Thanks for replying.
It’s rather complicated to explain and hard to follow but I’ll try.
I’m 76. I’ve been relatively healthy all my life. No diabetes, heart problems or cancer only minimal BP medication. Married and had 4 children. Owned and operated child care centers for nearly 40 years. The only chronic conditions I’ve experienced are frequent UTI’s, having to take Nexium for acid reflux, several bouts of inflammation of the colon and chronic constipation. I’ve had a left hernia repair a benign right auxiliary tumor, a bladder sling and partial hysterectomy. I know of no injuries that could have caused it. I also have kyphosis which adds to crowding the lungs.
I started experiencing shortness of breath after I retired in 2010. I was diagnosed with COPD and given Ventolin. It got worse and I had pain in my left shoulder and ribs. I failed a stress test and was sent to a Cardiologist who did an angiogram and found nothing.
Almost by accident a chest X-ray showed an elevated diaphragm with stomach and intestines protruding into the left lung cavity and pushing it upward. Sniff tests at 2 different hospitals show a paralyzed phrenic nerve. I’ve seen 2 pulmonologist and both say they could do placation of the diaphragm. Both also said it is not a pleasant surgery with long recovery and varied results. One basically laughed at the idea that intestines being jammed into areas where they shouldn’t be could cause digestive and elimination issues.
Covid put a damper on following up but my primary and a local chiropractor have helped me to cope with
the discomfort. Daily laxatives, a modified diet, limiting activities and deep belly breathing have helped tremendously. I have good pulse-ox readings 95-97 consistently. My oldest chest X-ray from 2008 shows it was elevated at that time. I’ve recently learned my cousins chest X-ray is almost identical to mine. Hereditary???
My primary encourages me to pursue a real answer from someone who has experience. Evidently it isn’t a wide spread problem. Although I’ve learned to cope with most of the effects, my biggest concern is, at some point will I be told I should have done “something” sooner and I will be too old for surgery etc.
As you can see it’s complicated and most specialists won’t listen long enough to understand and you end up feeling like they just think you have a very vivid imagination.