i am a 22 year man that might have to get my left taken out. i might have to get it taken out because i have a tomur sitting on my left wind pipe. i just want to know how people are living with one lung. and how long it takes them to get use to living with one lung and are most people able to do things as people with 2 lungs. i am scared about loosing a lung. i feel like i am to young for something like this to be happening to me. i would like to hear more form the people that have gotten one of there lungs taken out or knows someone that has gotten one taken out.
Sharden, I too am faced with your diagnosis. There is a slight possibility of having a lobectomy only (one lob removed) but doctors feels like the entire left lung is going to be removed. I am a 39 year old male that is in good health. No other things to speak of. I am scared and am set for surgery Nov 10th of 2008. I have read many things about living with one lung and my docotr fells as though I should pull through just fine and live a good life. I too feel very young for this type of thing but I guess bad things happen to good people regardless. I would like to know how your surgery went and how you are coping. You are a bit younger then me so recovery time for you will probably be quicker. When is your surgery?? What is your diagnosis??
I am 66 yrs old and had my left lung removed, due to cancer, in July of 2007.
I joined an exercise class before the surgery and have continued it. I believe that has made a huge difference. I get short of breath when walking up an incline, but basically am doing very well. I just feel blessed that they could remove it before it could spread. I am currently cancer free.
Good luck to you.
I joined an exercise class before the surgery and have continued it. I believe that has made a huge difference. I get short of breath when walking up an incline, but basically am doing very well. I just feel blessed that they could remove it before it could spread. I am currently cancer free.
Good luck to you.
Oh wow- i have found others like myself!! I am a 27 year old non smoker, who has just discovered a 4 cm tumor in my left lung. I coughed a speck of blood and went in to the Dr. immediatly. X-rays showed a tumor. I went through the nasty horrible biopsy (needle through the back) and it is not a malignant cancer. BUT due to where it is, in the airway shared by the 2 lobes in my left lung, they are telling me it will most likely be the whole left lung. I am devistated! I too feel i am too young for this, but anyone is too young for this. NO one deserves this mess. But, i am worried about living the rest of my life on only one lung. i do have quite a long time to go still (hopefully). How will it effect me? I still need to start my family and have kids and im really dreading this whole thing. At least i know there is a few in my same boat. If you are a younger person (mid 20's) how has this effected you? Are you limited now?
For does who are about to lose their left lung,-- I'm 100% sure you can have a normal life. But this is my experience I hope you'll have the same outcome.
I lost my left lung 8 years ago, I was 30 by then, motorbike accident.
It is hard and life changing the fist one and a half years, I'll try to quickly explain the changes in your body.
Fist of all remember that from the point the doctors remove your lung thinks can only get better.
First x-ray is cool, shows half of your body black and half white (I should post them), but it'll grow, the human body it's amazing, six month later a the white space seams to move side ways and down. Keep breathing, keep pushing. A year later the left hemisphere looks greyish, yes the right lung can grow toward the left, and one year and a half later I reached my limit, 75% said the Doctor, This is a possible outcome, you will have to work hard, not too hard the first six month remember your hard need to adapt, follow always doctors instructions.
After a year and a half I was able to climb 4000 mts, mountains (it gets hard after 3000), walk 80 km in 3 days, and have fun with the doctors trying to find my hard, jeje, really funny. I won't play squash it is too much for me, I never like it anyway.
But remember, start walking, walking, walking, my next challenge is run 10km in less than one hour, last time I was 18.
Curiosities.
, You better forget drinking more coffee (freaks me out), your hard is touching your ribs and you will vibrate with every hard beat, is funny.
. Every organ inside your body will reposition it self, One kidney lower than the other one, jeje.
. In the pool you won't float as you use too, My only panic attack.
Fell free to ask me more details if you like, _[removed]_ and good luck to all of you.
I lost my left lung 8 years ago, I was 30 by then, motorbike accident.
It is hard and life changing the fist one and a half years, I'll try to quickly explain the changes in your body.
Fist of all remember that from the point the doctors remove your lung thinks can only get better.
First x-ray is cool, shows half of your body black and half white (I should post them), but it'll grow, the human body it's amazing, six month later a the white space seams to move side ways and down. Keep breathing, keep pushing. A year later the left hemisphere looks greyish, yes the right lung can grow toward the left, and one year and a half later I reached my limit, 75% said the Doctor, This is a possible outcome, you will have to work hard, not too hard the first six month remember your hard need to adapt, follow always doctors instructions.
After a year and a half I was able to climb 4000 mts, mountains (it gets hard after 3000), walk 80 km in 3 days, and have fun with the doctors trying to find my hard, jeje, really funny. I won't play squash it is too much for me, I never like it anyway.
But remember, start walking, walking, walking, my next challenge is run 10km in less than one hour, last time I was 18.
Curiosities.
, You better forget drinking more coffee (freaks me out), your hard is touching your ribs and you will vibrate with every hard beat, is funny.
. Every organ inside your body will reposition it self, One kidney lower than the other one, jeje.
. In the pool you won't float as you use too, My only panic attack.
Fell free to ask me more details if you like, _[removed]_ and good luck to all of you.
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
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.
_[removed]_
Here's my e-mail if anybody has some good tips for me on building my lung capacity up. Thank You!
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.
_[removed]_
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 _[removed]_ 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!
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.
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.