Rheumatoid Arthritis? Interstitial Lung Disease?

Good Afternoon,

My wife has been suffering with some horrendous lung disease for months.  She has had scans and tests and the best the doctors can come up with is Rheumatoid Arthritis or possibly Interstitial Lung Disease.  They tell us that on the films, her lungs look like they have spider webs all over them.  She has had a terrible cough for months and months; she has lost nearly 35 pounds and feels just plain miserable.  My question is, Is it possible that Rheumatoid Arthritis could be causing the problems?  I realize you cannot diagnose on the Internet - but we're just trying to find out what our "next steps" should be.   Is there a specialist who might be able to help us get a solid diagnosis and then work with us to figure out the best treatment plan?

Thank you so much!
Michael

[David S. Wilson, MD, FCCP]

Your wife's symptoms are ominous and are usually associated with advanced pulmonary fibrosis of some form.  Rheumatoid fibrotic disease can be the cause of this, but no matter what the cause, it sounds as if her disease is serious and should be evaluated by an experienced pulmononologist