Hello,
My name is Jasin. I am 35yrs old, I am 6'4", I weight 355lbs and have been treated for hypertension for years. On July 1, 2009 I experienced heat exhaustion. The following day I started experiencing lower back(kidney) pain. Later into that evening at 2am on July 2nd I woke up with difficulty breathing. I went to the Hospital ER and was diagnosed with enlarged liver and spleen, atalectisis(partial collapse) of the right lung, elevated diaphram, pneumonia and possible plurisey. I was released from the hospital with presription for zithromax and med for pain. Got home and sleep till next day and woke about 10am on the 3rd of July. My shortness of breath was extreme and I was panicing. I call for an ambulance and was taken to the ER. My O2/Sat was 62% and my blood pressure was 187/109. Once at the hospital I was admitted to ICU and placed on a Nitro-Drip due to uncontrolled blood pressure and low o2/sat. I stayed in ICU for 3 day and in the hospital cardiac wing for 4 days. Their basic diagnosis was that I had atelectasis in right lower lung, elevated diaphram, toxic levels of carbon dioxide in blood from possibly Sleep apnea. Ever since incident I have extreme difficulty breath laying down. I have been placed on a bipap. I have been to cardiac specialist and told that they feel this event was not cardiac related. I have been pulmonologist, had a sleep study, pulmonary function test, all kinds of blood test, CT scans and x-rays of chest. All with the same result atelectasis in right lower lung, and elevated diaphram. I still have slight difficulty while in seated position and extreme difficulty breathing while lying down. I have abdomional pain all the time. I am unable to lay down without biPap. I get worsening shortness of breath during minor physical exertion, heart races and extreme fatigue. It is now 100 days since the incident occurred and I still have the atalectasis and elevated diaphram, extreme difficulty breathing while lying down, bloated or abdominal pain and slight difficulty while seated. Shortness of breath worsens during minor exhersition, racing heart, and extreme fatigue. The sleep study showed I was not exactly suffering from apnea...just that i was having some extreme unexplained pulmonary restriction causing my o2/sat to drop to 57% while in dream state of sleep. I have always been big but had started losing weight slowly, I have lost over 25lbs since incident and continue to lose slowly. The only thing I am being told is that it is all a result of sleep apnea, hypertension and obesity. The breathing inident came on suddenly and without warning. When asked why the sudden onset of the breathing difficulty, the atalectasis and elevated diaphram the doctors keep telling my it is my weight and it was the straw that broke the camels back. My job as a crane rigger and truck driver in physically demanding and I have always been able to keep up with smaller people because, even though big, I was in relatively decent shape. Please does anyone have any suggestions? I am currently on disability, my insurance has been cancelled however i will start paying it myself per COBRA requirements. I am just wondering when my long term disability will end if all the docs are saying I just need to lose weight. NOT SURE WHAT ELSE TO DO.
THANKS, Jasin