Living with one lung

I had my entire left lung removed in March of 2005. It took about a year to get to the point where I could resume a normal life, but now I go fishing, 4-wheeling and work full time at my internet business.

It's a horrible thing to go through, but it is well worth it.

Daniel - Phx AZ

I had a stage I carcenoid in the airway and subsequently had the right middle and lower lobes removed. I was an athlete with 22 marathons/ultramarathons and ran a 5:46 mile at age 49. Seems like a lot to give up. My surgery was eight weeks ago. I can run 6 miles already, although I need to take rest stops every so often. So we all breathe less air, but it doesn't mean we can't go back to the things we love with the same intensity.

This past January I had my whole right lung removed from a gun shot wound. It's almost going to be a year since surgery and I still have a ton of problems. I'm only 25 and I feel like I'm an old man. I get really winded and have a hard time talking or speaking long sentences.

But then again I haven't been rehabilitating like I should be. I need to walk more and do more activities, but the trauma has caused me to have depression and anxiety attacks around large groups of people. The first week waking up in I.C.U. was horrible.

I felt like I was drowing everytime I moved or tried to talk. I couldn't sleep because I felt like I had to keep my air way open. I'm not trying to scare you or make it sound bad. I'm just giving you some info on how bad it could be.

linmendo@yahoo.com

Here's my e-mail if anybody has some good tips for me on building my lung capacity up. Thank You!

Hi, I have a cat that lost one lung a few years ago. The vet was very concerned and told me to treat him very carefully and not let him get stressed. However, this cat has surpassed all expectations and lives a perfectly healthy cat life. He runs, plays, chases and lives just like before. At first he had to stop to catch his breath on occasions but now he can run a block chasing a squirrel with no problem. It seems his other lung has made up for the lack of his other. I hope this will be your father's case too.

I have had one lung since June 2000. I'm 58 now and I have only one problem and that is that I can't put the cigarettes down. My life till now has been quite normal working till last year. It's an adjustment but life is good.! My email is relish4756@aol.com if anyone wants to know how I live with one lung!!

My daughter was born with vacterl syndrome which caused her left lung in utero to stop growing. It is only 1/4 the size of her right lung and not only because of its size but no vascular connections, it does not work. We were told not to take her out during the cold months and away from germs being that she could get pneumonia or rsv easily. She is only a few months old but I am an anxious reader on the topic and the messages have helped me to get a better idea of her future. Thanks!

Hi everyone! Hopefully I can add some encouragement.
I am a 33 year old non-smoking women who had a pneumonectomy of my entire left lung when I was an 18 year old freshman in college. Having never been a sickly individual (no asthma, allergies etc.), this came as shocking news when Drs informed me that a common airborne fungus wreaked havoc on that lung (luckily destruction was contained in the one pleural sac). Although no reason was given as to what led up to this, I suspect iron deficiency anemia I suffered from at the time was the culprit...weakened me enough for this opportunistic infection to invade. I, however, hit the ground running after operation...and initially could not tell a difference in breathing capacity. I do recommend anyone going through or having gone through this to maintain constant physical activity. I, unfortunately, have slacked off recently and can feel a difference, but understand that there is plasticity with the lungs and capacity can easily be increased again. You all are not alone; stay strong my fellow one lungers!

In 1973 I lost my entire left lung as well as having significant rib and shoulder blade damage from a gunshot wound. I was in quite a bit of pain for more than a year. I continuously increased my lung capacity by including new tasks and more excersise into my life. Gradually I regained to an 80 percent capacity. I have worked a full time job and raised children and taken care of a home successfully.

During the later years I have found an increase in breathlessness when doing exercise. For the most part I have been able to live a full and happy life.

Hi, I am 56 year old mail. Had complete left lung removed aged 19. Immediately afterwords little old ladies were overtaking me as I struggled with breathing and thus strength. Ignored all the advice of what I could 'nt do. Fell flat on my face more than once. Still play five a side football twice every week, ran out of partnres to play squash etc. Trick is to get the breating right. You getting less oxygen into your red cells in your blood therefore your not quite so strong but really only affects endurance activity (swimming still a bit problematic). Obviously more difficult and more of a shock the older you are. Take your time be patient and walk a little further each day. Best wishes to all. Gordon R.

I am a 34 year old male, and I had my left lung removed at birth due to cystic masses in the lung. I have lived a normal life with no discernable difference in respiratory ability. With proper diet and exercise you should be able to function just as you did before. Remember a positive attitude can go a long way, if you believe that lung removal is a death sentence and will limit your life then it probably will be, but on the other hand if believe it will have little impact on your life and you take proper steps and exercise the lung then you will lead a relatively normal life. Take your Doctors advise, but if hes giving you only negative information, ask for a second opinion.