Over a year ago I had a bunch of bypass surgery and I’m still unable to do much more than walk to the bathroom. My shortness of breath causes me to border on some kind of anxiety attack. I recover pretty quickly, but I’m beginning to wonder if there is something in our A/C ducts that is turning me into a gaging short of breath mucus machine.
The cardiologist’s PA keeps harping that I need to exercise to get my strength back, but I seem to be getting most of my exercise from coughing up the crud.
The house is 40 years old and we’ve never had our air ducts cleaned and have no idea how it’s done or wether the flexible ductwork could handle the cleaning procedure.
Anyone who has been on any side of this problem is welcome to chime in. I’m about out of ideas.

Zowsa - 40 years in the same space.
It definitely sounds like your ducts could use some help. More information on the size of the house and type of heat/ac will help determine.

For breathing exercises go to youtube and search for Wim Hof. Start out with a beginner session which should take 15 minutes. Pretty sure after one week you will know if it is helping.

Cheers~

It could be a mold issue or allegy issue or something like that.

If it were me, I'd get referred to and an appointment to see a Pulmonologist ASAP. Start there.

If they think it might be a home climate issue, they should be able to refer you to someone in that business.

Don't screw around with anything else right now.

Best wishes to you.

What happens when you walk outside?

Have you looked into physical therapy?

I have been in our house for 35 years and have read that duct cleaning does no good but rather creates more problems.

As said before in this thread, I would suspect mold. Might be a good idea to have mold test(s) done.

quote:

Originally posted by old dino:
I have been in our house for 35 years and have read that duct cleaning does no good but rather creates more problems.

You should try taking a gander inside one of your ducts, someday

I get in and see the cardiologist or pulmonologist before I'd start duct cleaning.

Doesn't it seem more likely that it is something about your condition than the condition of your house? Your physical condition and the surgery is the variable in this scenario.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Doesn't it seem more likely that it is something about your condition than the condition of your house? Your physical condition and the surgery is the variable in this scenario.

Thus my earlier questions

Something for you to read up in and decide if you want to try is NAC N-Acetyl Cysteine. It used to be a prescription product but was reclassified as over the counter. One of the benefits it has, which is actually supposed to be scientifically supported (unlike most all supplements) is to help lung function. My doc told me to take it while recovering from
COVID.

https://www.swansonvitamins.co...2633DFD44D7001D17E09

Duct cleaning is a waste...

If there's an issue with it, replace it!

Any luck with an expectorant like Mucinex or, even better, NAC (n-acetylcysteine)?

As much as I've benefitted from Excam's advice directly and indirectly, I 'll have to disagree here. I was in my last house from new for 20 years and had it done. It definitely was not a waste. Especially for pet owners. Can there be scams or poor service? Most certainly. Even my service was so so, but even that was a big help. I'll be having it done again in my current home as it was built in 2000 and could use it. One of these vents will be tough to get to as it's 19 feet up. Keep an eye on the help and make sure they don't suck up all that dust into the HVAC air handler. That's where I think it could be an issue.

If anything at least take a look into your return and at a couple of your supply ducts.

Good luck.
-TVz

If I suspected the ductwork, I'd spend a few days in a nice motel. If I got better, then I'd look more closely at my home. BUT... I would be doing this while I was waiting for my appointment at the pulmonologist. I suspect that you're dealing with a lung issue. Wouldn't it be nice if this could be fixed with a run of antibiotics???

Well, in regards to duct cleaning, we had ours done, and also had a Reme Halo installed. (Not sure of spelling). That monitors the air and keeps dust, allergens from accumulating again. I have to admit, after suffering from allergies all my life, and nearly always having a dog or two, I rarely have to take an allergy pill anymore and breathe easier. Furnace guy just replaced the bulb for that and informed me they have come out with a 7 yr lifespan now on those, ours is 2 yr span. So, next time it’s due, might upgrade.
But, might want to check with a specialist first to make sure nothing more major is going on with your lungs too.

N Acetyl-cysteine (sp) is used in the hospital setting as a inhaled mucolytic, along with a bronchodilator, and as a liquid to drink to counter act Tylenol overdose. It has a strong sulphuric, rotten egg smell. It’s also used as a dietary supplement as noted above.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I’ve picked 2 to start with first.
OKCGene, you may have hit on something when you mentioned mold.
While I was in the hospital, the A/C unit in the attic had been slowly leaking water until the sheetrock and insulation in our little office area fell through and had to be repaired. It covered about half the room and I don’t know what if anything was done to kill any mold that may have built up over time. I’ll have to follow up on that with the company that cleaned up the mess.
Next, the suggestion to see a pulmonologist sounds like a good idea.
Thanks a lot guys.

I don't know how old you are but most old people settle into shallow breathing. The doctor gave my mother-in-law breathing exercises to do at home that my wife supervised because otherwise her mother wouldn't do it.

The exercise was to take in a big breath through the nose then to let out the air through the mouth in short puffs.

They also have some gizmo (I don't know whether they got it from the doctor or bought it from a drugstore). You blow into it and it measures how strong you blow. I suppose making the thing measure higher is an exercise in itself.

Her breathing problems also started after having heart surgery.

My wife has had some respiratory issues. I had my ducts cleaned about six months ago. I was able to observe the debris and dust that was collected as a result of the cleaning. My family won't be breathing in any of this debris now.

I won't suggest that a cleaning will solve all the problems, but I have to believe that clean ducts are a good thing and may help some. My wife and I did notice a difference. Additionally it does bring some peace of mind. When you are trying to solve a problem, eliminating possible causes one by one is an effective problem solving tool. For my wife, it did help. So once that's done, even if you notice no difference, you'll know that wasn't the problem. If you don't have it done, you are never going to know.

Let me expand on the duct cleaning comment...

As with anything, some companies do a good job and it can help.

However, if its causing breathing issues... cleaning is like putting a bandaid on a wound which requires stitches.
It may get rid of some or most of the problem, but it's not going to remove it completely.

This is why I recommend replacement when/if there are major issues.

Also, the problems with cleaning a poor duct system.

At 72 and having lived with asthma, hay fever and allergies at least 65+ years of that, the cause could be any number of things, including the air ducts. I recently had a cryo oblation to correct arythmea and I’ve had some of the same issues you describe. Inhalers and medication are doing nothing where they used to. I’m thinking, mine at least, is still heart related. I’m not in heart failure, but that doesn’t mean that I’m arythmea free. By the things I’ve read and what my cardiologist says, it takes a year sometimes to recover from the surgery. If medications are not helping your symptoms, I’d query your cardiologist, not a PA. If the heart’s not working as it should, you’ll definitely be short of breath. Best of luck to you, it’s not a lot of fun I know.