1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Rheumatoid Arthritis

Lung disease

Posted , 5 users are following.

tony09890
tony09890

Around eight months ago I was diagnosed with RA (first thought to be PMR), as it turns out it is particularly aggressive and proving not receptive to the range of normal meds. Fatigue and pain have reduced my activity level to zip, I now need two hands to pick up a glass of water and occasionally need assistance to dress and get out of bed. A recent CT picked up several nodules in each lung and a few other abnormalities. I’m booked in for a battery of tests which will probably include a bronchoscopy and the Doc made reference to Interstitial lung disease which covers a plethora of conditions, he also mentioned; in detail, TB and cancer. There are volumes written on these conditions, far too many to go into here, but that's about the gist of it. Here’s the thing though, the Doc seemed particularly interested in my time overseas (Malaysia) so I’m wondering if anyone here who resided overseas (third world countries) has any of these complaints?

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • barbara58180
    barbara58180 tony09890

    Posted

    I'm so sorry you have to go through this. I have RA and now, Sjogrins, and recently nhad pneumonia, following many, many years of bronchitis -beginning in childhood. I had my first righ res CT and they found a few thngs. Get to the best doctors you can, and try to understand what;s happening. My motto is decddiding to be as happy as I possibly can- because we couold all die tomorrow anyway. I'm so sorry you are suffering. Try to do something nice for yourself--and my prayers are with you.

    Barbara in the US

    • tony38011
      tony38011 barbara58180

      Posted

      Sorry to hear about your misfortunes Barbara. Good that you have a positive attitude, I'm trying to do the same. Obviously, it can be difficult on times but am surprised how well I'm bearing up, at least to date.

      Hope things turn out ok for you

  • tony38011
    tony38011 tony09890

    Posted

    Sorry to hear you're having to go through this Tony, think I can relate to how you must feel.....

    A couple of months back I had tp have a chest x-ray to see if it wa ok for me to start methotrexate. A short time later I recieved a phonecall off my rheumatologist saying that she wanted to see me as abnormalities were found on my lungs. Was then told I had interstital lung disease and was booked in for a CT scan to find out exactly what was going on. Next up was a visit to the chest clinic where the consu;tant informed me that the scan showed I had untreatable RA related fibrosis of the lungs, obviously not what I wanted to hear. The only positive to come out of this is that he thinks the fibrosis is currently inactive, but I will need close monitoring to check that it doesn't start to progress, though quite what they can do about it if it does I really don't know. I had a letter from my consultant just the other day saying that he's booked me in for another CT scan...fingers & toes all crossed on that one.

    Obviously I have a good idea of how you are feeling so I won't say try not to worry too much as it's a very scary time indeed. But just because things haven't turned out too good for me doesn't mean it will be the same for you as some of these lung diseases are treatable, which I hope will be the case with you.

    Sorry if my post is a bit depressing, but I'm not the most articu;ate of folk when it comes to expressing myself with pen and paper so to speak, more like clumsy to be honest.  Just wanted to let you know that you are not on your own if that's of any support.

    Tony

     

  • tony09890
    tony09890

    Posted

    Sounds like the mirror image of what's been happening with me so far.   A little internet reading has also brought up another possibility - asbestosis.   None of the options sound good;; but, I've already accepted the fact I won't get to grow old with my beautiful wife, my biggest sadness to date.   That's how the cookie crumbles I guess.
  • tony38011
    tony38011 tony09890

    Posted

    Apparently my RA is also very aggresive. Unlike yours though, mine does respond to treatment. Problem is I have a chronic bladder condition and get frequent urinary tract infections which means I have to stop all RA meds, I then flare like crazy and usually end up in a terrible state - can't dress or shower on my own, struggle walking from room to room, have food cut up, etc etc. I've even had to fork out for an expensive motorised riser recliner chair due to excruciating pain in my knees when getting up from sitting. These UTIs are a major problem as they are becoming more and more antibiotic resistant. I've haven't had any meds for the last 9 weeks due to a long standing UTI, which isn't responding to an antibiotic that it's supposed to be sensitive to. So there's every chance that an infection will get me well before the fibrosis  will. I was hospitalised for 10 days with sepsis a year or so ago - great innit!! 

    Sorry for the rant, can't help myself on times. Anyway, I'm just trying to make the best of whatever time I have left as difficult as that is. Guess I can be thankful that I've seen my 4 children grow up to be decent people. I'm 65, how old are you?

    • tony38011
      tony38011

      Posted

      PS....

      If you're anything like me, you must be dreading that bronchoscopy. I'm having a cystoscopy on tuesday to investigate some recently detected bladder stones...as if I didn't have enough to contend with!

      Probably not as unpleasent as a bronchoscopy. but I ain't looking forward it one little bit.

      I think I can recall replying to a post of yours some months back, and remember thinking that this poor chap's going through much the same as I am with an aggresive form of RA. Not good getting RA if your name is Tony by the seem. :-)

  • tony09890
    tony09890

    Posted

    Two of you stealing my name, come on fair go!
Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.