Living with one lung

I live in Mohlai (India). I had TB between 1988-91 due to which my one lung is impaired by 80% and other by 20%. Therefore I have one lung only. I fear taking vigorous exercise as it may not result into another complication. Though i find that i have better potential than my freinds. No doubt that energy which i had earlier is lacking. That might be due to my own feeling. I am married having two kids. I take alcohol about 45 ml. almost 250 days in a year. eat non-veg, practice law (a profession with lot of tension and pressure). I too think one lung is enough to lead good life.    

 

I am 35. I had my left lung removed in its entirety when I was 23. I had a benign tumour in my left bronchial tube which had to be removed, and unfortunately, because of the positioning of the tumour, they had to remove the whole lung even though it was healthy. I did not have cancer, so no radiation or chemotherapy. A nurse who supervised me before and after surgery told me that the expected result of the operation would be that I would from then on feel as though I was 'living with a handbrake on'.

I was determined that would not be the case.

Initially, after the lung was removed, it was difficult to undertake physical activity of any kind. But I hired a personal trainer and regained my fitness. Then I started training for my first triathlon. I ended up doing triathlons for 6 years, with a club, culminating in my completion of two half-Ironman triathlons. I was always the slowest in my club, but I was not always the last to finish every race, and I took real pride in that. For me, it was about crossing the finishline, a triumph in and of itself.

Since engaging in physical training at that level, ordinary tasks like climbing stairs, and even moderate exercise, like hiking, have posed no problems for me. In fact, I think I am fitter than most people with two lungs. Nobody would know unless I told them that I was living with only one lung. There is nothing that I can't do which other people with two lungs can (except, you know, win the Tour de France).

I am currently pregnant with my first child, and am experiencing some breathlessness in my third trimester, as my uterus grows and presses against my diaphragm, but it is difficult to know whether the breathlessness I am feeling is worse that that of other women at this stage in pregnancy. Other than this one symptom, I have encountered no problems in pregnancy to do with having one lung.

In short, I think having only one lung does not have to be a disability at all unless you allow it to be. Live a healthy life, exercise energetically, train your one lung so that it expands and your body so that it is more efficient, and your life will be as rewarding as a life with two lungs.

I had my right lung removed 44 years ago, when I was 20, I found out while I was pregnant with my first child, I had to wait for 3 months after his birth before the surgery could be done.  In 1967 there was no rehab, just a doctor telling me that I didn't have cancer.   There I was with a baby and lots of challenges, but I am here to tell you that I had another baby in 1970, and have had the most wonderful life, I do anything I have ever wanted to do, my view is, I am the only one that has a right to tell me what I can't do, so far, the only thing I can't do is climb mountains or run, but I couldn't do either of those before my lung was removed.  As for the breathessness during pregnancy I had one child when I had both lungs, and one after my lung was removed, they were both uncomfortable, my oldest was born while I still had the disease that was the problem, and the other was born after the lung was removed, but both were easy.  I can't tell anyone to not be afraid of surgery, I never like surgery, but who does?  It is just part of who I am now, I have done many things that no one would have ever expected, but me, if something makes me uncomfortable I stop, if it feels good I will do it again.  Tonight is the first time in my life that I have read anything about this, when I was sick, there was no internet, probably to my advantage, I only went with the way my body felt, I never read what I should expect, so I expected to be well, and here I am all of these years later passing on my story to help someone feel more comfortable with what they are about to endure, but I hope you can see that it is not as bad as it sounds.....I wouldn't suggest it, but if you have no choice "this too, shall pass"  live it all, it really is up to You.

 

My name is Jen i am 31 years old my mother has COPD and i am looking into giving her one of my lungs. Is there anyone who has information on this procedure and the survival rate? I also have a 3 year old daughter and it will probably be very hard after the surgery but i will have lots of help and if i can save my mom its well worth it to me. my mother was a single mom and raised 3 children so she risked a lot so we can have a good life so this is the least i can do for her. I'm not ready to say goodbye to my mom yet she has been my whole life and more important my best friend any help will be greatly appreciated.

in jan 2011 i had to have my right lung removed.now that its almost a yr later im still havin alot of pain in my ribcage and all the nerve endings that are wrapped around it.doctors said that the ribcage always does somethin cause it has to get use to the empty space where the lung use to be.also my diaphram has fell over a bit where the lung use to be so i cant bend over or twist my body like before cause it pinches the diaphram and i cant breath also its pretty painful.my breathing has improved but still have some difficult times.im 39 and hyptoplasmosis was my problem.there were lil stones all n my lung but one spasific stone was stuck n my broncial tube and caused me to not be able to pull air past it so over time the bottom of my lung started to die from lack of oxygen.thee best lung surgen n Indiana did my surgery and was able to patch my tube back together so i got to keep 30 % of my lung.somehow it doesnt never seem like i still have that peice cause im always outta breath...plumonary rehab is a must.

living with a handbrake on is totally what ive felt like since my lung removal.. 8(

Hi my name is yanick  an am living on one lung as well thinking of it is very scary but who say there is not a GOD .i had my left lung remove b cuz it was in total destruction .not exercising the right one can lead  to pneumonia was born so did not know till know.yes i am scared but am bless and happy that am still alive .all those out their with one i know how it fell it might b easier for some while difficult for others wish i could meet with one individual who has one to exchange views am also born in saint Lucia. ***this post is edited by moderator *** *** private e-mails not allowed*** Please read our Terms of Use

Hi, I have one right lung (all 3 lobes) my left lung was removed due to Non Hodgkins Lymphoma over 8 years ago. I try to stay as healthy as possible, going to the clinic when I get an upper/lower resp tract infection. I do everything the same as before, if anything, I am in better shape with the lung. I wish your father and his family well.

I came across your post while doing research for a paper. I am 37 years old and have had 3 surgeries, each time removing a lobe of my right lung. I was 13 at my first surgery, 16 at my second, and just turned 20 at my third. April 26, 2012 will be17 years with only 1 lung. I have learned my limits over the years, I don't run many foot races, but I operate an electrical contracting business and have returned to school full-time. Also, I have a wife and two daughters that we walk and ride bicycles on a regular basis. I am proof that a person can live a productive life with less than two functioning lungs.

My 6 year old daughter (she'll be 7 in March) will soon be having her left lung removed.  She was born with multilple birth defects.  Omphalocele, TE fistula with EA, VSD, to name a few of her many obsticles. She had chronic pnemonia in her lung from September 2010 to May 2011.  As a result, it collapsed and is now a host for infection.  After being off of antibiotics for more than 2 weeks she is spiking high fevers, retracting when  breathing, O2 around 90-92%  I am worried about the recovery process and the pain that she may be in afterwards.  The doctors seems as though they may not want to upset/worry me more than I already am.  I have gotten some comfort from reading each of your post.  Thank you. 

Hi, Truly, once the lung is gone, the symptoms should abate and your daughter shouldl be breathing so much better. After one day of my lung removed, my night sweats stopped, my fevers stopped, my O2 sats zoomed up the charts. When in doubt, talk w/a nurse. I have found they have the best information, best resources and communicate a bit better than a physican. Wishing you and your daughter well and a very speedy recovery.

hello!! I am happy that your son is healthy. I met a man of my life now, he is 44yrs. old and he says he was born also with one lungs. My question is, what is the outlook of a person having a single lungs? My man says he has more or less a year to live and I am really trying my best to research on this condition because I am positive and determined that he can overcame this prognosis. Please, i need your help and advise, it would really be a great help to me. Thanks in advance.

Well i guess I am the perverbial curve, i had my left lung removed along with the adjoining lymph nodes due to stage 3 non small cell carcinoma. It was a little rocky the first year adjusting but each consecutive year got easier and easier to the point now that if i didnt have that big scar on my back i wouldnt even be able to know I had the surgery at all. That was over 10 years ago. I had the surgery in August of 2002 and was back at work at a travel assignment in Hawaii (Im a traveling Registered nurse) by Thanksgiving of the same year and actually worker twenty one 12hr nursing shifts at a nursing strike without and difficulty. no one was aware i had just undergone major lung surgery. So yes life can be the SAME and even better after lung removal. My doctors say my right lung has grown larger to compensate for the missing lung. I feel NO deficit at all and I take a yearly vacation to the ski slopes in Breckenridge CO where there is usually O2 issues....i can tall absolutely no difference since my surgery. Good luck to your dad. and God bless

My husband had a surgery when he was 15 years old, and have one lung remove , he started doing exercises and a lot of sports of course he was only 18 when he did it. today he is 72, but he lived a regular life, with not problems. now he is 77 and 2 weeks ago had a problem of an Emphysema, now he is doing therapy and doing better. I hope this will help. I wish the best to your father.

Two years ago my left lung stopped working, perhaps a virus blocked the phrenic nerve. I am 62 and retired and just finished a season skiing in Colorado, 9600 feet at base. After a few weeks to get used to the altitude(I live near Pittsburgh) I could ski the groomers top to bottom. In powder and bumps I need to stop and catch my breath after about 100 yards of skiing. There are some limitations, I can not run well and have some trouble walking up steep hills. BUT 75 days skiing and 1,000,000 feet, you make the best of what you have.