HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Lung Inflammation

Support Forums
>
Rheumatoid Arthritis
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 7/26/2007 7:13 AM (GMT 0)
So they were suspecting Asthma cause I've been having problems breathing for the last 8 years... so my Primary Care Physician took a chest x-ray, and his nurse called me back the following day saying there was inflammation in my lungs due to the rheumatoid and suggested I start seeing a rheumatologist again right away.


I couldn't get an appointment til August 2nd, and my chest has been hurting... is there anything I can do to ease this for the time being that you guys know of?

Much appreciated.

Posted 7/26/2007 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hey there.. How are you feeling? Is there any way that your Primary can prescribe something for you in the meantime? Hang in there!
Posted 7/27/2007 1:59 AM (GMT 0)
Well he's got me on Trilisate, which isn't exactly doing the job for anything really... It just gets scary, like since there's pain in my chest my brain's here thinking 'heart attack', and it scares me, then I realize it's not my heart at all haha. I think I'll be okay, it just gets uncomfortable y'know?
Posted 7/27/2007 1:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi! There are several different lung problems associated with RA, depending on how long you have had it and what meds you have been taking. The rheumatologist won't be able to treat the lung problem; a pulmonologist (lung specialist) is the one you should see. I have had rheumatoid nodules in my lungs for years which are benign and then developed atypical TB from long time use of methotrexate for the RA. The pulmonologist will be able to sort it out. Good Luck! FK

Posted 7/27/2007 5:45 PM (GMT 0)
hey SKITTLES,

RA absolutely causes or can cause inflammatory pulmonary issues.  of course, it is not a bad idea TO see a pulmonologist eventually to defintely rule out any serious pulmonic issues.

 

like yourself i suffered with terrible difficulty "getting air in" it was like ya just couldn't breath in/inhale all the way and it was PAINFUL.  got worse on exertion, walking, talking, eating and bending over.

they tried ALBUTEROL, did nothing.

 

i do have emphysema & pleural thicking due to inflammation per XRAY.

 

when i did consult with a pulmonologist & did all the PFT's...his opinion was that it was from the RA.

 

with RA...the connective tissues of the body become inflammed, and in some people this inflammation hits the tissues around the lungs, the plueral lining, the ribs, the chest wall & diaphragm.

 

that's why you'll see a lot of people here with RA who have costochondritis (basically inflammed chest wall & ribs & all that stuff in that area) and also pleurisy or pleuritis.  i deal with both and they do feel like a heart attack that's for sure.

 

the thing that actually HELPED was starting Enbrel, then Humira, and now Remicade.

prednisone did alleviate some of the pain.

morphine helped also.

i think i used VICS and menthol rubs on my chest too?

my rheummy RX'd LidoDerm patches to wear over the sterum & chest wall...that was pretty helpful.

also, i was attached to a heat pad on my chest for a good year!

after a good amount of inflammation was controlled...it did get better; now it's a non-issue and when it does act up it's never as bad as it  was.

yeah...i felt so stupid going to the ER for this. i went like 4 times for pleuritis & costo, NON EMERGENCIES but of course when you call your doc he's like "oh you need to go to the ER" eyes

 

i find that laying down helps...sitting straight up killed!

 

if you can try any Advil or some other NSAIDs perhaps that'll help the pain & inflammation.

 

but yeah, ya need to get your little butt to the rhuemmy girl! tongue because THIS can be resolved & it can be so torturous so why suffer right?

august 2nd is right around the corner so if any of the tips can help...well hang on till then.

 

your PCP can definitely give you some LidoDerm samples to try (that's if he's not stingy & hoarding them for himself, lol)

 

most likely he will want ya to consult with a pulmonoligist too...long term RA that's gone untreated or that's very fast moving and severe can cause some serioud lung problems (some scarring or nodules)...that would have shown up on your films so don't freak out. ((((((((((hugs)))))))))))

hang in there...i hope something mentioned helps ya out a bit.

erin

Posted 7/28/2007 12:14 AM (GMT 0)
hey skittles, i have 7 nodules in my lungs from RA. i have to have CTscans every 4-6 months and watch their activity. i am due again to have a scan in sept so i hope i get good news that they are quiet an stable. i do get asthma like colds in the winter mainly- have had thenm for years not knowing about the RA. i too had an xray ans it showed shadings or spots so i had the ctscan and they found 4 in one lung and 3 in the other lung nodules, unknown density right now. yep still waiting ans they are growing so i pray i neer get told anything worse than EA nodules in the lungs if you know what i mean. but i dont smoke nor do any living family members so i hope all will be well. as far as meds go i only take an inhailer when i get sick. good luck and keep us posted!
Posted 7/28/2007 5:36 AM (GMT 0)
good advise Yally! (you'l see Skittles that Elcamino here has also RA lung complications)
so yeah Skittles...ya gotta' bite the bullet probably & really pursue this lung issue. pain is enough to warrant further evaluation, and a 2nd opinion may not be bad too.
like you've seen here...there are a few people who DO get RA lung complications and we are young too! so unfortunatly RA issues that effect the heart and lungs don't age discriminate ((boooo))
it is a good idea to have perhaps time to time scans done...if not yearly than maybe twice a year if this issue persists.

this should be a major issue to discuss with the rheummy; they really need to know the priority areas of the body that need addresing regarding RA
again, best wishes!
Posted 7/28/2007 6:00 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the advice, I really appreciate it. The thing about Remicade and all that is that a) I'm deathly afraid of needles haha, and b) I was told how much they cost... I'm not exactly a rich one...

The last rheumatologist I saw left his assistant to deal with me, and I could not stand her, she treated me like a child and talked to me like one and kept doing it after I asked her to stop several times, so now I have this paranoia that the new one might do the same thing... I'm weird like that haha..

But yes, August 2nd is just around the corner, I just hope this one will have ideas, and not make me wait "a few more weeks" to do something about the pain...
Posted 7/28/2007 8:51 AM (GMT 0)
hey i am needle phobic too! but somehow i get through it..... i take enbrel shots. so u have insurance? i just have a co pay..... everyone would laugh if they saw me slowly take my shot!. i doit real slow.... even stick me slow and any sign of burning i stop take a berath and then continue...... real woss!lol
Posted 7/28/2007 11:13 AM (GMT 0)
sad   sad sad sad awe Skittles!!!! sad sad sad sad   hey, go out & get yourself a wicked-cool tattoo! LOL, needle-phobia? OUT THE WINDOW! tongue

...you do get used to it. and ya' do become a pro at shots should you go that route. :-)

laying down in a recliner or the office bed helps trick the sympathetic nervous system to "don't freak out" during a blood draw or IV insertion.

TELL whoever's doing this (the IV or lab draw) about your reservations, they can give you tips & accomodate you for comfort.

 

a great IV nurse or a phlebotomist will make things a piece of cake. :-) me, like Yalinda...hah...i used to go soooo slow with the Humira! hah...i injected to the abdomen, but this sucker devil devil devil BURNS!!!!!! devil devil   devil   so the slower it went the better it felt. believe us...after one self injection? you're a pro! it'll be like nothin'. :-)

 

bythe way, do you have any medical insurance?

 

hospitals that administer Remicade & most hospitals altogether usually do have a charity care program to cover admitted hospital treatments, tests, meds and inpatient stays, it goes my income...i am on this for my hospital.

Medicaid definitely covers Remicade as well as Humira.  Humira has a program where you get it at no cost (depending on income again). i used to make a lot of money...but now?, fuhgetaboutit...so THERE ARE a lot of ways to get your meds for RA so do not worry!!!! there are a ton of assitance programs out there.

 

hmmm? eyes how patronizing!  medical "non-professionals" [how i like to call em'] really need more schooling on communication.  that is THE WORST when they do that; makes ya feel lik crap. mad

i would tell the doc directly of what was said & what occured!  i did once to my rheummy and it was like day & nite thereafter.the doc felt badly; these office assistants reflect the physician! so a nasty & condescending assistant is not good all around.

i'd say something like this: "I don't mean to hassle you with off topic issues, but "so and so" I feel speaks to me as though I am ------ *fill in the blank* and I felt very insulted & uncomfortable with her/him and therefor it makes for a very uncomfortable office visit. Is there someone else that can take my case or can you talk to her/him about this behavior."

it works...no doc wants a slimy PA or assistant reflecting poorly on the doc himself. it tarnishes his reputation.

 

i hope you strike gold w/ the new rheummy! :-)

 

BTW...what meds do you take if any at all? i mean for RA & joint pain?

 

peace/love

erin

Posted 7/28/2007 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
Yes I have medical insurance, it covers 80% as far as I know, but I barely work part time, so the co-pay is still quite a bit, I know I'm a lot closer than I would be without insurance, but money is still money...

I take a generic of Trisilate called Cho Mag Tris, 750mg twice a day. It doesn't do much for the pain itself, but it creates SOME mobility. On days I accidentally forget to take it I quite literally need help out of bed.
Posted 7/28/2007 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
oh and about the needle phobia thing... My brother in law is a tattoo artist, and he showed me the tattoo needle, and it doesn't bother me anywhere near as much as a medical needle, it's weird. In fact I've wanted a tattoo even more since he showed it to me hahaha
Posted 9/5/2007 1:04 AM (GMT 0)
Have you ever taken any of the biological meds, that suppress your immune system, Skiddles?

Marle

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply