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What Symptoms Should Be Noted When Suffering From Lung And Heart Disease?
Question: My wife was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis on April 11th this year. She underwent a double mastectomy that same weekend and recovered from her cancer with no need for chemo or radiation therapy.
The pulmonologist at that time explained to us the prognosis, treatment options, and offered her participation in a study group in Indiana University with a possible medication that may cost 80,000.00-100,000.00 per year. She refused the group because of uncertainty of cure, cost, inconvenience to her, and fear of the unknown.My question is since she refused to do a lung test and also will not do an angiogram what can I be on the lookout for, as she gets continually worse. She is 63 years old with fibromyalgia and she is a multiple stroke victim. (+5)
I am her sole home help, and as her husband I wonder what "end times" signs or issues I need to be on the lookout for? She has no health insurance and even though that ought not be an issue for treatment I want to be on my toes to know what I might run into. She has had 2 occurrences of passing, not completely out, but simply blacking out. One lead to a 2 day hospital stay with no diagnosis given to us.
I am concerned I may miss a "warning sign" or "point" where I need to call for hospitalization ???
Thank you in advance and I do know that you can't possible give more then "general" council.
The pulmonologist at that time explained to us the prognosis, treatment options, and offered her participation in a study group in Indiana University with a possible medication that may cost 80,000.00-100,000.00 per year. She refused the group because of uncertainty of cure, cost, inconvenience to her, and fear of the unknown.My question is since she refused to do a lung test and also will not do an angiogram what can I be on the lookout for, as she gets continually worse. She is 63 years old with fibromyalgia and she is a multiple stroke victim. (+5)
I am her sole home help, and as her husband I wonder what "end times" signs or issues I need to be on the lookout for? She has no health insurance and even though that ought not be an issue for treatment I want to be on my toes to know what I might run into. She has had 2 occurrences of passing, not completely out, but simply blacking out. One lead to a 2 day hospital stay with no diagnosis given to us.
I am concerned I may miss a "warning sign" or "point" where I need to call for hospitalization ???
Thank you in advance and I do know that you can't possible give more then "general" council.
Brief Answer:
Watch our for these signs.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I would try to help you as much as possible.
She is still 63 and possibly still has a good life to lead. I understand your concern regarding the study about various uncertainities related to the study.
Without understanding the functioning capacity of the lung and heart, it is difficult to look at stage of disease.
However, I can help you with a few things related to heart and lung.
Regarding the lung:
1. Cough with sputum production
2. Difficulty in breathing with or without fever
3. frothy sputum (indicates pulmonary edema)
4. Swelling of lower limbs (around knee and ankle) - edema - on pressing with finger, it depresses
Regarding Heart:
1. Any chest pain in old age, ECG is necessary. Unless gastritis symptoms are known and were present before
2. Vomiting or diarrhea,
3. Excessive sweating (even in normal climate)
4. Sudden fall or syncope attack
5. Feeling heart beats (Palpitations) - might be due to arrhythmias
6. lower limb swelling.
General things she needs to be watched for
1. altered mentation like confusion,
2. Any bleeding or appearing pale due to anemia
3. Giddiness
If not on any drugs, take a prescription for ecosprin and/ clopidogrel to reduce the risk of ischemic heart disease.
For lungs, try physiotherapy, deep breathing exercises.
Regular walking, proper nutrition (protein rich diet - atleast 1g/kg body weight), Vit D, calcium & B-complex supplements (preferably look for rich nutritional diet as she might become averse to essential tablets).
She can try mild aerobic exercise to improve cardiopulmonary fitness.
Any extra load on the lung like smoking, irritating vapor inhalation should be avoided.
Waking up and moving around should be slow to avoid falls. Avoid falls and ask her to use a walking stick for support. Any falls could make her bed ridden.
Multiple things can be advised, but I will limit myself to few things as it will become too comprehensive.
If you have any further queries, happy to help again. Take care.
Dr. Prakash HM
Watch our for these signs.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I would try to help you as much as possible.
She is still 63 and possibly still has a good life to lead. I understand your concern regarding the study about various uncertainities related to the study.
Without understanding the functioning capacity of the lung and heart, it is difficult to look at stage of disease.
However, I can help you with a few things related to heart and lung.
Regarding the lung:
1. Cough with sputum production
2. Difficulty in breathing with or without fever
3. frothy sputum (indicates pulmonary edema)
4. Swelling of lower limbs (around knee and ankle) - edema - on pressing with finger, it depresses
Regarding Heart:
1. Any chest pain in old age, ECG is necessary. Unless gastritis symptoms are known and were present before
2. Vomiting or diarrhea,
3. Excessive sweating (even in normal climate)
4. Sudden fall or syncope attack
5. Feeling heart beats (Palpitations) - might be due to arrhythmias
6. lower limb swelling.
General things she needs to be watched for
1. altered mentation like confusion,
2. Any bleeding or appearing pale due to anemia
3. Giddiness
If not on any drugs, take a prescription for ecosprin and/ clopidogrel to reduce the risk of ischemic heart disease.
For lungs, try physiotherapy, deep breathing exercises.
Regular walking, proper nutrition (protein rich diet - atleast 1g/kg body weight), Vit D, calcium & B-complex supplements (preferably look for rich nutritional diet as she might become averse to essential tablets).
She can try mild aerobic exercise to improve cardiopulmonary fitness.
Any extra load on the lung like smoking, irritating vapor inhalation should be avoided.
Waking up and moving around should be slow to avoid falls. Avoid falls and ask her to use a walking stick for support. Any falls could make her bed ridden.
Multiple things can be advised, but I will limit myself to few things as it will become too comprehensive.
If you have any further queries, happy to help again. Take care.
Dr. Prakash HM
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thank you very much---my wife has been on a Warfin regiment for about 6 years because of a blood disorder we call "sticky blood". Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) I believe is the proper name. Would that information change or add to anything you sent?
Also as opposed to sweating she has spells where she is "cold" and this is in 90 degree situations?
As you can imagine I seem to get mixed signals or maybe confusing signals from her various conditions. I do understand that without her complete history you are generalizing your info but you have helped me already and I thank you.
Also as opposed to sweating she has spells where she is "cold" and this is in 90 degree situations?
As you can imagine I seem to get mixed signals or maybe confusing signals from her various conditions. I do understand that without her complete history you are generalizing your info but you have helped me already and I thank you.
Brief Answer:
Warfarin reduces risk of MI
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
The history and cold situation do add good relevance to the present pulmonary fibrosis.
Autoimmune diseases are common in females due to their hormonal setup. Anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome is an autoimmune disorder which explains the incidence of multiple strokes. Now that she is on therapy, INR (international normalized ratio) needs to be checked for normal values on a weekly or monthly basis.
"Cold" spells could be due to hypothyroidism. It is due to an autoimmune disease of thyroid leading to lower thyroid levels. She might require exogenous thyroxine therapy after a thyroid profile evaluation. The cold spells will definitely improve. There could be weight gain, easy fatigues and lethargy symptoms too due to hypothyroidism.
Pulmonary fibrosis, in view of history - It could have a autoimmune cause.
Increased incidence of clot formation is seen in untreated antiphospholipid syndrome. More commonly clot formation in deep vein of legs. Remaining active and avoid being bed ridden for long time without moving legs will reduce the incidence of clot formation. These clots can move in blood to other locations. Stroke was probably due to that. Being on warfarin therapy and if she remains XXXXXXX the myocardial infarction risk will also be reduced.
Staying active and being more XXXXXXX and stretching the legs would be adequate.
If you have any further queries, happy to help again. If you think, you do not require any further clarifications, you can close the question and rate the answer.
Wish you and your wife good health.
Dr. Prakash HM
Warfarin reduces risk of MI
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
The history and cold situation do add good relevance to the present pulmonary fibrosis.
Autoimmune diseases are common in females due to their hormonal setup. Anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome is an autoimmune disorder which explains the incidence of multiple strokes. Now that she is on therapy, INR (international normalized ratio) needs to be checked for normal values on a weekly or monthly basis.
"Cold" spells could be due to hypothyroidism. It is due to an autoimmune disease of thyroid leading to lower thyroid levels. She might require exogenous thyroxine therapy after a thyroid profile evaluation. The cold spells will definitely improve. There could be weight gain, easy fatigues and lethargy symptoms too due to hypothyroidism.
Pulmonary fibrosis, in view of history - It could have a autoimmune cause.
Increased incidence of clot formation is seen in untreated antiphospholipid syndrome. More commonly clot formation in deep vein of legs. Remaining active and avoid being bed ridden for long time without moving legs will reduce the incidence of clot formation. These clots can move in blood to other locations. Stroke was probably due to that. Being on warfarin therapy and if she remains XXXXXXX the myocardial infarction risk will also be reduced.
Staying active and being more XXXXXXX and stretching the legs would be adequate.
If you have any further queries, happy to help again. If you think, you do not require any further clarifications, you can close the question and rate the answer.
Wish you and your wife good health.
Dr. Prakash HM
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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