SUFFERING PVCD - BREATHING DIFFICULTIES (MAY NOT BE ASTHMA)

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panaj
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SUFFERING PVCD - BREATHING DIFFICULTIES (MAY NOT BE ASTHMA)

Post by panaj »

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MY STORY OF AN ATHLETE WITH PVCD
(PARADOXIAL VOCAL CORD DYSFUNCTION)

I am writing this story about a young athlete (Soccer Player) who is struggling with exercise induced PVCD. This athlete is my daughter Chrissy Panagaris.
This rare condition affects the athlete mentally, physically and emotionally.
What is PVCD?
PVCD is a condition that affects the vocal cord or throat which is characterized by full or partial vocal fold or throat closure that usually occurs during inhalation for short periods of time.
Currently this condition in Australia is extremely rare and is misdiagnosed as Asthma or induced exercise asthma.
At this stage, there are no records of the number of people affected by this condition in Australia.

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Symptoms of PVCD?
Shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, tightness in the throat.
Describing how PVCD affects Chrissy when playing soccer.
Approx 5 - 10mins into intense training or match day, Chrissy experiences shortness of breath, dizziness, reflux and throat tightness which forces her to cease playing/training at the time.
As a consequence, she is substituted from the match or walks off during training to regain her breath and composure.
Then once she recovers she enters the field and it happens again.

Treatment
Doctors, Specialists and the sporting fraternity are unsure of the condition and are unable to give a definitive treatment or cure.
The only treatment that we are currently undergoing is speech therapy.
We have tried helium but to no effect.

How does Chrissy Feel?
Chrissy feels frustrated, angry, disillusioned and unsure of her sporting future. All she ever wanted to do was to play at the highest level.

The consequences of this condition.
Chrissy had to withdraw from FFSA state program because of the condition
Chrissy also had to withdraw from representing the A Grade Team (Premier Team)
Chrissy had to withdraw from Futsal.
Chrissy has to play in the reserves so she can come on and off during the game.

External Affects

Clubs, FFSA State Program, coaches and players are unaware of this condition or have no knowledge of it therefore cannot relate to Chrissy’s issues.

I remember Chrissy having to withdraw from the FFSA State Program 5 weeks into the season and had no support mechanism in place from the FFSA as they could not deal with it.

The FFSA also failed to follow up during the year to see how she is see if they could do something maybe find anyone who may have the same problem.
It’s unfortunately easier to let the player go rather than support them.

Currently, her club coaches have been up-to-date verbally about Chrissy’s condition however, the reality is they do not really know what Chrissy is going through.

No disrespect to her coaches, but I strongly believe that they think it’s a fitness issue.

Even as a parent, I was sceptical that it was PVCD but rather she was unfit. It has taken me a very long time to come to terms with the fact that she has PVCD.

Even players find it difficult to understand Chrissy’s condition, as they have never heard of it before and they don’t fully realise the impact that it causes Chrissy.

This not only affects Chrissy but it also affects the clubs, coaches, players and even supporters.

As this is a very rare condition, I have decided to raise this awareness to all sporting people around the country as well as specialists, coaches, parents, clubs, players and especially the players who may be affected by this condition.

PLEASE HELP. THERE MAYBE ANOTHER ATHLETE WITH THE SAME CONDITION AND DOES NOT KNOW HE OR SHE HAS IT.
FORWARD OR TAG THIS FORUM TO YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, COACHES, SUPPORTERS AND ATHLETES. THEY MAY NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO.


ALSO SITE ON FACEBOOK PLEASE SHARE https://www.facebook.com/groups/690260254417363/
Last edited by panaj on Wed Feb 04, 2015 11:29 am, edited 3 times in total.

panaj
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Re: SOCCER PLAYER SUFFERING FROM PVCD - A MUST READ

Post by panaj »

Allergy & Asthma Specialists, PC
Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD) or Paradoxical Vocal Fold Motion
VCD is a condition where the one or both vocal cords close abnormally when breathing in. This can trigger a sensation similar to asthma. A person can experience shortness of breath, wheezing, chronic cough, and /or tightness of the neck. VCD co-occurs with asthma about 40% of the time. This can lead to a misdiagnosis of only asthma. Even young children can report the difference between an asthma attack (difficulty exhaling) vs. a VCD attack (primarily difficulty inhaling). Understanding the difference between the two will help those who have both understand when to use the rescue inhaler vs. when to use the breathing exercises. VCD should be considered in any patient with difficult to treat asthma and in athletes in whom exercise-induced symptoms fail to respond to asthma therapy.
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Symptoms of VCD:
Shortness of breath
Hoarseness and/or wheezing
Chronic cough and/or throat clearing Throat tightness
Air hunger or having trouble getting air in Exaggerated sighing
Light headed or dizzy
Diagnosis of VCD
Vocal cord dysfunction is often diagnosed when other diseases are ruled out. The most effective ways of diagnosing VCD is through direct laryngoscopy, and Video Stroboscopy. The former which is a procedure where a nasal scope is inserted in the nose to view the movement of the vocal folds and to determine if there is any abnormality. When it is recorded with a strobe light it is called video stroboscopy. This allows the study to be reviewed frame by frame.

The specialist will assess the vocal cords for abnormal constriction or adductation as well as for signs of swelling of the vocal folds and evidence of irritation or inflammation.
Cause of VCD
During VCD the vocal folds close and decrease the airflow during inhalation, exhalation or both. This leads to asthma like symptoms because less air flows into the trachea and lungs. VCD episodes can be triggered suddenly, or come on gradually.
Triggers
Typically one trigger causes VCD as opposed to asthma where there may be multiple triggers. Common triggers include: gastroesophageal reflux, exercise, strong odors (smoke, perfume, gas, cleaning chemicals, nebulizers, chlorinated pools) infection, allergens, and emotional stress.
Treatment
The good news is that VCD can be cured.
The treatment for VCD is often multidisciplinary involving the lung specialist, ear nose and throat specialist and a speech therapist. Anti-reflux medications are often prescribed to eliminate any complications from reflux that may be contributing to irritation of the vocal cords.
The speech therapist will teach the patient breathing exercises that will focus on improving breathing techniques which will lead to increased control over the patient’s reaction to triggers. The patient will learn relaxation techniques and stress reduction to enhance recovery.
Basic Breathing Exercises
1. Sniffing hard through the nose then breathing out through rounded lips three times.
2. Breathe out forcefully through lips and breathe in through the nose (or rounded lips) in a relaxed manner five times.
3. Use short burst of exhalation and then breathe in gently through the nose (or rounded lips) five times.
Each of this exercise should be performed until symptoms resolve during episodes.
Each exercise should be done slowly and in a calm manner as to prevent hyperventilation.
Once you are comfortable with the breathing exercises, performing them before exercise can be quite helpful.

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Lucas Leiva
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Re: SUFFERING PVCD - BREATHING DIFFICULTIES (MAY NOT BE ASTH

Post by Lucas Leiva »

Frustrating to hear this story in Chrissy's context.

I used to play against a lad who had a heart condition that continually meant he had to come off around the 30-40 minute mark otherwise he might have gone into a coma. He gave his all for that long then off he went. Coaches were understanding and never once seemed to expect more from him. Heartningly he was on the C License course with me and is doing well as a coach at West Adelaide now (story in the paper a while ago about this).

I'm always armed to the collar with puffers and the like when coaching, every player and every condition is treated the same. At the end of the day the value of the individual as a player needs to be recognised and then everything that needs to be done be done to ensure that value is fully realised.

I hope that down the track Chrissy manages to get back to non-interchange football.

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Re: SUFFERING PVCD - BREATHING DIFFICULTIES (MAY NOT BE ASTH

Post by the barbarian »

Yes, I remember 10 years ago the majority of Coaches/Delegates in the womens premier league in a meeting with the then SAWSA committee arguing the need to introduce an interchange rule. But was not accepted by the rulling law/rule makers committee.
This is a very sad situation for Chrissy and i am sure others affected with other conditions, and again highlights the need for all levels of soccer to have an interchange rule including the women's premier league. Not having an interchange rule is not only an occupational health and safety issue but as is highlighted in the above story a no interchange rule discriminates against players with some form of a physical dibilitating conditions and other disabilities, these people could possibly play at the premier league level but because of the current rules are prevented from doing so, (example Chrissy Panagaris) not because they are not good enough but because the rules of the game do not give them the opportunity to do so. Which an interchange rule would change all this.
Every contact team sport in the world has an interchange rule at all levels,(Why? there must be some very good reasons why this is so?and there are!!) why is it that World Football does not?? the general argument is tradition?? but in todays environment with the safety of players health being paramount there needs to be a change in thinking? most sports now have a Concussion policy hence a strong argument for an interchange rule. Also Tactically the game would also be affected and would possibly make for more exciting games?
I have watched games where a player is injured, has to come of to get treatment/ankle needs to be strapped team down to 10 players and in the meantime another player suffers a head knock and has to come off to be assessed for concussion, team down to 9 players for 10 minutes. Or worse still the player who suffers the head knock does not come off for assessment but coach decides to make him continue playing, as the team is already down to 10 players. Very dangerous situation, as the player comes of a little later with concussion, after another head knock??and player was violently ill on the pitch.
I can think of many more arguments for the introduction of an interchange rule at all levels. I cannot think of many arguments for not having an interchange rule? If someone can give us some good reasons other than "tradition" why there should not be an interchange rule at all levels of the game then I may adjust my thinking.

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Re: SUFFERING PVCD - BREATHING DIFFICULTIES (MAY NOT BE ASTH

Post by Corbett3 »

Many atheists have been trying to get out of the depression and asthma problem which they have been getting while playing alot in the match so you can get out of this situation while reading and understanding with ninjaessays also that has been discovered you can do alot with writing and it does not have any boundation.
Students always raise their voices for the rights and you can do the same if you are sitting at home though.

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