Interstitial Lung Disease

[fountainjesse]

I am 47 non smoker who has SOB, cough, hypoxia and on O2 24/7  pulmonary hypertension mild Pressure 27, new DX with RA and now was is believed the lung problems is Interstitial Lung Disease  and R diaphragm paralysis cause not known. I am on Imuran now.  I live in Colorado. I will probably have a  video lung BX later this year. All the CT scans  have not showed Bronchiloitis or one of interstitial lung diseases like pulmonary fibrosis although they believe this is the problem. They do show diminished lung volume . I am wondering why it doesn't show on CT Scan? I have been following with specialist at the University of Colorado. My PCP insists moving to sea level would help and I know there is more Oxygen at sea level. I guess my question is leaving family /friends VS moving to sea level I am unsure about the  how much overall benefits would be with this particular lung disease since it is not curable. Thanks

[Hatsy]

A related discussion, Re: Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis was started.

[stargaze]

I HAD WENT TO THE ER ON THE 17TH OF AUGUST,THOUGHT I WAS HAVING A HEART ATTACK,I WAS ADMITTED  BACK IN NOEMBER AND THEY RAN EVERY TEST,DID A HEART CATH  EVERYTHING OK,SAID I PULLED A MUSCLE IN MY CHEST WALL,ANYWAYS,I ALSO FLUNKED STRESS TEST,BACK TO WHAT I WAS SAYING ON THE 17TH,THEY TOOK CHEST EXRAY,BLOOD PRESSURE A LITTLE HIGH,AND SENT ME HOME WELL OVER THE WEEKEND I HAD MORE PAIN ,SO I WENT TO MY DOCTOR STATED THAT I HAD PNEMONIA I WAS WHEEZING BAD,SO I HAD AN ANTIBODIC AND WAS RUNNING HIGH FEVERS,NO APPETTITE AND DEHYDRATION,SAID I HAD A MILD CASE,WELL I WENT BACK TO WORK 10 DAYS LATER,STATING I STILL DIDNT FEEL GOOD,AND NOW SA OF SEPT 3,IM VERY SICK,MY CHEST HURTS VERY BAD,WHEN I COUGH,I HAVE FLU SYMTOMS AND RUNNING FEVERS AGAIN,YES,I DO SMOKE,BUT NOT LIKE I USE TO.I HAVE CHRONIC ASTMA,IM VERY RESTLESS,I HAD A CHEST EXRAY DONE BY MY REGULAR MD,AND SAID IT ITHER SHOWED,FIBROSIS,OR SCAR TISSUE AND CALLED IT INTESRIAL LUNG DISEASE,BUT THIS WEEK I GO FOR CT SCAN,IM VERY ILL,HURTS WHEN I BREATHE,IM WONDERING ON GOING BACK TO ER,ANY SUGGESTIONS.........THANKS.
I WAS ON Z PACK FOR 10 DAYS.

[stargaze]

I HAD WENT TO THE ER ON THE 17TH OF AUGUST,THOUGHT I WAS HAVING A HEART ATTACK,I WAS ADMITTED  BACK IN NOEMBER AND THEY RAN EVERY TEST,DID A HEART CATH  EVERYTHING OK,SAID I PULLED A MUSCLE IN MY CHEST WALL,ANYWAYS,I ALSO FLUNKED STRESS TEST,BACK TO WHAT I WAS SAYING ON THE 17TH,THEY TOOK CHEST EXRAY,BLOOD PRESSURE A LITTLE HIGH,AND SENT ME HOME WELL OVER THE WEEKEND I HAD MORE PAIN ,SO I WENT TO MY DOCTOR STATED THAT I HAD PNEMONIA I WAS WHEEZING BAD,SO I HAD AN ANTIBODIC AND WAS RUNNING HIGH FEVERS,NO APPETTITE AND DEHYDRATION,SAID I HAD A MILD CASE,WELL I WENT BACK TO WORK 10 DAYS LATER,STATING I STILL DIDNT FEEL GOOD,AND NOW SA OF SEPT 3,IM VERY SICK,MY CHEST HURTS VERY BAD,WHEN I COUGH,I HAVE FLU SYMTOMS AND RUNNING FEVERS AGAIN,YES,I DO SMOKE,BUT NOT LIKE I USE TO.I HAVE CHRONIC ASTMA,IM VERY RESTLESS,I HAD A CHEST EXRAY DONE BY MY REGULAR MD,AND SAID IT ITHER SHOWED,FIBROSIS,OR SCAR TISSUE AND CALLED IT INTESRIAL LUNG DISEASE,BUT THIS WEEK I GO FOR CT SCAN,IM VERY ILL,HURTS WHEN I BREATHE,IM WONDERING ON GOING BACK TO ER,ANY SUGGESTIONS.........THANKS.
I WAS ON Z PACK FOR 10 DAYS.

[National Jewish]

You are faced with major decisions. You need to decide whether or not to take the Imuran or similar drugs and whether to remain in Colorado or move to a lower altitude.  To make an educated decision you must have an accurate diagnosis.  You should have the lung biopsy sooner rather than later.