ILD

[Sudhadas]

HI,

My sister was diagonised with ILD last month. She is currently on medication- omocortisol 40 mg one a day. She is also taking insulin to balance her sugar levels.  She was adviced to be on oxygen for about 18 hours per day until her first review with her doctor.
Her first review went on well. Her recent chest xray showed good clearing in her lungs and the doctor had asked to come off the oxygen and slowly start doing her daily chores.She was also adviced to walk short distances. The doctor has also recuded the Omocortisol dosage to 40mg(intially she was taking 60 mg, while in CCU).
She seemed to be doing very well until last week, when she developed fever all of a sudden(it was for a day). She also complains of mild wheezing and fatigue. We are worried . Is this common when you reduce the dosage, how long will it take for her to recover completely? Should she meet her doctor ? Her 2nd review is after 2 months. She is not using oxygen currently. Please advice.

Thanks

[David Tinkelman, M.D.]

The Chest X-ray that showed “good clearing in her lungs is a very good reason to be optimistic about a complete recovery from the “ILD”  Fever, wheezing and fatigue, however, are worrisome symptoms that may or may not be related to the ILD and/or the tapering of medication for it.  These new symptoms could be caused by infection, for example and it would be imperative that that be diagnosed and treated promptly.

She should notify her doctor immediately of this change in her condition, as diagnostic studies and additional treatment may be warranted.  The time it will take for her to recover will depend on the cause of her fever and the response of that cough to targeted therapy.  Please tell her to not delay in contacting either her primary physician or the Pulmonologist or both.

Good luck

[Sudhadas]

Hello,

Thanks for your reponse Dr. My sister has consulted her pulmonologist and has been advised to take the Lung Funtion test. Her oxygen saturation has also dropped down to 88(with oxygen). As both of us stay in two different countries, i am unable to get the right info on her treatment. What is this Lung Funtion test, what treatment could be given if they find abnormalities?

Thanks again.

[Sudhadas]

Hi,

Why has nobody answered my question????