[confused1]

Can anybody fill me in on the particular lung risks for those of us with lupus and Sjogren's? I'm feeling a tiny bit of worry about this lung thing. It's been there a long time and I can still feel it. I definitely feel better now that Ive been on antibiotic, but it took four days. And, the "cough" (it's really not a real cough, just this horrible thing that happens if I move a certain way or take a really deep breath) is still there.

The nurse did a quick oxygen absorbtion test when I was in and it showed I was getting plenty. I didn't feel like I was, but I suppose that's not important. As long as that test shows plenty of oxygen in my blood, do I need to worry about coughs or how I perceive my lungs?

Sunny
not wanting to turn into a complainer about one more ****** thing!!!

 

[cad]

HI sunny,
i was just wondering if you are being treated for or have been investigated for gastro intestinal reflux.
If you get acid reflux which can combine with connective tissue disease and if it goes un noticed which is not hard, it can cause somthing called oesophagitis, which means the oesophagus becomes temporatily enlarged. This can cause chest pains and difficulty swallowing, also it may cause tenderness or pain when food is passing down.
I have gastro in testinal reflux and it wwa sdiagnosed when i had oesophagitis, it is fine now that i take omeprazole everyday.
But when it was diagnosed i cooincidently had a respiratory tract infection , then chest infection and then this was diagnosed after, i did have chest pains due to this for quite some time, and it wasn't untill i told the doc about the tenderness when food was going down that he knew exactly what it was!
I just wish i knew what was causing my chest pain now.
I'm beginning to think that it is related to inflamation as it definately feels worse when the rest of my pain is worse i can tell that there is more inflamation in my body.
Just a pot luck try really, another thing gthta you could get looked at or research the symtoms of further.

Good Luck

Cassie

 

[confused1]

Hi Cassie, yes I have reflux for a very long time and it's quite active again since starting prednisone back up. I'm taking prilosec and it should be under control soon. I am very familiar with the chest pain caused by reflux and what's happening now is different. And it comes and goes. I'm hoping the next time it goes it just doesn't come back. :lol:

I really am looking forward to seeing the new rheumatologist. It will give me an opportunity to bring back up the things that are nagging at me but that my internist doesn't find "interesting" any more.

But any links to articles about lung problems specific to Sjogren's would be appreciated. I've been trying to register at Sjogren's World for days and I can't get the thing to work. Grrrrrr. I know from past experience there are a lot of links on that site about pulmonary things. I just didn't read them before.

Sunny

 

[Lily]

Hi Sunny,

I'm sorry you are still suffering with your infection, you know that it will probably take a while to clear things up, so maybe another course might be needed and at least another visit to your GP to get checked out.

There's nothing really new on the lung involvement front with Sjogren's, only what we already knew a few years ago.

http://diseases.emedtv.com/sjogren's-syndrome/sjogren's-syndrome-and-lung-disease.html

and

http://www.medic8.com/skin-disorders/sjogrens-syndrome.htm

Lung Problems
Dry mouth can cause lung problems. For example, aspiration pneumonia can happen when a person breathes in food instead of swallowing it (dry mouth can keep you from swallowing food properly), and the food gets stuck in the lungs. Pneumonia can also develop when bacteria in the mouth migrate into the lungs and cause infection, or when bacteria get into the lungs and coughing doesn't remove them. (Some people with Sjogren's don't produce enough mucus in the lungs to remove bacteria, and others are too weak to be able to cough.) Pneumonia is treated with various antibiotics, depending on the person and the type of infection. It is important to get treatment for pneumonia to prevent lung abscess (a hole in the lung caused by severe infection).
People with Sjogren's also tend to have lung problems caused by inflammation, such as bronchitis (affecting the bronchial tubes), tracheobronchitis (affecting the windpipe and bronchial tubes), and laryngotracheobronchitis (affecting the voice box, windpipe, and bronchial tubes). Depending on your condition, the doctor may recommend using a humidifier, taking medicines to open the bronchial tubes, or taking corticosteroids to relieve inflammation. Pleurisy is inflammation of the lining of the lungs and is treated with corticosteroids and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.

Hope this helps and good luck with that new Rheumy, it sounds like just what you need!

love
Lily