Question for Denise~

Sorry to hear that you're having lung issues because of GERD.  It's very common, and not something to take lightly.  If you're refluxing enough to create nodules in your lungs, then you need to get that stopped, so your lungs aren't further damaged. 

A friend that I met here on the forum (her handle was LadyJane) had bad lungs from GERD and went to National Jewish (http://www.nationaljewish.org/) in search of answers. They sent her directly to a Nissen surgeon for reflux surgery.

The problem with trying to take care of it through diet, is that if your reflux is severe enough it will continue to migrate into your lungs anyway.

My reflux was nearly "normal" (high end) and yet it created havoc with my lungs.  My problem was more asthma related.  The reflux that I got was making my lungs very sick, and my family doc and asthma doc could not get it into control.  I had one lung infection after the next, and I was constantly coughing up very nasty gunk.

Yes, my lungs improved tremendously after my surgery.  I was on high doses of steroids to help me breathe and now I'm just taking a tiny fraction of what I took before my surgery (I do have allergy-induced asthma still, but my lungs are now clear).  But before surgery, even though I took all those steroids, I still had horrible lungs.

Your issue is even more critical in my opinion.  You've apparently had some physical damage to your lungs, which hadn't occured with mine.  Instead, mine just made my asthma very bad. As I said, I was not a high volume refluxer.  The more you allow your lungs to be washed in reflux, the more permanent the damage. 

My friend (LadyJane) was told that the surgery was critical for her to have, because left the way it was, her lungs would continue to deteriorate and her lung capacity would decrease. 

I can't empasize enough the importance of listening to your doctor and protecting your lungs.  You need those lungs to provide you with air for a long time.  Like me, I think you're one who doesn't have the luxury of deciding to forgo the Nissen surgery.  It's a matter of life and death for people like us.

Take care of those lungs.

We'll be here to support you through it all!

Very best wishes,

Denise 

As long as your husband helps you with the lifting, you should be able to manage your mother's care.  You just won't be able to lift.  Also, you might want to get some help for at least a few days up to a week, because depending on your surgery, you might just want to get a little TLC yourself. 

 It's major surgery, even though it's laproscopic.  Your outsides will heal and you'll feel like going dancing long before your insides are healed and adjusted to the changes that have been made.

I believe your lungs are the best indicator of whether you're better or not.  If you're coughing up gunk, they're still getting attacked by reflux.  Honestly, you should have heard me before my surgery.  I was constantly coughing and raising terrible stuff.  My husband would do lung PT on me to help pound the mucous and loosen it so I could get it out.

It took two and a half months for my lungs to show improvement after surgery, but improve they did, and they're finally healthy again!  What a difference. 

As I said, people with lung involvement don't really have a choice.  It's either get the surgery or take the chance of developing long-term lung damage and possible disability as a result.  I am so happy to have my healthy lungs back!  What a difference.

I'm very glad you joined the forum! It's a great place to be as you contemplate surgery. 

Good luck with your decision! 

Denise

Post Edited (dencha) : 3/29/2012 6:45:16 PM (GMT-6)