I just got the news from my Doc that my chest e-ray (I’ve been sick this past two weeks) had some abnormalities called Atelectasis, meaning a partial collapsed lung (I believe) and I need to go back for another x-ray in a couple of weeks. That’s about all I know. Breathing is a little labored. I guess it should start clearing up as time goes along.
Anybody had to deal with this? Any advice on recovery and safeness of working out would be helpful.
Yes, atelectasis refers to a “settling” or “partially collapsed” lung. It is a non-specific finding on chest X-rays and can indicate any number of things, most of which are not very serious. For instance, you say your breathing is labored, presumably from your cold. If you are breathing somewhat more shallowly than normal, your lungs will not be fully expanded and will appear atelectatic on X-ray. A strained chest muscle or rib fracture would produce the same effect. Since I don’t know your case, I can’t really comment on whether it is safe for you to train or not. The fact that your lungs are not fully expanded, for whatever reason, however likely indicates training is going to be of limited value right now and that you should probably give your body a break to recover. Obviously this is general and theoretical advice. I do not know the specifics of your case and I firmly advise you to continue under the care of your doctor as you are doing. Kevin Walter, M.D. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Yes, I was diagnosed with this once. I had severe chest trauma, and there was a concern I was going to have a problem because of this. If you read the good doctor’s post, he …well, what he said. I can say that when the doctor brought in his windtrainer, and let me ride my bike in the hospital room (I was there for 3 weeks), my improvement was dramatic. Consider it a pretty cool anecdote, but by no means is it a guarantee that you should follow suit. Ask your doc. Like what he said…
Ask your doc about the use of a device called an "incentive spirometer’. We commonly see atelectasis after prolonged surgeries, and the IS helps open collapsed, atelecatic segments. Disclaimer: I am a doctor, but I do not play one on TV.
Tony Verow, MD