Breathing issues

[Singer]

Hi all --

I'm happy to report that at 8 months post-op, I am finally feeling much better. For the past couple of weeks or so I've had more good days than bad days and I'm really grateful for that. One thing I did was cut back on my activity level -- I'm pretty sure I was just trying to do too much, too soon.

Anyway, I have a question for my post-op friends. I'm a trained singer and have been trying to get back into it over the past month, and I'm really surprised at how little breath I have. I sound okay but I can't sing "properly" from the diaphragm -- can't hold notes very long and it pretty much feels like a block of cement throughout the rib cage area. I've been doing lots of breathing exercises but I am wondering if people with anterior incisions (I had a rib removed also) experience permanent changes in their lung function/capacity. Or is this something that just takes a long time to get better?? Neither of my lungs was deflated during surgery but I know my right lung was moved around a bit (along with all my other organs ).

Thanks!

[Wishing]

Dear Singer,

Have you had Pulmonary Function Tests to determine your lung volume? Perhaps your internist could order one. I have not had A/P surgery and expect to have a posterior revision next June, it is my understanding that pulmonary function goes down after surgery before it goes up and that you will probably have further improvement in your lung function.
I have a 91 degree thoracic curve and lung volume of 39%. While I was not a singer of any magnitude, I did have some singing lessons as a teenager. (I'm now 63). I noticed over the years that I gradually was losing my ability to sing and now cannot sing at all. This was probably as a result of my gradually decreasing lung function. I'm hoping with surgery to have some improvement in my lung volume and slow down further progression or compression of my curves which, in addition to the loss that normally occurs with aging, would further reduce my lung volume.
While, you have some set-back in your singing abilities, I believe you will improve and that your surgery has spared you from having a greater decline
which you would have experienced without it.
Good luck to you.

[Linda W]

Hi Chris,

Glad to see you back on the Forum! I think Wishing's suggestion of having a pulmonary function test is a good one. My lung capacity had considerably diminished prior to surgery. Fortunately, once my rib cage was rotated, hitched up, repositioned, etc. my capacity increased post op. I was lucky that they did not have to deflate a lung, and I did not have a rib graft.

I mentioned to PT that although improved, I did not feel like I could catch a full breath. She suggested finding the little breath meter device with the floating ball that we all received in the hospital and to use it on a regular basis at home to try to increase my levels. She also recommended deep breathing exercises. Currently, my PT is in a therapeutic 91 degree pool (it feels so gooood!), and I have been doing many breast stroke-like exercises with my arms that I think are helping to expand my chest and make getting a deep breath easier.

Good luck on resolving this issue so you can sing your heart out. And welcome back!
Linda W.

[Singer]

Thanks ladies, and hi Linda!

I had a pulmonary function test as part of my pre-op testing, and it was well within normal range. I almost don't WANT to know what my function is now because it SEEMS so much less, and I don't know if that's stiff muscles or what.

I will keep working on it, but I wondered if anyone who is over a year post-op with an anterior incision noticed an improvement in this area.

[JanL]

Singer,

Do you mind me asking, how big was your anterior incision? i had one but only on the lower abdomen, below the waist so it does not affect my breathing.

[Singer]

Hi Jan,

My incision starts on my belly beside my hip bone, then goes up my side and ends around my right shoulder blade. It's probably 20 inches long or so.

How are you feeling?

[Dee225]

My anterior incision is probably a little smaller than yours and my lungs were deflated during surgery. I starting singing in my school choir about two yars after my surgery in elementary school and continued it until I got out of high school and never had any difficulties breathing from the diaphram. It takes a while but I'm pretty sure it will get better over time.


Darwin