RA & COPD

elnafinn

Hi there Unsure

Welcome to the forum. In reply to your question on the Hello section, there are a handful of guys on this forum.

If you click on the Search button at the top of the screen and type in COPD you will be able to read the past postings where it has been mentioned.

Elna x

bubbles

Hi Unsure.

I have pretty widespread OA and recently diagnosed COPD, not sure if there is a pattern between arthur and airways disease. I Take Serotide inhaler twice a day. x Bubbles

dibdab

Hi Unsure,
I have RA, asthma and bronchiectasis which is part of the COPD family of illnesses. The thinking is that the COPD is related to the RA, my rheumy referred me to a respiratory consultant who prescribed daily antibiotics to prevent further chest infections which would compound the damage already done to my lungs( last year I had 13 chest infections in 15 months!). I have taken inhalers (Ventolin and Seretide) for many years and also take another daily tablet prescribed for asthmatics who also have allergies. Happily the daily antibiotics mean I haven't had a chest infection for 9 months which is a real blessing. I was also sent to a physio who specialises in lung disease and she gave me breathing exercises to do twice a day to clear the mucus from my chest.

I really hope that you get the help you need soon- the right medication makes life so much better on a day to day basis- no cures but controlwhich is perhaps the best we can hope for.

Deb x

barbara12

Hi Unsure
Im sorry I cant help, but I just want to welcome you to the forum, I do find it interesting the sought of questions and answers that get thrown up on here.x

Colin1

Hello unsure , Rheumatoid lung disease is a relatively common complication of rheumatoid arthritis. Of the many people in this country who have rheumatoid arthritis, nearly half may have some abnormal lung function.
In rheumatoid lung disease, the air sacs or alveoli of the lungs and their supporting structures become scarred by inflammation, resulting in impaired lung function. The problem I now have is that the COPD side of things is not to bad but the transfer of oxygen from my lungs to my body has become worse this gives off symptoms of COPD but its not. I believe the breathing labs have now received new machines that can tell the difference between COPD RA of the lungs and fibrosis of the lungs. It may be worth asking you GP or rheumy to refer you. The biggest problem I found is that being unwell RA and PSA along with other stuff its hard to get a diagnosis. After a heart attack and a bout of pneumonia I noticed I was getting short of breath, because I had the recent heart attack I was admitted to hospital. Doctor said no test required it was because I had been so long on the oxygen my body wasent ready to adjust and that I should give it time. 3 moths later I’m back in hospital and diagnosed with TB yes TB, 2 weeks later told its ok its the TB I had when I was a child that scared my lungs
And thats why my breathings bad. I never had TB I told them, yes you did they said, no I never, then shock and horror I was told yes you did but did not know. What can you say these are the specialists. Sent home with an inhaler. 6 weeks later back in hospital for another matter doctor dealing with me asks the lung specialist to come and see me same hospital but different consultant. Its COPD / Emphysema so I have both well really they are both the same he told me. I was sent for a three monthly check up and another consultant sent me for a scan
Diagnosis pulmery Fibrosis. Back to clinic no its not its copd / Emphysema. Thats when I decided to blow my top consultant could not understand my anger so the wife had a go at him to. Ok we have this new machine and I think your RA has gone into your lungs he said and last week I went to the lab for the tests guess what the new machine has not been wired up yet a letter came last Thursday and I’m going for another scan. So thats where I’m up to with mylungs in the mean time my breathing is getting worse but then everything I get seems to be complicated.

stickywicket

I hope they help. Do keep us informed.

Colin1

Same as sticky mate keep us informed how your doing
Colin

stickywicket

Please ensure your rheumatologist is fully updated, Unsure. Whatever you have, or don't have, if you are on DMARDS or anti-tnfs you need to keep on top of stuff. I hope you have a good appointment. Please let us know how it went.

dibdab

Oh dear, I do hope that you feel better soon, it's important to stay on top of the chest stuff. I've just finished a course of steroids and antibiotics for an upper respiratory tract infection, and though they helped it's not right yet- back to GP tomorrow for advise!!! Maybe your rheumy could refer you to lung specialist for further advice?

Let us know how you get on.

Deb

stickywicket

Good news that the cough is better. After a lot of coughing, I can see the throat might still be sore but, if it persists, go back to the GP.

I hope the physio triage goes well. Sometimes these things can help second time around even if they didn't first - new physio, new regime etc.