Silicosis

  I have Silicosis and I,m trying to find other people with the same thing. I have allot of questions about what to expect in the future. I go threw pain every day and I don't want to have too resort to opiats to deal with the pain. I am 42 years old and want to be around for my kids for a long time.
  Any help at all will be greatly appreciated.

[HeinrikMD]

Hi,

It would be wise to discuss specifics with your doctor.

Some patients with significant silica exposure may get more an obstructive type of disease (similar to smokers who develop emphysema or chronic bronchitis)- there are lung function tests to determine this. If this is the case, there may be more medications available to improve functionality.

In terms of pain, opiates are indeed the most potent. The fear of using them is common - but the image of the patient who is asleep all the time due to opioids is pretty extreme. The dosage is adjusted to the therapeutic goal, which in your case may only mean enough control to be able to spend quality time with your children.

Stay positive.

[mawmaw1977]

Hi I have had silicosis for 22 years now. Other than being short winded all the time I do pretty good. Have learned to go slower but keep moving. If you sit down you will lose faster. I bowl to keep my upper body stronger. you need to talk to your doctor about the pain you are having. I hope you have a good lung doctor that you can talk to . Now I use an inhaler about ever day and I do the spiriva ever day. God has seen fit for me make it this far. Hope to make it another sixty years,and still be in my right mind. I am a feamale and this has not been a walk in the park for me only by the grace of God am I still here. So please try to keep a good out look on life and keep a positive out look on life. From one that has bee on the silicosis road for awhile.

[Miri775]

hi mawmaw I am good, thank God , its my husband , they now have found a mass by his thyroid, but he had lung cancer 3 years ago  I never knew of that condition, will check it out, he is short of breath and gets tired easy, but he wont keep moving , loves to just lay there  :(  he is so stubborn

[mawmaw1977]

hi miri so good to hear you are good. sorry to hear about your husband sure hope he gets better. my husband is having some health problems.he just retired  from work and is falling apart. he is a veteran, he served for seven years. boy we never know what life will hand us. but God has it all under control.  hey i know all about the short of breath, have learned to move slower i run in double granny gear all the time haha. hope you both have a blessed day.

[tx1980]

How do you tell if you have silicosis I sand blasted for years and have had all the symptoms but x ray an ct are clear.I have had chest pains and have shallow breathing.I dont know how to get dignosied have been to a Pulimanary dr also

[anyadvise318]

Well friend I feel for you. I have the same crap. I'm in my mid 30's did concrete work for my father well Dad taught me then stayed in the office for the most part. Anyhow Dad never knew I guess or taught me any differn't about breathing the dust when I cut and ground the surface of the cement daily for the most part and worst of all in enclosed spaces boy did those get dusty I just thought I was breathing in dust but I was breathing in Silica. I never knew Dad always seemed fine and to this day seems fine but guess what Dad owned the company so Dad's exposer was alot less other people did the cutting and grinding and it was me for 10 years but now I'm disabled. I'm not blamming Dad just explaining why I think I'm so sick. Dad probabaly will come to the same result because he has been around it he taught me without a mask and before me someone else and to this day he has someone trained. I have told him about this disease and said anyone doing that work he should provide proper protection because this disease is bad. Now to answer your questions I do not know of any support groups still trying to get accurately diagnoised but I know this is what I have by all my symtoms (symptoms). I started my exposer to silica in 1997 by 2002 started having some chest pains during deep breaths1 or 2 times a day. 2007 I stoped working and now I'm pretty sick in bed most of the day if this helps far as how long you live. It really would just depend on the person and when Almighty decides it our time. I feel I have a couple years left in me but who knows. The doctors I have seen to date are idiots. I could use a support group so feel free to chat anytime. GodBless

[anyadvise318]

Well friend I feel for you. I have the same crap. I'm in my mid 30's did concrete work for my father well Dad taught me then stayed in the office for the most part. Anyhow Dad never knew I guess or taught me any differn't about breathing the dust when I cut and ground the surface of the cement daily for the most part and worst of all in enclosed spaces boy did those get dusty I just thought I was breathing in dust but I was breathing in Silica. I never knew Dad always seemed fine and to this day seems fine but guess what Dad owned the company so Dad's exposer was alot less other people did the cutting and grinding and it was me for 10 years but now I'm disabled. I'm not blamming Dad just explaining why I think I'm so sick. Dad probabaly will come to the same result because he has been around it he taught me without a mask and before me someone else and to this day he has someone trained. I have told him about this disease and said anyone doing that work he should provide proper protection because this disease is bad. Anyhow how did you get it. I'm looking for people to talk with I'm pretty sick now and you having a positive outlook was uplifting. I really think we should all join together and get the message out there about this preventable disease. I like so many others never even knew about it until recently. My doctors could never put the pieces together I have by the internet I knew something was seriously wrong with me when this whole year I have had to push myself to get out of bed. I go to a pulmonary specialist in a month hopefully I can hang in there for this long and this one is not a idiot. Even some of these Doctors don't know much about the disease been to ER twice in the last month and they see the crap on the Xrays but have refused to say that is what it is. They have ruled out everything else TB and so forth I tell them about this and they look at me like I'm stupid. I guess have nit found the right DR. God Bless

[tx1980]

Keep us posted on your dignosis