulmonary function tests to check your lung capacity and general breathing pattern, and further scans if necessary!.
You have done well to have recovered so well from such a serious injury in a relatively short time!. Good luck!Www@Answer-Health@Com
If you needed to be on a ventilator you must have significant lung damage (and I imagine rib fractures)!. Healing does take a long time after such trauma but I feel you need to check with your doctor in case there is some inflammation making your airway narrower than it should be!. This can be treated with medication!. Do not ignore this problem!.!.!.see your doctor!. It could progress to enough trouble breathing that you are in an emergency situation!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
You may have had muscle or nerve damage from the accident!. Or, you could have developed asthma!. You need to see a doctor to figure out what the basic problem is, because intubation did not cause it!. You probably will be referred to a pulmonologist or a respiratory therapist!.Www@Answer-Health@Com