I haven’t posted anything about my second trachea surgery here, that I can remember.\u00a0 I thought I should though, just for posterity and future reference.\u00a0 For the moment it’s over and done with.<\/p>\n
Last spring I started experiencing shortness of breath and wheezing, like I had back in 2015\/16.\u00a0 Instead of going through the whole process of x-rays, cat scans, asthma treatments, etc, I just went back to the ENT who fixed the problem in the first place<\/a>!\u00a0 Actually, I went to my PCP first to get the needed referrals.\u00a0 My official PCP, a different doctor than I saw during the first round of all this, thought maybe the problem was caused by reflux.\u00a0 I told him I didn’t have reflux, just the occasional heartburn.\u00a0 He explained reflux and I said, “Ooohhh, yes, I guess I do have that!”\u00a0 He gave me the ENT referral, but also had my try Prilosec for two weeks.\u00a0 Guess what? No heartburn — at all!\u00a0 That was a nice two weeks.\u00a0 Unfortunately the damage was already done.<\/p>\n I went back to the ENT in November and he did the scope again, finding that yes, once again the scar tissue had built up in my subglottic area (just below the larynx) and was causing the wheezing and breathing problems.\u00a0 He said we should definitely do another surgery.\u00a0 I said, ok, but I don’t want a third, so how can we prevent this in the future?!\u00a0 He agreed that reflux is a likely cause and prescribed a longer duration anti-reflux med.<\/p>\n So I had the surgery again on February 8th.\u00a0 I intentionally scheduled it for the week before vacation so I could have two weeks off.\u00a0 I remembered that last time one week didn’t feel like enough (though when I went back and reread the post I realized I also went to a Lego League competition the day before going back to work, NOT the best idea!)\u00a0 This time I had a quiet week at home (with the except of Eve home sick one day, snow day another day, follow up appointments another day, etc)\u00a0 Then we went to Franklin over vacation so I was able to relax there too.\u00a0 That’s what I do best in Franklin!\u00a0 :)<\/p>\n I went back to work this week and I’m feeling pretty great.\u00a0 I can totally breath again!\u00a0 I can walk up stairs without feeling like I’m dying.\u00a0 I don’t sound like Darth Vader anymore.\u00a0 I got nice flowers and a get well card from my coworkers, so I sent out a thank you email and gave them all a quick overview of what’s going on.\u00a0 Since then so many have come to talk to me about it!\u00a0 People have said they thought I had asthma, or bronchitis, or emphysema!\u00a0 Geesh!\u00a0 I’m glad I cleared that up with everyone.<\/p>\n I’m currently taking reflux meds, but also changing my diet to reduce the reflux in the hopes that I don’t have to be on the meds forever.\u00a0 Now we wait and see if the whole thing comes back again after a few years.\u00a0 Fingers crossed it does not!<\/p>\n If you’re curious, here’s a good description of what’s going on<\/a>.<\/p>\n Here’s a super detailed version<\/a> of it with some gross pictures, and that article led me to another<\/a> that might explain what I really have.\u00a0 I’m posting this mostly for my own reference, in case it comes back again in two years.<\/p>\n Anyway, that’s my story for this evening.\u00a0 It’s great to be able to climb stairs and read a full picture book without having to stop and catch my breath!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I haven’t posted anything about my second trachea surgery here, that I can remember.\u00a0 I thought I should though, just for posterity and future reference.\u00a0 For the moment it’s over and done with. Last spring I started experiencing shortness of … Continue reading