Living With Damaged Lungs

I have been living with a damaged lung for three years. My lower left lung is collapsed and my upper left lung where my windpipe meets the lung is narrowing just like my trachea has been for the last 16 years. With my trachea, my ENT and I have been following a steady routine keeping my trachea open. When I had sepsis from an infection I had I was taken off all the medications that were keeping my immune system from attacking. I started the routine that was keeping my immune system under control a year ago. My lungs were attacked and that is why I am dealing with what I have now.  

My latest CT scan shows that my left upper lung is not removing the mucus like it should. To me, it looks like swiss cheese in my lungs. That is not what it is supposed to look like, it is supposed to be clear. I will be having up to three surgeries to open up the damaged area so mucus can come out when I cough. 

What exactly is mucus and why is it important for our body? Mucus is a slippery thick substance that lines and protects the external and internal surfaces in the body. The goblet cells create mucus in the mucus membranes. The mucus membranes are located in many parts of the body including the nose, lungs, digestive system, mouth, and urinary system. When you make too much mucus like me, breathing issues and illnesses like pneumonia happen.  Autoimmune problems arise when mucus and the immune system overproduce. This happened to me. 

Due to my breathing issues I have to choose wisely what I accomplish daily. Many things I once enjoyed doing like hiking, walking, photography, self-care like baths and showers are far and few between. I am sad about it. I grieve for the woman I was before I started this journey of challenging breathing. Maintaining a healthy mindset does not come easy when faced with obstacles that kill your body and spirit. I do the best I can and I am grateful for my team that includes a counselor. 

I am preparing for my next lung surgery on  November 7th. I request prayers and if you think about it maybe an encouraging message or something that will make me laugh. My sister-friend Summer sends me a cat video where the cat is dressed up in costumes and a funny voice that says “what the hell!” We both say this often. Peace be with you and love to all.