Lung Problems?

about a year ago I started getting bronchitis chronically.  about 6 months ago I got my first nebulizer.  Now I am being referred to a pulmonologist so they can check for Emphysema and COPD.  Has anyone else experienced this? 

Hi B welcome to the group. The first thing I will say is if you smoke stop! I have had a nebulizer for about 10 years now. My dr. though I had asthma for several years and was treating me with asthma meds. He finally sent me to a pulmonologist and I was told pitch the asthma meds it's COPD. So it's good that you are getting checked out as quickly as you are. My internist beleives that I have what they call Lupus lung. My pulm. says the only way to find out is a biopsy. but that I would not survive a biopsy. He wrote a letter to the transplant clinic in oklahoma city. They agreed to do all the testing for a transplant list. I got through several of the tests and then I was supposed to meet the surgeon last thursday and wham I got the flu that settled in my lungs. I havn't been able to breath for a week. I have an appt with my pcp tomorrow morning and I half expect she will want to put me in the hospital since I can't even walk to the bathroom. Plus she put me back on heavy duty antibiotics my second round of them.

Ok I know all this sounds pretty bad but I just want you to know that they are catching yours early. If indeed that is what is wrong. I really wish I had a dr. that was as sharp as yours. Just listen to the pulm. do what they say. You might even want a second opinion. If they say there is no problem I would get another opinion. for sure. Not because I am hoping there is a problem but because frankly You can not live without your lungs! I mean simple things bending over to pick up a puppy, taking out trash, washing a dish, going to the bathroom. If you start to get a cough get to the dr. Every time you get a lung infection you will do irreiversable damage to your lungs. I'm 51 and have been living on oxygen 24/7 since 2003. I wish to God I had been more agressive paid more attention. Asked more questions.

I am so sorry I am not helping you I know. I am just very sick right now and I don' know how to help you. If you want to ask some speciafic questions I can try to answer them. Also Barb is another one on o2 24/7. Plus there are a few others that have COPD here that can be of help. Hopfully you stick around and I get feeling better soon so I can be of a little help anyway.

Take care

carol

 

Hi! I was diagnosed with lupus pneumonitis back in 2002 after being diagnosed with asthma and respiratory failure. Every cold that my son brings home leads to a hospitalization; last year I was on a vent in ICU for 6 days- no infection, just pneumonitis. This year I was on a vent for 5 days but I had massive pneumonia. And just last month I was in the hospital with bilateral pneumonia in the bases but didn't need to be ventilated.

My pulmonologist isn't sure of the origins of the pneumonitis- I was on methotrexate for years and it can cause pneumonitis. Pneumonitis is diagnosed by bronchoscopy with a biopsy taken. I am very short of breath, but my pulse oximetry levels run 92-95%, which is just above the criteria for home O2. Meanwhile, I can't walk long distances (or short ones) without getting very short of breath, which means no family outings where I may have to walk far. Which I hate because I used to work out 5 days a week and walked everywhere. Now I get short of breath just going up the steps to the second floor of our house.

My pneumonitis always seems to start with asthma symptoms- using my inhaler, then home nebulizers, then ER.

I hope you don't have this rare complication of lupus; it's not anything I would wish on my worst enemy!

Good luck! Sandy