Asthma

[joannebond360]

Hi everyone.

Has anyone had asthma bought on due to lupus?

Gp thinks I have asthma, never had any symptoms before now.

Jo

[Minnskimoo]

Hi Joanne.

I can't be of much help with the asthma/lupus connection right now as I am still awaiting a diagnosis from the rheumatologist. That said, I do have asthma and for some years had it very much under control. Strangely enough, it appeared to 'flare' around the same time as many of my other 'suspect' symptoms did too. I have had a number of upper and lower respiratory tract infections since, and a bout of pneumonia. Awful! I also react to certain foods, (as in wheeze not long after eating). I am taking Omeprazole at the moment, as it appears that the reason for this reaction is more related to GERD! Who knows?

Is there anything you notice that might have triggered it ? Any new medication? Did your GP give you any explanation as to why you might have developed this? Perhaps some further investigation?

Sorry that I have nothing concrete to offer. I am still trying to educate myself about autoimmune disease and hypersensitivity. Thank goodness for HU and the knowledgeable people that contribute to this brilliant site.

I hope someone out there might be able to give you more of an idea as to why you have possibly developed asthma.

x

[joannebond360 in reply to Minnskimoo]

Thank you for your reply.

I have had these symptoms since my last rituximab infusion in January following a chest infections and now my sixth lot of antibiotics, also had pleurisy.

Gp has given me an inhaler and I have to record my peek flow 3 times a day for two weeks and have to go back.

I haven't started any new medication.

I hope you get some answers from your reumatologist soon and a way forward with your diagnosis. It's a great site, helped me so much.

Jo

[Minnskimoo]

You're most welcome!

I am really sorry to hear you have been unwell since January. 😏

However, I am pleased to hear that your GP is trying you on medication to help relieve your symptoms. And, by checking your peak flow regularly will show if the medication is helpful or adequate. I truly hope so!

🤞🏼

[Sara_A]

Hi, u can develop asthma at any time of life so it's not necessarily connected to the lupus.

The fact that u had 2 quite bad chest issues only in Jan, it could just be that ur chest is still recovering rom these episodes or that it's left u with breathing issues. Or obviously u may just have developed asthma.

[maurice1]

Hi Joanne

In August 2015, I had pneumonia and out of the blue I developed asthma. I saw a respiratory specialist at the Chest hospital, and had lung function tests, x rays, CT scan, allergy tests, and kept a peak flow chart. My rheumatologist h ad asked them to rule out any of the nasty chest conditions associated with Lupus. Eventually they were confident that it was asthma and I have two inhalers which work very well for me. The specialist nurse taught me how to use an aerochamber and this was really helpful.

I don't know if there is a direct link between lupus and asthma but I had reduced my hydroxy in the previous Dec, and although I upped it again 6 Months later, I am convinced that I lost ground which I have never recovered. That's just my opinion- no medical evidence to back it up.

I hope that you get sorted soon.

Take care

[joannebond360 in reply to maurice1]

Hi Maurice1

That's so interesting. Sounds very similar to what happened to me. I am back to see my consultant at addenbrookes next month so will discuss all this with him. They thought that the pleurisy pain was lupus related to lupus. I think they will have to do similar tests to what you have had done.

[Mifford]

Yep - when I'm flaring I get pleuritic chest pain and diagnosed asthmatic. I don't get traditional asthma where my chest tightens and I struggle to breath or wheeze though - I get a tickle that makes me cough but I literally can't stop and then find it hard to get my breath because I'm coughing so much. I seemed to have bouts of chest infections that just wouldn't go before they diagnosed it but I can now pinpoint each time it was at its worst to times I was in the sun or had flared without knowing that was what it was ... hindsight is a wonderful thing! I have a daily steroid inhaler to keep it at bay but two nights running this week I've woken up on the night and had to use my blue inhaler because I'm coughing so badly. I'm very tired and run down at the moment and under a lot of stress so it could be that or it's the pollen count being so high this week - take your pick