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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
breathing pattern impairment in IPF and other ILDs.
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breathing pattern impairment in IPF and other ILDs.
by yantim dad, Apr 07, 2007 12:00AM
Hi
I am 37 YO, occasional smoker (up to two cigarettes per week), and have no known causes of respiratory disorders.
About a year ago, I experienced a period of about 2 months of general chest pains and breathing difficulties, manifested by an occasional urge to take a deep breath every once in a while, which not always could be satisfied. In addition, I had a sort of localized pain behind the sternum (feeling like bone pain) that was sensed mainly upon certain movements. X-ray, ECG and blood test were fine except of moderately elevated ALT (89 U/l) and AST (43 U/l) values, which more recently declined to 60 U/l and to normal, respectively (ALKP was normal throughout). Symptoms vanished with time accept of the sternal pain which exacerbated in frequency and prevalence.
Two months ago I started to feel the old symptoms again, this time the deep breath urge being most dominant. It’s getting more frequent and I often find myself experiencing a continuous feeling of “lack of air”. I have no tachypnea (12-14 breath/min) and never feel an urge to breath fast, just occasionally deep. It occurs now throughout most of the day, but sleep is calm.
X-ray showed a mild enlargement of the lung hilus, of which the Drs. weren’t even sure. ECG is fine and PFT showed a mild restrictive pattern with FVC 81%, FEV1 85% and ratio 87. I’m waiting now for HRCT to rule out ILD and SOL (for the sternal pain). I have no cough, wheezing or crackles, and rest SPO2 is 98%.
Lately I started walking to reduce the mental stress resulting from my symptoms. I don’t feel a real shortness of breath during my 30-45 min. moderate-to-fast pacing daily walk, but the urge to breath deeply is sometimes a little more frequent. Hazy or hot weather appear to worsen symptoms.
The low FVC and gradual exacerbation of dyspnea, made me worried of having IPF, sarcoidosis or any other ILD. Do my symptoms pattern fit early symptoms of ILD? What else can it be?
Thanks,
Yantim dad
I am 37 YO, occasional smoker (up to two cigarettes per week), and have no known causes of respiratory disorders.
About a year ago, I experienced a period of about 2 months of general chest pains and breathing difficulties, manifested by an occasional urge to take a deep breath every once in a while, which not always could be satisfied. In addition, I had a sort of localized pain behind the sternum (feeling like bone pain) that was sensed mainly upon certain movements. X-ray, ECG and blood test were fine except of moderately elevated ALT (89 U/l) and AST (43 U/l) values, which more recently declined to 60 U/l and to normal, respectively (ALKP was normal throughout). Symptoms vanished with time accept of the sternal pain which exacerbated in frequency and prevalence.
Two months ago I started to feel the old symptoms again, this time the deep breath urge being most dominant. It’s getting more frequent and I often find myself experiencing a continuous feeling of “lack of air”. I have no tachypnea (12-14 breath/min) and never feel an urge to breath fast, just occasionally deep. It occurs now throughout most of the day, but sleep is calm.
X-ray showed a mild enlargement of the lung hilus, of which the Drs. weren’t even sure. ECG is fine and PFT showed a mild restrictive pattern with FVC 81%, FEV1 85% and ratio 87. I’m waiting now for HRCT to rule out ILD and SOL (for the sternal pain). I have no cough, wheezing or crackles, and rest SPO2 is 98%.
Lately I started walking to reduce the mental stress resulting from my symptoms. I don’t feel a real shortness of breath during my 30-45 min. moderate-to-fast pacing daily walk, but the urge to breath deeply is sometimes a little more frequent. Hazy or hot weather appear to worsen symptoms.
The low FVC and gradual exacerbation of dyspnea, made me worried of having IPF, sarcoidosis or any other ILD. Do my symptoms pattern fit early symptoms of ILD? What else can it be?
Thanks,
Yantim dad
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Apr 10, 2007 12:00AM
, Apr 10, 2007 12:00AM
It is difficult to say there is restrictive disease on the basis of one PFT. Was another test performed after a bronchodilator to see if this reversed? The sensation of the need to take a deep breath may or may not be coming from your lungs. There are also neurologic and psychological causes for this sensation. If you are concerned about early interstitial lung disease (ILD), a CT of the lungs may help in making or ruling out this diagnosis. I would suggest continuing to work closely with your physician to discover the cause of these symptoms and slowly rule out those most likely to be the cause.
