Lung vibration laying down 😭

[Jen3675]

After some words of wisdom please.

So in summary, had pneumonia 12 weeks ago.2x antibiotics/steroids/inhalers. 3 x clear chest x-ray, 1x clear HRCT scan.

Slightly productive cough persists, chest tightness/sob persist but most annoyingly is the lung vibration.....

It’s only at night or when laying down. Clears on a few deep breaths. If I lay on my right side, my right lung vibrates/zips on a deep breath and vice versa. It’s almost like my lungs close and open on deep breath and Wizz open.

I would be lying if I said this wasn’t leading to a certain amount of anxiety 😟

My gp thinks it’s probably asthma but can’t hear the vibration when I am standing. Says I should Persist with the inhalers.

Pulmonary fibrosis is my main concern but maybe I just have an overactive imagination and am letting my imagination get the better of me? I have had a clear HRCT scan, can I take reassurance in this?

[Alberta56]

I'm no medic, so can only extend sympathy. Hasn't your doctor examined you lying down? Perhaps someone with experience of PF will be along soon. Hope it starts to clear up soon- it sounds horrid.

[Hidden]

I’m not medically qualified in any way, but my understanding is that ct is the gold standard for diagnosing respiratory diseases, and a clear ct scan rules out the vast majority of lung conditions, including IPF. The only exceptions to that for diagnostic purposes are asthma, and chronic bronchitis (part of the COPD umbrella). Both of these only tend to show on ct in later stages where lung damage has occurred, but under those circumstances, CT aids diagnosis by effectively excluding everything else.

Have you had any spirometry done? This is a test to see how well your lungs are working, and would probably be the most useful test for you under the circumstances: normal spirometry results would indicate that you’re still dealing with the fallout from the pneumonia rather than anything else. Spirometry can also be used to differentiate between asthma and COPD by doing a second test after taking a bronchodilator - if you have asthma, the spirometry results will normalise following an inhaler. Whilst many people will recover more quickly, and 12 weeks down the line is quite a while to still be having active symptoms, total recovery from pneumonia can sometimes be measured in terms of months. The BLF actually say it could be as much as 6 months to fully recover, and my own experiences with my daughter would be in keeping with that. Vibrations in the lung that clear with a few deep breaths would suggest it’s sputum moving about rather than tightness or wheeze: has anyone talked to you about clearing your chest?

[Suzie42]

When i was finally diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis i had a ct scan. Before though, gp heard crackles at base of lungs and confused it with pneumonia as i had a cough at the time. Crackles can be heard all the tme now.

[deaD3ath in reply to Suzie42]

Hi, can you tell me the initial symptoms you had before the diagnosis of PF? I have the same symptoms of the topic poster.

[Suzie42 in reply to deaD3ath]

I just had a peculiar tickling feeling when i breathed in, which could make me cough. I didnt breath in too deeply so i wouldnt cough. They thought it was worsening asthma, but i new it wasnt. It was only when i got a chest infection that turned to pneumonia that i had ct scan, which showed fi brosis. Also was out of breath going up hill and stairs. Nothing else. I hope this helps.

[deaD3ath in reply to Suzie42]

Thank you, everything help. I'm struggling with wet cough, pain all over the right lung. When lying down i get breathless, pain is really bad and alot of white mucus builds up in the right lung. Diagnosed with asthma...

[Suzie42 in reply to deaD3ath]

It doesn't sound like IPF and ct scan should show it. Although it showed on 1st ct scan, I had to have 2nd one done in prone position to confirm. To me you sound like it's like infection although you haven't got coloured mucus. I have never had pain in my lungs with asthma. Dont just take what is being said to you if you are feeling so ill and worried.

[deaD3ath]

I have these problems for years. Can anyone tell me what can it be?

"My gp thinks it’s probably asthma but can’t hear the vibration when I am standing. Says I should Persist with the inhalers."

Same problem here. Ct was clear... Help?

[Jen3675 in reply to deaD3ath]

I have since taken a further lot of antibiotics, it isn’t totally better but a significant improvement. I think it may have been an infection all along.....

[deaD3ath in reply to Jen3675]

antibiotics via a nebulizer or oral?

[Jen3675 in reply to deaD3ath]

Two weeks of oral. It’s not perfect and still the occasional rattle but it is a 100 times better than it was. The cough has finally gone too.

[deaD3ath in reply to Jen3675]

Thank you.

[Jen3675 in reply to deaD3ath]

Good luck, it’s been driving me insane!

[Jen3675 in reply to deaD3ath]

Are you still suffering? Two days off of antibiotics and it was back 😢

[Redbird8311]

yes, I have this and I’ve been given no answers.

It has happened off and on since 2018 after my c section. I did have a ct chest scan and Ct angiogram in 2021 and nothing was found but it continues. During my pregnancy in 2023, I had spells of shortness of breath since we 6. I’m not 5 months postpartum and still get spells of shortness of breath. I feel it in my ribs and stomach. Doctors brush me off. I’m depressed over it. Not sure wha to do. Pulmonary fibrosis is on my mind as well.