Lung problems

Hi tony i also had a CT scan for my lungs and they found a few nodules was pretty worried at the time but doctor told me there is nowt to be worried about but still it prays on ur mind hope all is ok with u mate..

Hello Tony.

not sure how long you have had your RA diagnosis but when my mother was in the process of being diagnosed, the same thing happened. We worried ourselves sick wondering what was happening and the letter received said something about reticular shadowing. My mother thought she had lung CA. We booked to see the GP just because we were so worried and couldn't help reassure one another. We were thankful we did see the GP whilst waiting for the rheumatoid appointment because she said it was all part and parcel of finding out what was going on and positive that it was looking like we had a diagnosis. So, hope your outcomes will be the same. I think recalls after Cts or CXR's etc are not always something to worry about. Hope this is the same for you. Best of luck and health.

I had an X-ray of my lungs because I had a cough.  I had been a smoker for over 40 years.  What they found was interstitial lung disease.  Apparently RA can cause it.  I imagine smoking didn't help either.  After I quit smoking the cough went away.  I also was taking methotrexate that my cardiologist recommended I discontinue.  An X-ray taken at a annual check-up must have been okay because there was no mention of it again.  Guessing there was no change.  Try not to stress!  I know easier said than done!  RA can affect your lungs too.

Take care and keep us updated!

Lungs are always the first port of call because of the possibility of TB.

I also had a scare to start with, nodules or something.  They decided it was probably nothing to be concerned about and went ahead with the treatment.

They took the scans again a year later and found nothing had changed. It seems I'd likely had them my whole life.

Ex smokers with RA are at risk of lung problems apparently, I gave up 20 years ago after being a heavy smoker (50 a day) for 35 years, coming back to bite me now!   RA seems to be moving very swiflty through my body now, considering I was only diagnosed five months ago:    lumps and growths now appearing on my elbows, pain in my elbow, wrist, finger, thumb, neck and forearms 24/7, left hand is now virtually useles  

and now lung problems, where will it end? 

Not at all, but the incidence of lung problems in RA sufferers is higher with smokers and ex-smokers than it is in non smokers.   The speed the RA is moving is due to luck I guess, I just have particularly aggressive RA - lucky me!.