When I had my surgery nearly 20 years ago for scoliosis, the thoracic curve was at about 65 degrees and tests showed I had lost lung capacity (which I was told back then, I would never fully recover).
Fast forward to now. I developed a flu (probably H1N1) last Friday, but with the fever not going away after several days, tried to make an appointment with my family doctor, who is actually the person who diagnosed my scoliosis and who has been my doctor ever since. Unfortunately, my doctor was sick. I went to a flu assessment clinic instead. There, I was told air flow was not as good through one of my lungs. I asked the nurse if maybe it was from the scoliosis and she did a more thorough assessment. She was still pretty sure it was pneumonia and prescribed me antibiotics. The fever not going away was what convinced her (and me for the most part) that it was pneumonia.
I am wondering if anyone knows if reduced lung capacity due to scoliosis would come out in a regular examination (i.e. when there's no pneumonia present)? My thinking is, my doctor knows me and my background, and if there is reduced airflow, she's probably familiar with it, but others might not. I don't have shortness or breath or chest pain that are often associated with pneumonia. Don't get me wrong - I am glad to have the antibiotics - the fever not going away was definitely a sign something was wrong - but am wondering if maybe I have bronchitis or something else.
Fast forward to now. I developed a flu (probably H1N1) last Friday, but with the fever not going away after several days, tried to make an appointment with my family doctor, who is actually the person who diagnosed my scoliosis and who has been my doctor ever since. Unfortunately, my doctor was sick. I went to a flu assessment clinic instead. There, I was told air flow was not as good through one of my lungs. I asked the nurse if maybe it was from the scoliosis and she did a more thorough assessment. She was still pretty sure it was pneumonia and prescribed me antibiotics. The fever not going away was what convinced her (and me for the most part) that it was pneumonia.
I am wondering if anyone knows if reduced lung capacity due to scoliosis would come out in a regular examination (i.e. when there's no pneumonia present)? My thinking is, my doctor knows me and my background, and if there is reduced airflow, she's probably familiar with it, but others might not. I don't have shortness or breath or chest pain that are often associated with pneumonia. Don't get me wrong - I am glad to have the antibiotics - the fever not going away was definitely a sign something was wrong - but am wondering if maybe I have bronchitis or something else.
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