I just listed one of the many autoimmune diseases I have now. Since 2006 I have been diagnosed with: COPD, Emphysema, Sarcoidosis of the Lungs and Skin, Obstructive/Central sleep apnea ( bi-pap with oxygen), Narcolepsy, Hypothyroidism, Sjogren's Syndrome ( loss all teeth, now effecting eyes), Rhuematoid Arthritis in knees and ankles ( special shoes for balance), Cellulitus of the lower extremities and underarms, Hypertension, and Major Depression with anxiety and panic attacks. That is a lot for a man and his family to handle in 2 years. I already have had 7 back surgeries and that last two were fusions. Fusions of S1, L5, L4, L3, and the doctor says L2 is very weak. Was also diagnosed with degenerative disc disease. Orginally cause by a accident at work in 1991 and shattered a lot of bone and the disc at L4, L5. Thing have just gone down hill since. Two Hiatel Hernia Repairs and I mean a the whole rip open the chest. First one done in 1994 and next one done in 2006, but too much scar tissue had to cut from naval up about 12 inches. Hope this one holds. Anyway, autoimmune disease that hit all in 2 years. Have researched them and they need a trigger to set them off. Was exposed to large amounts of asbestos, mold, sandblasting dust (silica), fumes from lead based paints and primers, fumes frow raw sewage, unknown environmenal agents from cleaming many filters on ship, and grinding of non-skid paints to get surface to ready for welding. All this happen 25 years ago. Can some of these just fester in the body and take that long to cause this reactions of autoimmune diseases I have. I am dying, I am on 3 liters of oxygen 24 hours a day and my ABG is only 90% and my Sat level on oxygen is 88- 90%. The lungs are just not working, not pulling in enough aiir. Can these environmental agents lay dormant for 25 years. I know that asbestos has a latent period of something like that, and I did have a lot of Upper Respirtatory Infections while in the Navy. Where do I go. The Veterans Hospital is doing all they can, but it is not gettting better. I am on Predisone right now and have been for about 2 weeks and have this horrible cold with sruffed up nose and can not breath at night. Advice???