Does anyone have asthma plus a restrictive lung disease?

[luvwinnie]

I think I will go see a pulmonologist. I am not getting good answers from general doctor's office. My spirometry results say "moderate obstruction with low vital capacity, possibly due to additional restrictive lung defect." Asthma is an obstructive disease...things like fibrosis, sarcoidosis, interstitial lung disease are restrictive. I called dr's office and physician's asst just said "Oh, the restriction is just the narrowing due to the asthma." I know I'm not a dr. or a trained medical professional, but I'm doing tons of research and everything says restrictive lung problems are totally different than asthma. It says on the sheet possibly an additional problem!

I had originally gone because my asthma seemed worse, by the way.

 

[minkydog]

I think I will go see a pulmonologist. I am not getting good answers from general doctor's office. My spirometry results say "moderate obstruction with low vital capacity, possibly due to additional restrictive lung defect." Asthma is an obstructive disease...things like fibrosis, sarcoidosis, interstitial lung disease are restrictive. I called dr's office and physician's asst just said "Oh, the restriction is just the narrowing due to the asthma." I know I'm not a dr. or a trained medical professional, but I'm doing tons of research and everything says restrictive lung problems are totally different than asthma. It says on the sheet possibly an additional problem!

I had originally gone because my asthma seemed worse, by the way.

My DH developed sarcoidosis 5+ years ago. Until he was 47 he was a man in perfect health. As you know, sarcoidosis is an interstitial restrictive lung disease. Most people who have it develop a cough, fatigue, weight loss,swollen lymph nodes, and shortness of breath. If their symptoms are particularly bothersome they might take a few months of steroids which generally makes them feel better. Most people experience complete remission of symptoms within 2 years. Sarcoidosis is treated much like asthma, with steroid inhalers, rescue inhalers, and prednisone. In fact, sarcoidosis feels a lot like asthma due to the airway restriction. The mechanism is different but the sensation is very similar.

I hope you get some answers soon. There are a lot of disorders that might cause airway restriction and sometimes it can take some time to figure it out. When DH was being tested it took several months, during which time they threw out a lot of potential diagnoses: fungus in the lungs, cancer, TB, histoplasmosis. It was a relief to find out it was "just" sarcoidosis.

Good luck. Let us know what happens.

 

[luvwinnie]

Thank you. I think I forgot to mention I have an autoimmune arthritis which puts me at risk for certain types of restrictive lung disease. I wish they would have at least ordered an xray.

 

[minkydog]

Thank you. I think I forgot to mention I have an autoimmune arthritis which puts me at risk for certain types of restrictive lung disease. I wish they would have at least ordered an xray.

Then you probably know that sarcoidosis is also an autoimmune disease. Sounds like you might feel better if you talked to a pulmonologist.

 

[luvwinnie]

Yes, there are several related to inflammatory arthritis. Just found a document that plainly states low vital capacity is related to restrictive disease and FVC is related to obstructive...I have both issues POSSIBLY according to these results.

 

[luvwinnie]

Minkydog, did your husband have to get a biopsy? Thanks.

 

[minkydog]

Minkydog, did your husband have to get a biopsy? Thanks.

Yes. They did a CT and an MRI that merely confirmed the presence of something in the lungs. They did a bronchial lavage which revealed nothing. they just couldn't seem to trap it. Since DH was steadily getting worse and having difficulty working, they did a biopsy and that revealed the sarcoidosis.

 

[luvwinnie]

Thank you. I may PM you in the future if I'm faced with this stuff if it's ok.

 

[minkydog]

Of course you may PM me. I'd be happy to help you.

 

[luvwinnie]

Thanks! Spoke to dh's cousin who is a dr. and he urged me to a pulmonary dr. too. Going on 9-21.

 

[minkydog]

good for you. That's in about 3 weeks. Try not to worry too much in the meantime. Don't look up stuff on the internet--you're scare yourself to death! I learned a long time ago not to perseverate on things that haven't happened yet. It just wastes time and energy.

 

[luvwinnie]

Oh, that is ME! I worry ahead of time like crazy...but I have gotten much better over the years.