Suggest Treatment For Chronic Shortness Of Breath, Cough, Chest Pain, Tightness And Pain Through My Body
Get done PFT and CT thorax.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, you should definitely consult pulmonologist and get done
1. CT thorax
2. PFT (Pulmonary Function Test).
Since you are suffering from lupus, lung involvement can be seen in the form of restrictive or obstructive lung diseases.
So CT thorax and PFT are must for the diagnosis.
You may need inhaled bronchodilators (formoterol or salmeterol) and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) (budesonide or fluticasone) based on the reports.
Please let me know
1. Have you ever undergone CT thorax or PFT?
2. Have you ever consulted pulmonologist?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
I had previously had several findings on xrays but I guess the CT didn't reflect that.
I have had PFT's done with and without albuterol and they both show basically the same thing, mild restriction. Medicine was not helpful for symptoms and it didn't improve test results either. I have seen several pulmonologists. One said that if lupus were affecting lungs, it would show up on a ct scan of the chest which I had. He mentioned asthma and I have a history of reactive airway/ bronchospasm but inhalers have not been proven to be helpful.
Just unsure what to do with all of this from here. I have chronic chest pains too and pain all over now so bad it interferes with walking, I can't walk but a short distance without terrific effort, and tightness. Without a whole lot showing up it leaves me not knowing how best to try to help myself. Should I still see a pulmonologist or a rheumatologist? Or do I chalk it up to allergies and bronchospasm? I just don't know anymore but whatever it is it is most debilitating.
Thanks for your reply.
I think you should definitely start inhaled treatment.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, your symptoms are due to bronchospasm and reactive Airway disease.
So you should definitely start inhaled bronchodilators (formoterol or salmeterol) and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) (budesonide or fluticasone).
Along with this, you should also try anxiolytic drugs like propranolol or flunarizine. This is to relieve underlying stress and anxiety because this can also cause chest tightness.
You should also take combination of pantoprazole and levosulperide on empty stomach because gastritis can also worsen chest tightness and breathing difficulty.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.