Expanding Lung

[cheryl]

Let's see if I can explain this clearly. I had a large cyst removed from my lung (right lung, lower right just above my abdomen.) My ribs always feel like they're caving in, in that area.

My lung doc tells me that my lungs have fully "inflated."
My general practitioner (who knows alot about lungs) tells me that my lungs have not "expanded" enough to fill that empty area where the cyst was. This is why my ribs feel like they are caving in.

I'm sure my lung doc has said that the lungs don't grow. Isn't inflating and expanding the same thing? Or Can and will my lungs expand to fill this empty space? I'm not scheduled to see my lung doc for months - I was just wondering if anyone knows this? Thanks

[filcab]

Hi Cheryl,

I'm afraid I don't really know an answer to your question. All I can suggest is that you may have had enlarged alveoli around the cyst and the removal of the cyst caused a valley in the alveoli.

Just a thought,

Phil

[cheryl]

Thank you for your response, Phil. I googled alveoli, but really didn't understand what I was reading.

[morningstar]

Cheryl,
I really don't know the answer to your question. But, I can tell you what I was told. I was told that my left lung was everything but not there. No air. Nothing. And it would stay that way. And that my right lung was almost gone also. So to make it short you know the rest I have I believe with the Grace of God, Lots of Exercise, Much Love and Caring. And doing Breathing Exercising many many times daily. When I went back to the lung doctor he couldn;t believe the difference. My left lung is alive and working upper and lower As well as my right lung. I have gone from 16liter of o2 down to 2 1/2. I still get SOB and the COPD is still there but I am better and my lungs have kind of grew I guess you would call it. So for me it is not hard to believe this could have happened in your case. I do PLB almost all the time. Trying to change the way I breathe. Sorry its long but I think PLB and what I call flushing out the lungs has helped me.

Happy Trails

[Blossom/Jackie W.]

Wish I knew and could suggest something Cheryl but alas...

Rose touched on something which is triggering some sort of memory and for the life of me I can't remember. Seems to me there was a study done or they stumbled on something somehow that may suggest the body can "re-grow" lung tissue or something (though in the past they never thought it was possible for the lungs)...maybe someone can remember what that was about.... Jackie

[cheryl]

Thanks everyone. Rosemarie - sounds like you did just beautifully for yourself. Keep up the good work. I appreciate the comments.

[morningstar]

Cheryl,

Work on your lungs. It is easier than you think. It has almost become a way of life to me. And I hope one day in the future it will be away of life. I have been working on exercising and the breathing for well it will be a year the 27th of next month. So I don't know but you appear healthier than I was when I started it would probaly not take you a year. Try it. It sure does make a difference.

[cheryl]

Thanks Rosemarie, I guess you just have to get yourself into some sort of routine and stick to it.