So I’ve finally seen a specialist after over 6 months of illness. He thinks I could have bird fanciers lung. I hope not as I have two birds and would rather not have to get rid of them. I’m waiting for results to blood tests and a CT has been arranged, as well as more in depth lung function tests and a sleep study (yay).
I’ve been googling like mad but can’t seem to find any information on the stages of BFL. Sites say “early stages” and such like... well does anyone know what that means? Is that the first few weeks? Months? Years? I forgot to ask the consultant (idiot), and I’m curious to know what the timescale is for this disease.
Any help would be great. Thank you to all who’ve been commenting on my previous posts.
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TripleTea
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I think in this instance early would mean mild as in the early stages. im not sure on bird fanciers lung. But most lung desises seem to slow down on thear progression with life style changes not smoking. healthie diet and exercise. None of which will do you any harm but may do you alot of good. I do hope you get to keep your birds.
Same. I hope it isn’t bfl. Would be a blow for sure. Thanks x
2greys could maybe help you here. I can't help wondering whether your 'specialist' came up with that diagnosis before or after he knew that you had birds.
I asked because some consultants too readily clutch at straws if they can't come up with an immediate answer which could cause needless panic. Try to be patient until the test result come through. 2greys has had birds for over 30 years and can bet will have reseached the subject in depth.😉
Hi TripleTea, Bird Fancier's Lung is not on my list of ailments despite having kept a pair of African Parrots for 32 years and I quite understand you not wanting to lose your birds.
Mine had their own room with a large flight cage. Vinyl floor for easy cleaning with a damp cloth on a broom, a water spray system activated through a hole into the bathroom to settle any dander before entering. They had a shower before any human interaction as well. Also HEPA filters outside their door.
A CT Scan can detect Bird Fancier's Lung that shows up as a "ground glass" effect. But, there can be numerous causes of a ground glass lung condition such as sarcoidosis or pulmonary fibrosis. A ground glass lung opacity may also be observed in conditions such as Alveolar Proteinosis, Desquamative Pneumonitis, Hypersensitive Pneumonitis and drug-induced or radiation-induced lung disease. The only accurate way is through a blood test to look for antibodies to avian proteins.
" Hello Triple Tea..I too have cage birds lung disease..I was diagnosed in 2014.. I also had to retire early as I worked with animals..there doesn't seem to be a time scale to this diease I was diognosed at stage 3 "severe" 4 yrs back..I gave up smoking even though I only smoked a couple ciggerets a week..I went to pulmonary rehab. as your Dr recommend you attending... If not. Ask him/ her about it. I found it very rewarding and helpful..also try to keep as active as you possibly can..eat well. Just generly be kind to yourself.. I have had a lot stress related set backs these past 12 months which have seriously effected my health. So try too live as a stress free life as your able. Ohhh! And keep POSITIVE!!....Megan.."
" Fleurbaby..reading your reply to Triple Tea made me think that you maybe thought my acknowledgement to his query regarding his diognosed cage birds lung disease. (I spoke as a qualified Veterinray Surgeon). I hope I didn't come across as flipprent with my knowledge of animal and bird diseases. If I did.then I truly apologise for it. I just wanted to pass on some of My knowledge ...Megan..."
No worries mate I saw the word bird& l just thought of how the diseases we humans get are because we are sooooo special and can not be allowed to love any other creatures than ourselves, that is all, l never even read your blog
It was suggested that I had bird fanciers lung at one time ....my neighbour kept pigeons. I was also tested for an allergy to fish fin rot ( don't laugh) as I kept and cleaned out my goldfish tank...no allergy was found.
But my three cats were identified as having contracted pneumonia and then asthma just after I was.
We all wheezed and coughed together.....sadly they have died now.
Wow knitter that is odd. I didn’t know we could be allergic to fish disease (I have fish). And how weird and sad about your cats. Do you think they caught it from you? I had no idea that diseases like that could be passed from cats to humans or vice versa. I have a 17 year old cat who is full of disease and dementia. It’s all a bit overwhelming to think about!!
TripleTea - you're the only other person I've come across with Bird Fanciers' Lung! I was diagnosed with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis a few months ago, finally, after three other diagnoses. Amongst the causes (never smoked, never had chest infections etc) could have been a very obscure allergy to something equally obscure, hence bird fanciers' lung.....
What?? I said, never kept birds, blah blah........ Still none the wiser as to the cause, and it's such a mystery. Bit by bit my breathing became more and more laboured and I first had portable O2, then a concentrator and I'm on 24/7 oxygen now. Who knew?! My daugther is my official carer now. We do our best, have our routines, and wheelchair outings. She's a good girl, don't know what I'd do without her, that's for sure. I'm nearly 83 btw, and always been healthy, tisk tisk.....
Sorry to ramble on - if you have been, thank you for reading this!
I always thought that bird fanciers disease was psittacosis, which is a bacterial infection treated by antibiotics. I don't know whether you can get reinfected after treatment, or whether I've got this completely wrong, but worth checking out.
" Birds get the Infection which is called psittaco..which is a bacterial infection..humans can not get infected by it... Only it's own kind can.. and its very contagious to themselves.. how Birds fancies lung can damage your lungs is via the exsposer to the danda that is on their skin. Just as with all breeds of dogs and cats. It's the dust and mites that causes the hypersensativaty pneumonitis in our lungs.. I only speak as a Veterinary Surgeon and Cage bird lungs sufferer.. Not as a human Dr.. or surgeon.. but I do know you don't have to own or work with birds or animals to be effected by hypersensitive pneumonitis...Megan.."
Hi try searching on hypersensitivity pneumonitis or extrinsic allergic alveolitis- there is a fair bit of technical and general stuff out there- and I have found some good stuff on you tube. Don't panic! I have HP. Best wishes.
A few years ago, I lived in a house with a lot of trees on the property. I always had a bird feeder or two and as a result got lots of birds. I would regularly clean the feeders. As a result, I got a fungus growing in my lungs that was due to the birds. It took several months to get rid of the fungus and going forward, I was always careful to clean my hands after handling the feeders.
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